Human beings rarely recognize or appreciate value without making comparisons. Sadly, that also applies to the quality of our life.

Most of us will live for an average of 76 years. And then there’s eternity. The rest of the time, we won’t be living on earth. When you think about “forever,” our life on this planet is just a temporary vacation from death. An infinitesimally small break from doing nothing…forever.

Imagine if you worked your ass off for 100 years straight, when you had just one day off for you to have fun, never to have another day off again. That’s the time relationship between of life and death.

So as relaxing as it is, do you really want to sit on the couch and play Xbox all day? Complain about your life or job?

When you think of your life in relationship with death, it focuses the mind. Not from fear but in realizing what gifts and opportunity life gives you in the now and the precious short time you have to use them.

Time is short. Do what’s important to you.

Remember, you have a metaphorical day to do everything you ever wanted to do. Use it. Imagine that you were late to an appointment. Get going now.

Take action. Today.

True story. Recently I ran into a man I got the pleasure to first meet a few a years ago, I’ll call him “Harry.” Harry told me he found out he had pancreatic cancer. He’s lived a great life some might admire. He spent years as a roadie for bands like Metallica and Alice Cooper. Attending his New Year’s Eve party a year ago, I got to see his basement which looks like a Rock & Roll museum of all the rock stars he’s met and mementos of his past. Harry can regale you with stories about lots of famous musicians and bands.

His life now framed by a doctor diagnosis, Harry told me that he wishes he spent more time with his kids and how valuable his grandkids are. And though he has to journey forward with the possibility of a shortened life, he’s chosen to savor all the gifts he has…now. He’s dedicating the uncertain time he has to his family.

Dont’ stagnate.

Even if you do things and achieve, safety and comfortableness can tempt you to stop and rest. When that happens, you’re essentially doing what you’d be doing when you’re dead. Feel alive by keep seeking challenges that make you feel alive.

When I worry about stagnation, I remember this quote (can’t remember the author), I wrote down years ago to remind me to keep moving…

Life is a series of phases that pass away with time whether we like it or not! People get into trouble because they cling to some phase of their life they’ve fallen in love with long after the time when it should’ve been chucked.

For me, it reminds me that if you stagnate, you lose ground because life doesn’t stop. If you stop, those who seek new challenges and change will leave you behind.

Your vacation time isn’t promised. And it may come early. Get your work on earth done.

In the working world, I’ve been unexpectedly called back from a vacation. This too often happens to those of us taking a vacation from death. You never know when our vacation will really end. Tomorrow is not a promise. Savor the time you have, treat every other day as another gift.

When your vacation from death is over. Feel good that you had a good one.

Hey, I wrote a book about being mindful in the new age of content.

Does This News Make You Look Fat? A book about media consumption and how the way we consume it makes us intellectually obese. Preview or buy the ebook at Amazon.