Do you ever notice that most people do not truly embrace life until they are confronted with the ultimate scare: death? This can also occur when facing other major hardships or losses, like divorce. I have noticed as I grow older and people I have known or went to school with started passing away or becoming ill. It really is a sucker-punch for so many people when they start to experience this.

When we are young most of us feel invincible – we do not think about our own lives ending; this is normal and justifiably so because when we are in our prime most of us feel strong and healthy. As we age in healthy bodies we tend to still feel a bit of that invincibility, but at some point that changes.

Starting in my late 40s a childhood friend passed away from an overdose. It was unclear whether this was an accident or on purpose, but she had been suffering for a long time from emotional challenges. Ironically enough, we had re-connected shortly before her death and had planned to get together for lunch, and I was looking forward to it. Sadly, we never got to have that time together.

Two others with whom I went to high school passed away. One had been a college roommate my first year at university, and both she and the man who passed were big personalities in high school. Both had heart attacks. Then another man with whom I had gone to college suddenly passed.

Also during this time several friends and family members have been diagnosed with cancers, auto-immune disorders and other diseases, which they are all fighting and/or living with to this day.

Aging is a beautiful process, as I have learned to accept with hesitation at first, but then ultimate gratitude. Yes, it is sometimes hard to see the body change and respond differently in some ways from how it used to, but I am accepting it with grace. I embrace the wisdom life and this body have provided me, and I have to remind myself of this sometimes – but that is ok, I am an imperfect human being (like all of us).

When we are confronted with the death and illnesses of others our own age or even older loved ones, many people choose to dwell on these as negative experiences, which can cause a lot of fear. But if we sit quietly with this for a bit (sometimes it takes a while) we will see that the only way to not be afraid of death is to actually LIVE.

Some ways to start living are to get out of your house, be in nature, do things that sound interesting or fun that you’ve never tried, breathe deeply, learn to meditate, travel, laugh, eat healthy foods, exercise, dance, and write down your feelings and experiences in a journal. Until we start truly living and experiencing life we are not living.

We are not here to sit around and live in fear, or stay in a house most of the time. We are here to be our highest versions so we can spread our wisdom, joy and love. Just think if we all vibrated on this level what the world would look like! It sounds impossible but it’s not – every change starts with baby steps.

So even if you don’t know how you want to evolve into your highest self, start making little changes in your daily schedule that will benefit you – body, mind and spirit – and notice how you feel. Simply just observe how your body feels, how your mind feels (check your emotional state), and your spirit (connection with a higher source tends to increase energy levels). Write it down and share it with someone who loves you. Hold yourself accountable to make these small changes and put them in your schedule daily.

We never know when our time will be up, or when we may have to pivot immensely from the unexpected. BUT there is always a choice in each moment. We can either choose to (1) be scared of the things we cannot control, and let that hold us back, or (2) empower ourselves with the knowledge that we can live our best lives by allowing ourselves to patiently make changes toward that goal. If you chose the latter get ready to see and feel amazing results.

If you are here now you have time to be a better you. 🦋