I had the lesson backwards

Losing my dad too soon taught me a lesson I misunderstood for years.

I told myself life is short.

So I worked harder. Built more. Pushed more. Tried to squeeze every ounce out of every day.

But over time, “don’t waste your life” quietly turned into “maximize every moment.”

That’s a much heavier burden.

Because then sitting with your kids feels unproductive. Reading a book feels unsatisfying. Taking a walk feels inefficient. Sitting on the beach feels lazy.

Even though those are the exact things you’d wish you had more of if your time ran out.

Eventually you get so focused on building a life that you forget to live it.

Lately I’ve been asking a different question.

What if the lesson isn’t that life is short, so hurry?

What if the lesson is that life is short, so be here?

Imagine my dad could sit down with me for ten minutes right now.

Would his message really be, “Scott, answer more emails. Build one more course. Get one more project done”?

Or would it be something closer to this.

Be there. Enjoy your boys. Take care of yourself. Don’t miss your life while you’re trying to build it.

Life is short.

That’s exactly why you shouldn’t miss it while you’re trying to maximize it.

Keep the Fire Burning,

Leech