Why are we standing here, just watching life pass us by? We all know that what goes around comes around. We reap what we sow. So the question is: What are we sowing? What are we actively doing to increase the value of our lives?
When I talk about value, I don’t mean self-worth in a philosophical sense. I mean the tangible, measurable results of the efforts we put in. Are we growing? Are we achieving more? Or are we simply maintaining, or worse, losing ground? Too many of us are stagnant, living on autopilot, believing we are moving forward simply because time is passing. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Take me, for example. I’m 66 years old, and I’ve worked for the government for over 30 years. People often ask me, “Why haven’t you retired yet? Why not just relax and enjoy life?” My response? I am enjoying life. I am having fun. Retirement isn’t a finish line for me—it’s a choice, and right now, I choose to keep going.
Some say, “If you retired, you could travel.” But I already travel. My wife and I go overseas every year. My perspective on life is different. I’ve worked since I was 17—military, railroad, corporate, and now government. Even when I was a walking mail carrier, covering 20 miles a day, I turned it into a personal fitness routine. I saw my job not just as work, but as an opportunity to stay active and healthy.
This is what I mean by mindset. It’s about how we approach our lives, our choices, and our opportunities. Too many people think they’re making progress just because they’re working, just because they’re earning a paycheck. But there’s a difference between working and truly building something. The question is: Are you investing in yourself? Are you creating something lasting?
Time is our most valuable asset, yet we waste it so easily. Think about how much time people spend watching sports, sitting in front of a screen, consuming rather than creating. One game here, another game there—it adds up. Hours turn into weeks, weeks into years. And at the end of it, what do you have to show for it? Your favorite team might have won, but what did you win?
The same applies to money. We spend without realizing how it adds up. Take rent, for example. I bought a rental property for under $30,000. My tenant has been there for seven years, paying about $1,000 a month. That’s $84,000 paid over time—far more than the property’s original cost. It’s the same with unnecessary spending—car payments, entertainment, impulse buys.
The little bits add up until suddenly, you’ve spent tens of thousands without realizing it. Money lost is opportunity lost.
And then there’s health. Our bodies are investments, too. Just like a rental property, we need to maintain them to keep them functioning. That means eating right, staying active, and making conscious choices. You wouldn’t neglect your house and expect it to last—so why do so many neglect their own well-being?
This is why I don’t believe in simply retiring to “take it easy.” My body is an asset. As long as I take care of it, it will continue to serve me. Retirement was never meant to be a ticket to idleness; it was a safeguard for those who could no longer work. If you still can work, if you still have energy and purpose, why stop?
The real danger in life is complacency. Too many people live in a cycle of waiting—waiting for a better job, waiting for retirement, waiting for happiness. But happiness isn’t something that happens to you. It’s something you build. It’s found in purpose, in progress, in contribution. That’s why so many wealthy people still feel empty. Money alone isn’t enough. A fulfilling life requires meaning.
So ask yourself: Are you standing still? Are you wasting time, waiting for something to happen? Or are you actively shaping your future?
If you don’t know where to start, just find something positive and be a part of it. Volunteer. Learn something new. Challenge yourself. The first step doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be something.
Action creates momentum, and momentum leads to purpose.
Our children watch what we do, not just what we say. If we waste time, they will too. If we prioritize distractions over growth, so will they. But if we lead by example, showing them what it means to strive for something better, they will follow.
Don’t stand still. Don’t waste time. Stop waiting for happiness and start building it. Your purpose is waiting for you—it’s time to go after it.
✨ Your next chapter is waiting. ✨
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