◉ 044 | What’s your last day here?

It’s the twenty-second

of the second month

of the year.

Twenty-two

times

two

equals

forty-four.

22 × 2 = 44.

I turn forty-four

in April.

So what,

you might ask.

It matters

to me.

I’ll live

to 88.

I don’t know

where it comes from.

I see

that number

clearly.

I feel it

deep

in my bones.

Now—

take a piece of paper

and something

you can

make a mark

with.

I know you won’t.

You’ll just

keep reading.

Anyway—

draw a straight line.

Mark the beginning

with an X

and a zero.

That’s the day

you were born.

Mark the end

with an X

and the age

you’ll die.

That’s

your last day

here.

Now mark

your current age

with an X.

Put it

in perspective.

So you have

a line.

The day

you were born.

The day

you’ll die.

And in between—

the present moment.

This is your

lifeline.

Now look

to the left—

between the day you were born

and now.

Cross it out.

That’s gone.

You can’t go back.

You can’t do

anything

about it.

You can’t change

what happened there.

It’s gone.

Forever.

Now look

to the right—

between today

and the day you’ll die.

That’s the future.

A mystery.

That’s what

you’re left with.

That’s it.

Now—

look at the middle X.

That’s

here.

Today.

And today

is a gift.

Enjoy it.