It’s the longest thing you’ll ever do.

Thoughts on life being too short

I overheard my very wise, smart, witty, and admirable co-worker said this recently, “I love it when people tell me life is short…because I just turn around and tell them no, fuck it’s the longest thing you’ll ever do.”

I chuckled to myself after I heard him say that.It’s always nice to hear the literal side of things.

This was the same co-worker who during one of his past interviews, when he was asked “What do you fear the most?” answered, “Bullets.”

People like him make me appreciate witty smart-asses.

Back to what I decidedly wrote this post on…life.

I’m twenty-one years old. 7 months ago I graduated from college and somehow landed my semi-dream job working at a startup in San Francisco. I spend my 9s to 7s working with people from all walks of life — I get to connect with tech entrepreneurs who have raised millions in financing and amazing people who love what they do and enjoy doing it. I work in an office with the smartest and most driven team, all whom are under the age of 30 and have accomplished so much in their lives.

I am constantly surrounded by all these people have done way more than I have yet to do.

Spending time with such talented folks has been so damn motivating. I am constantly striving to do more and be more and love more and push myself more and accomplish MORE. More. More. More.

7 months ago, I lived a life filled with finish lines. From the very beginning it was 1) go to school, 2) graduate high school, 3) get into a good University, 4) graduate University, 5) get a good job, 6) be self sufficient…after goal #6, I didn’t know what other milestones I was to hit in my life. Get a man? Become a mom? I had no other wants…whatever I wanted to do I could fucking do it. No commitments to anyone but myself. But I started getting into this mindset. The mindset that life is short and you have to do all you can in the shortest amount of time. It created another finish line. One that was ambiguous and vague but fueled a lot of late night strategic life planning.

The realization that life is the longest thing we will ever do gives me peace. Not in a way that I want to slow down, but a peace in that I can and will accomplish all the things I want to do, not because there is some internal clock in me pushing me to accomplish these goals but because I intend to put in thoughtful determination and a good deal of time into becoming the person I want to be and live a life full of good people, good intentions, and abundant successes.