Death

The temperature has started dropping, and the catch-22 about living in Queensland is that the weather is pretty much always beautiful and warm. So, even though I was born and raised in cold and windy Wellington, I am very much acclimatized to the sunny state. When the weather drops too quickly, I usually get sick, even if it's still actually pretty warm. This morning was no different; I was up in the middle of the night, and the temperature was around 11 or 12 degrees. Without knowing, my body started shutting down a bit. Unfortunately, it got me. I'm sick and not that happy. However, I was listening to a podcast today featuring an interview with Alex Hormozi. He's a very successful entrepreneur who has directed a significant amount of his knowledge and business acumen into providing free, accessible training and information to succeed in the game—both in business and, in many ways, in life. He has a lot of interesting things to say, and the first time I heard a snippet of him on YouTube, his message was great. But what drew me to him was how authentic he seemed and his no-nonsense approach. Today was no different. He talked about his businesses, the ups and downs, his upbringing, and his attitude toward various subjects. One thing that stuck with me was his response to the question about the fear of death and whether he'd be sad if he died tomorrow. His answer was fairly straightforward, given the context of the conversation and his conflicting views on what his dad wanted for him versus what he truly wanted for himself. He said he wouldn't be sad. He'd be disappointed because he'd miss his wife, and there are still so many things he wants to do. But he wouldn't be sad because he has lived the life he wants. He had to turn his back on his old life to pursue the unknown, against the odds of success. He faced failures multiple times, even when it seemed like he was on the brink of ultimate success to many. He kept going and eventually made it through. He does the things he wants to do day in and day out and doesn't regret any of it. Being happy within yourself is one of what I believe the keys to happiness—understanding what you truly want and pursuing that despite others' views, even if they are the views of those closest to you. I've learned that over the years and am only now truly starting to shape that for myself. For years and at various influential stages in my life, I did things for others even though deep down, I knew that's not what I wanted. Consequently, I had no one to blame for moments of sadness but myself. In the end, when it's all said and done, how will you feel? Are you content with the life you've lived? Be happy within yourself, appreciate what you have, and embrace who you are. Because you're wonderful.