As I sit here thinking about a lot of things in my life, including an upcoming marriage, family, work and other various thoughts running through my mind, I ponder life a bit. I could say I’ve lived a good life. Went through a great childhood. Our family might not have always had the most money in the world, but my parents and grandparents did everything they could to teach us good morals and bring us up respecting the world. Went through college and opened my mind to many different ideals including religion, spirituality and a sense of purpose. Now I look back and where I am today, I don’t regret one bit of my life up until now. 

The last four years I’ve struggled several times with my sense of purpose in my role at my job. I’ve been fortunate to make the money needed to live life how I’ve wanted, and explore areas of the world that I only could have imagined as a child. My grandparents would take us on a trip every summer as children and they really started my love of travel and opened my mind to different views on culture and people. I’ll never forget them and what they taught me over the years. I was extremely fortunate to have them in my life for as long as I did. 

It’s interesting that I’ve been to Paris, Rome, Athens, Hawaii and various other places that I never would have dreamed of as a kid, but when I look back at it all, I’ve really come to terms on who you’re with at the time is what matters most. I was lucky enough to have an amazing friend and fiancé by my side through all of the travels. It really comes down to the times where you are with your family and you are sitting talking about nothing, that truly means the most when it comes down to it. 

When there is only a finite time on this earth and you can only spend a certain amount of time with your loved ones, you really have to start thinking as you get older, it doesn’t come down to the money you have, it’s the small amount of time that you live and who you live it with. Do you enjoy your job and who you work with? Do you feel a sense of purpose in this world? Do you feel like after you leave this earth, you’ve affected enough people that they have a better life long after you’re gone? 

Don’t waste the time you have on this earth. Time is finite, use it for what it’s worth and don’t sweat the small stuff. As I get older and see people come and go in life, I start to question if I spent enough time with the people that mattered. Choose your time wisely because if you don’t, the last thing you want is to be laying down to rest and have regrets.