In late July 2018, I was in summer training camp with a sports team. As I needed to drive home on the 29th, I briefly thought about visiting a friend who lived close to the city where we were for the camp. I spent uncountable hours on the bike, running or swimming together with her and after she moved to that other place, we hardly met for a couple of years. Then, in the car on my way home I thought about just making that 10km detour and visit her for a cold apple juice or so. I decided against it.

Only 48 hours later, I received a phone call. Christine had a fatal accident while on the road with her bike. It would have been so easy for me to take that right turn to try and see if she was home and have a laugh or two about some past races we did. Or to briefly call her and ask if she was home – and if not, at least wish her a great day.

But I didn’t.

Life can change in an instant. We never know, what happens next. One moment we think we are invulnerable, the other we receive a devastating diagnosis from our physician. Happened to me as well. In August 2010, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am all good today. But it for sure distorted some of the paths I went in life that weren’t “planned” that way.

It has changed some ways of how I do things. Nonetheless – and despite the above mentioned experiences – I still have to remind myself, that life isn’t infinite.

Meditating on our mortality is not a productivity hack. It is more than that.

It can be fruitful and can help us focus on What’s Important Now.

It can give meaning to what we do and how we do it.

It can help us understand the values that we have and that we want others to remember us for.

It can help us put situations, experiences or what ever just happened into perspective.

Why do I write about this today? Because Christine’s birthday is close and I am sure it would have been a nice garden party together with her dogs – and because I regularly contemplate death. To me, it’s nothing negative or depressing. To me, it’s positive. Most times, it helps me being really here and now – no matter if during work, sports or when I am with my kids. And writing about it helps me value the moments we had again.

This week, there is no link to a study, a book or any other website

Maybe, this week’s newsletter is just another perspective on how to help athletes understand what their values are. Maybe, you go and call or visit someone you haven’t seen in a while. Maybe, you just let this email sit in your inbox until you remember that it might be important to think about what you want to do with your life. Maybe, this email is not important to you at all.

All of this is ok to me. I just wanted to share that perspective, as it popped up in my mind recently.

Memento mori.

Have a great day!