A few years ago, I read a book called 4,000 Weeks.
The title comes from a simple idea. If we’re lucky enough to live to around 80 years old, we get roughly 4,000 weeks on this planet.
When I first heard that, I had the same reaction most people do.
- That can’t be right.
- It sounded way too small.
- But then I did the math.
- And sure enough, it was true.
I don’t know why, but thinking about life in weeks hit me differently than thinking about life in years.
- Years feel abundant.
- Weeks feel precious.
- That idea has stuck with me ever since.
- Not because it made me worried.
- Because it made me pay attention.
One of the goals I’ve talked about for years is walking a mile with my son Max on my 100th birthday while Julie records it.
- Will it happen?
- I have no idea.
But I love having something out there in the future that gives me a reason to take care of myself today.
- Every workout.
- Every walk.
- Every healthy meal.
- Every good night’s sleep.
- They’re all votes for that future version of myself.
The funny thing is that the lesson isn’t really about living to 100. It’s about remembering that today matters.
The older I get, the more I realize how easy it is to postpone things.
- We’ll make the call later.
- We’ll take the trip later.
- We’ll reconnect with that friend later.
- We’ll start exercising later.
- We’ll spend more time with the people we love later.
Then one day we realize later has a way of showing up faster than expected.
That’s one reason I keep coming back to ideas like 4,000 Weeks and Memento Mori.
- Not because they’re morbid.
- They’re reminders.
- Reminders to be present.
- Reminders to appreciate the people around us.
Reminders not to waste too much time worrying about things that won’t matter a year from now. One of the unexpected benefits of getting older is that some things become clearer. You start realizing that life isn’t really measured by how busy you were.
It’s measured by relationships.
- Experiences.
- Memories.
- People.
- Moments.
At least that’s how it looks from where I sit today. So when I think about 4,000 weeks, I don’t find it discouraging.
- I find it motivating.
- It’s a reminder to pay attention.
- To call the person.
- To take the walk.
- To read the book.
- To tell people you appreciate them.
- To enjoy the game.
- To be where your feet are.
Because none of us know how many weeks we have left. We only know we have this one.
So let me leave you with a question:
If you knew you only had 100 weeks left, what would you spend more time doing?