I was speaking with a friend and client of mine this week who is dying, suffering from a terminal disease.

It was very interesting and insightful to hear about the things that matter most to him now near the end.

I was shocked by some of what he shared, all that he told me.

He’s been very successful in his life – a titan in business. But the feeling that he could have done more with his family, for his family, really haunts him.

He cannot get that time back.

It’s gone. And soon he will be, too.

It’s sad to think that the lessons we should have learned so much sooner are the exact lessons we should be paying the closest attention to.

There were many take-aways from our time together:

• Live the way you should,
• Love the ones that love you back.
• Choose the people you spend time with wisely, as that time will never be the same again.
• Value relationships over things.
• Help others do good things.
• Make good choices around those that you care about the most.
• Never forget where you came from.

A life well lived has so much meaning.

Of course, everyone’s meaning is different.

Respect that and know that in the end having people around you that care about you is life’s greatest gift.

-J.D.