A Reminder That Your Life Matters More Than You Think it Does

LIFE ADVICE

You’re truly significant on this great, big planet of ours.

During this extraordinary COVID year, I turned 40. At such a milestone, it has me thinking a lot about our lives and the people in them.

I have a beautiful family, a place to call home and I love the work I do. I love people and how important they are to my happiness. It is because of people that my greatest joys have been felt.

Don’t get me wrong, life isn’t always sunshine and roses. It is also because of people that my greatest sadness has been felt too.

More than ever, I find myself reflecting on the individuals in my personal and professional life. I think about the people that use the digital products I design every day. I think about my family, past and current friendships, amazing coworkers, and terrible ones.

I think about the people I don’t even know.

I read your stories of loss, hate, grief, despair, sickness, and trials and it makes my heart ache for you. You’re faced with so much. You put up with so much. You’re fighting through so much.

How do you keep up while enduring so much?

The resonance of that question peaked recently when a friend sent me a short, simple message. Embedded within her words were three powerful phrases that stopped me in my tracks. Somehow, she knew I needed to hear some really important things.

More importantly, I think you need to hear them too.

Feel free to bail at this point if you’re assuming this story is going to get sappy… because it probably will. But, I guarantee you, if you stick with me here, you’ll gain a new understanding of how important your life is here on this planet — to your spouse, your kids, your family, your friends, and even me, some 40-year old guy you’ve never met.

Here are the three things she said to me. Take them for what they’re worth, but if you take nothing else, leave with the knowledge that your life matters more than you think it does.

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