Pareto Path

I hold a grenade in my hand… 

That’s where my mind went, driving back after a running session. 

I am holding a grenade in my hand, and from the second I was born, the pin got pulled. But the thing about this grenade is that you don’t know when it’s going to go off. It’s literally just a matter of time until it does, and you will never know when. 

The question then becomes, what will you do until then? 

I use this grenade analogy as a way of introducing death, and our (almost) non-existent relationship with it. It’s a big taboo that no one wants to talk about, yet so many beautiful and useful things come out of it:

• Each forest fire provides new, fertile ground for new trees and plants. 
• Each bad relationship that ends gives an opening for a new, good relationship to appear.
• Each moment in which we realise that our time is limited and bounded, we can put the phone down and enjoy the sunshine. 

Learning to recognise that we are finite, that there is really only so long we have left on earth, and that even those days are uncertain, is a good way of making sure your priorities are stuck on the right way round. 

Here’s a suggestion of a few things to consider, especially if you find yourself being swamped with ‘busy work’:

• What would you say to your family if this week was the last week you ever had with them? 
• If you had a year left, which grievances would you let go off?
• Would you still be in the career you’re in right now if you only had 10 years left to live?
• Would you still spend time with the people you currently spend the most amount of your time with, if you had only a few years left? 
• What would you be willing to give up today, so you could add an extra year or two onto your life when you’re 80? How precious would even one extra day be, when you’re 80? 

Let death be your friend, not your enemy, or something you fear and pretend doesn’t exist. Because ultimately, in the face of death we are confronted with the question of what is actually worth doing during my little time on this little blue rock? 

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I hope this has been of value, you can let me know in the comments. And remember AFQ: Always Follow Quality. 

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