Seneca once wrote:
It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it. Life is long enough, and a sufficiently generous amount has been given to us for the highest achievements if it were all well invested. But when it is wasted in heedless luxury and spent on no good activity, we are forced at last by death’s final constraint to realize that it has passed away before we knew it was passing. So it is: we are not given a short life but we make it short, and we are not ill-supplied but wasteful of it… Life is long if you know how to use it.
This is a profound statement and I would encourage you to read it again. The more I read it, the more I am inspired by it.
These phrases stick out the most to me:
“It is not that we have a short time to live… but that we waste a lot of it…”
“Life is long enough for the highest achievements if it were all well invested…”
“It is wasted in heedless luxury and spent on no good activity…”
“We are not given a short life but we make it short, and we are not ill-supplied but wasteful of it…”
I should, perhaps, end this article right now—with Seneca’s own words—rather than thinking I can improve upon them.
But maybe, for just a few short sentences, I will comment.
You (the person reading these words right now) were designed to achieve great things! You are unique in your being, your substance, your abilities, and your relationships. And there is no one else on the face of the earth who can live your life and accomplish your good.
Please, do not forget that.
There is no doubt that “success” and “achievement” are relative words and your highest achievement is different from someone else’s highest achievement. You may never lead thousands or cure cancer. But make no mistake:
There is a good that you are designed to bring into this world. And there are people in your life that you can serve and love better than anyone else.
Your highest achievement will be different than mine, but we both have one. And “life is long enough for us to achieve it.”
Unless, as Seneca wrote, “Our lives are wasted in needless luxury and spent on no good activity.”
It is up to us to decide, every day, to focus our energies on those things worthy of the one life we have been given.
Discard the inessential. Remove the distractions. Reject worthless activity.
Your life is too short… to waste accumulating material possessions.
Your life is too short… to be offended all the time.
Your life is too short… to chase accolades.
Your life is too short… to compare it to others.
Your life is too short… to waste watching 6 hours of television/day.
Your life is too short… to pursue riches.
Your life is too short… to not believe in yourself.
Your life is too short… to not forgive.
Your life is too short… to not speak your mind.
Your life is too short… to worry about the future.
Your life is too short… to regret the past.
Your life is too short… to live in fear.
Your life is too short… to be unhappy.
Your life is too short… to waste time on the trivial.
—
Your life is too short… to live like everyone else.
Your life is too short… to not be true to yourself.
And life is too short to wait.
Gail Kelley says
This is the BEST of the many wonderful, enlightening, encouraging, teaching posts you have written. COVID has taught us how short life can be and how unprepared for death we are. We always think there will be time for this, that and the other thing. Thank you for the figurative slap on the side of the head you have given regarding how rewarding life can be if we take control of our life and live it to the fullest. Life is not short if it is well lived.
Kathi says
And life is too short to worry about whether we are doing everything “right”… or following a list on how not to waste it. I think we need to be “in the moment”. Not neglecting to notice things, people, places, emotions, love, pain, joy… everything around us. Being aware enough to see people who need our kindness….. and taking the time to be…. although there are so many in this world today who are struggling so much to just get by…. I have much compassion for them.
Michelle Roberts says
I was at peace just reading this message. Thank you.
Linda Kanagawa says
Such pressure. I’ve wasted a lot of my life. I had the opportunity to be a state-wide leader in education. My life would have been completely different. Would it have have been better with job titles added to my name? A completely different set of colleagues? I could have gotten my PhD in 3 years instead of 10 years. BA at 20, Masters at 40, PhD at 60 years.
Now at 80 years, I’m thankful my brain is still working. I enjoy my kids, a few close friends. I’ve had a few significant wins in my life. These seem unimportant now. They were nice but that’s over now
I’ve read most of pop literature on getting the most from life. Focusing, goal setting, time management, learn to say no, prioritize, time is a precious commodity, enjoy every moment for lost moments will be gone forever.
As I said before, Such pressure as time slips away. Such pressure not to have regrets.
Maria Pinto says
Yes the time spent on TV hits close to home. It can be a drug that sucks you in. Like all of the news and politics. But the good news is that we all have the control in what we watch if anything and how much time we spend doing that. Then there is the “Off” button!
Paul says
Thank you for your essays and insightful thoughts. I read a lot of essays about forgiveness and making the state of forgiveness as a wonderful place. As a victim of emotional and physical abuse from several family members, I am in a place of forgiveness but I do not want to have contact with my abusers. Just a thought that some instances “loving from afar” is sometimes the best I can do.
Nick says
I just recently learned of the Stoics. wish I’d discovered them 50 years ago. Marcus Aurelius, Seneca Epictetus. Their wisdom still resonates after nearly two millennia.
Warren Sneary says
Thank you Joshua. I first encountered you in the documentary The Minimalists . Your dedication to helping others in inspiring and you are helping me re-evaluate and delutter my life . Warren
Mary says
Thank you for these wise words.
Nenke Jongkind says
Thank you for this! It’s a keeper. It has taken me many years to become aware of these truths for me and in how I live my life. I turned 75 this year in June. It was noteworthy despite sheltering in place. I was already in edit mode when I met my husband on 1 November 2003. He is also Dutch and was born in Indonesia and was in a Japanese concentration camp. Mangoes and papayas kept him alive. He cleans his plate so well at each meal. He is still collecting and hoarding especially books but other things too. I try to not mind, but I do. It isn’t lack of love. And it is hard.
Mir Elle says
This was definitely the message I needed to hear. Thank you! As I approach my 32nd birthday, I’ve been reflecting a lot on my life and where I am in comparison to my friends. I know that comparison is the thief of joy, but sometimes I can’t help it. This blog holds so much of what I needed to hear right now.