A strange thought struck me as I was driving through the mountains: what advice would they give me? These ancient giants of earth and stone have watched civilizations rise and fall, species go extinct, and ice ages come and pass. Could my mind even comprehend such advice? 

A mountain’s age compared to mine would be like my age compared to a mayfly, since they only live 24 hours. So what would I say to a mayfly? Could answering that help me hear the advice of the mountain? Then I did what any sane person would do in my situation: I wrote a letter to a mayfly. 

Dear little Mayfly,

Do not delay your dreams one more second. Do not let one more chance slip through your hands to take that trip that you want. Stop waiting for that friend you miss to call you and dial their number right now. Stop delaying that goal and stop polishing that work you’ve been waiting to share with the world. You do not have time to waste. Your life is so much shorter than you realize, and I won’t let you keep waiting to live your life.

It’s okay you don’t feel ready. It’s okay that chasing dreams is scary. And it’s okay that you don’t know exactly how things will play out. I guarantee you that uncertainty is better than looking back on a life where you waited too long to pursue what matters to you. I have seen so many waste their entire life waiting, and I’d rather you swim through fear than drown in remorse.

Listen to me, for I am old and I have seen much. I wasted many days, entire lifetimes of yours in anxiety and worry over the words and thoughts of others. I put off so many dreams because I was scared. So much time repeating mistakes because it was easier than changing course. So much rumination of how others had wronged me, or how they might wrong me in the future.

I gave away all that time, and got nothing in return. I regret it much and want nothing of the sort for you. Your time is so short, and so much of it has already passed. I’m certain you don’t enjoy that bitterness, that fear, that resentment. So why do you spend minute after minute doing these things you hate? On your last breath you will regret every second spent on these unhappy paths, and there’s not one you wouldn’t exchange for a walk outside or call with a dear friend. You still have time to choose those paths now, mayfly, but not forever.

Do things you love often. Spend time with those who lift you up, and soak up the richness of life. The world is vast and there are incredible things in it; many experiences, individuals, ideas, and beautiful places to see. None of us can drink up every drop, but I want you to have all you can in the hours that remain. Some of these will make you happy, some will amaze you, and some will change how you see the world forever.

Do not stress or fear; this too shall pass. Always do your best, and live a life without regrets. Above all else, enjoy each day as it comes. You only get one life, little mayfly, so I only wish you enjoy it while you are here. You have less time than you know.

Sincerely yours, Matthew

Putting down my pen, this letter struck me as most peculiar, as I realized this was the same letter that the mountain would write to me. Please excuse me now, for I must go. There are some things I must attend to.

Further Reading: If this post resonated with you, I think you would get a lot out of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It’s a short novel about finding what is important to you, and it’s helped millions of people wake up and actually start living the lives they want. Most people spend their whole life on autopilot, and that’s a horrible waste of a life much shorter than we’d like to think.