“I’m not afraid of dying I’m just afraid of missing out”.

The words left behind on a family friend’s grave that passed away far too young from MND.

To be honest,
I never really understood what it meant. ‘Not afraid of dying’, what a strange concept, of course, that scared me.

Over periods of my life though, I continually found his words at the forefront of my mind. As I grew older, they found an important place in my life.

You and I die all the time. We are constantly growing / out-growing, and leaving old versions of ourselves behind. Adapting, learning, falling apart and coming back together. Many of us are so trapped in our fears that we forget what it truly is to live.

To live is to risk. And those risks, f*ck they hurt sometimes.

Our time on this earth is not promised, I lost my own father when he was just 29. His passing has played a massive role in the decisions I make in my life. That the people around us or even ourselves may not be here tomorrow, and our days on this earth are not assured.

So take that risk, that dream, that idea. Tell them you love them, start that business journey, and make that move.

I’d rather be dragged through the mud and have my heart shattered a thousand times over if that’s what it takes to feel human and experience life in all of its horrible glory.

Those life-shattering moments have shaped us into who we are today. A life well lived will have you coming out with scars, bruises and heroic stories. Not a life spent in fear, merely existing.

“I’m not afraid of dying, I’m just afraid of missing out”.

– PW