A reflection on energy, loss, and chasing the passions that matter most.
Where My Energy Goes
Lately I’ve been asking myself a simple but uncomfortable question: where is my time really going? For me, it has become increasingly important to give my energy to things that bring a positive value to my life — not spending too much time on the things that drain me mentally and physically.
Facing Time Honestly
But I wanted to go deeper than surface-level thinking. I started asking: how much time might I really have left here? The truth is, we just never know. No matter what any of us do, we simply cannot outrun time. As much as we want to fight it and find ways to prolong our existence, eventually there will come a time when we simply cannot run anymore.
Learning to Say No
As I continue to grow and learn who I am on a deeper level, I’ve realized that saying no has become easier. Too often we spend energy on things just for the sake of saying we did them — the concert everyone’s going to, the big sporting event, the crowded social gathering.
See, my social battery runs pretty low, especially as I have gotten older. It isn’t because I am not social, but I am much more selective in determining where my time and energy goes. Who is in the room? Because if the room is full of people that don’t share the same values as I do — then I have no problem leaving. What are we doing? Is what we are doing creating memories that will last, or is it just something to pass the time?
Choosing People Carefully
The people I choose to spend my time with will always be the most important decision I make. Who you surround yourself with has an incredible impact on you. And yet, so many of us spend too much time trying to impress everyone.
Now, I believe wholeheartedly in kindness. Daily interactions can leave lasting imprints. We all have an opportunity every day to show more love — even to people we don’t know. Holding the door, saying thank you, acknowledging someone with a smile — it seems simple, but we often forget. We get so caught up in ourselves that we overlook the people right beside us.
We can all show a little more kindness, but we also need to nurture the relationships that matter most.
The Lessons of Loss
One of the hardest parts of this journey is seeing people pass away. I know we’ve all dealt with that pain. I’m not sure it ever gets easier. Grief takes time, and it looks different for everyone. But the only way is through — process the pain, then pick yourself up and keep moving.
For me, loss has sharpened my focus on what really matters. It’s taught me to squeeze more out of life. If you allow it, death has a way of refocusing you on what’s important.
Stop Waiting
That passion you’ve put on the back-burner your whole life. That dream you’ve let slowly die inside of you because it felt safer to settle.
We can’t outrun time, but we can choose how to spend what we have left. So ask yourself: are you living, or just filling days? That passion, that dream, that thing that scares you — it’s waiting. The question is, are you still going to keep waiting?
Time won’t wait for you.
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