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Last Word: 2016 Is the Most Important Year of Your Life

Written by Scott Norman, as originally published in The Reverse Review.

With sweeping changes in culture and politics, and profound adjustments in the way Americans look at retirement, 2016 is the most important year of your life.

I was told this in a letter I received from my high school coach that he wrote just before he passed away a few weeks ago. I would like to share parts of this letter with you. While I don’t expect his words to be as significant to you as they were to me, I hope this simple and profound message will resonate in some way. “Life today is fast and full of opportunity—but if you don’t have a daily purpose, any road you take will eventually lead to a dead end.”

Coach’s implication is that we are often pulled into needless distractions without pausing to really think deeply about the very measurable and basic goals we want in life. If we choose, we can discern what is really essential, and we can design a life of real intention. Concurrently, when you are on your deathbed—and I mean literally on it—you will see the world in a different light. Your professional wins will be trumped by what you visibly stood for and how many friends you kept close to you during your life.

Coach reached out to me long after cancer had shattered most of his body, and asked me to give his eulogy. In doing so, he challenged me to address what I consider to be five essential questions. I share these with you in the hope that they will be a roadmap of sorts toward a fulfilling year.

  1. Who are the people who have influenced your life the most? Write down the names of those who have meant the most to you—not those who have been in your life the longest, but those who have helped you and influenced the trajectory of your life the most—and tell them. If you do nothing else this week, do this!
  1. Are you really happy with your job? Is it inspiring your imagination, family and happiness? If the answer is no, make drastic changes today.
  1. In a near-perfect world, what should your life look like in five years? Take 15 minutes to write down your answer.
  1. How many people will you serve this year who can never pay you back? Take 15 minutes to write down your answer.
  1. Finally, take 15 minutes to reread all of your answers while asking yourself, “How can I design my daily routine to more closely align my life with these answers?”

The year ahead is bound to provide all of us with disappointments, rewards and opportunities. It’s up to you to make the most of what comes your way. Whatever happens in 2016, I hope you are inspired to make it the best year of your life. n

 

 

 

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