Life Doesn’t Wait. Why Are You?
What a retirement party and a visitation taught me about the lies of “later"
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Last week, I sat in an auditorium with dozens of others to celebrate a friend’s retirement. Jay is well-liked by all. He’s added tremendous value to me and to our company. I was proud to be there to honor him.
As I watched friends tell stories about Jay and laugh, I thought back to another retirement in that same room 20 years ago. Marv’s.
That day felt a lot like this one. People lined up to share memories. Marv held his plaque, smiling as his family stood beside him. I remember thinking, he’s earned this. He’s finally going to enjoy the time off he deserves.
Five days later, I stood with many of those same people again: at his visitation. The room was still. Someone leaned over and whispered, “I can’t believe we are here.” Celebration on Monday. Farewell on Friday. It was impossible to put into my brain.
Marv was well-liked. He worked hard. And like so many of us, a lot of who he was seemed tied to his work. His story reminded me how fragile “later” really is.
Gen Z sees that already. Nearly half don’t believe retirement will even exist for them. Many have already dipped into retirement savings just to cover rent or groceries. Some don’t plan on ever slowing down, because they don’t trust there will be a “someday.”
If they’re already questioning the promise of “later,” maybe we should too.
The myth of “later” is built on at least three lies:
More time. We assume tomorrow will always be there. I thought this myself until I had the biggest wake-up call of my life.1
More money. We use it to keep score. Will you ever have enough to feel secure? When does the pursuit of more end? Warren Buffett knows this. He has given away $60 billion of his wealth since 2006.
More stability. We convince ourselves we’ll make the change when life finally settles down. But it never does. Kids grow, parents age, careers shift. I told myself the same story as I stayed in a draining job for four years because I didn’t want to uproot my family. “Later” never brought stability— it just delayed the life I was meant to pursue.
So what’s the cost of waiting? It isn’t just missed opportunities. It’s missed life. The trip you never took because you thought there’d be another chance. The day you didn’t take off to spend time with your spouse because of an important work project. The conversation with your dad that you put off until it was too late.
If this message resonates with you, don’t ignore it. Act on it. Before you close this email, text one person. Call a friend you’ve been “meaning to” call. Say the words you’ve been saving for someday.
Ask yourself: What do I actually want my life to look like? What’s stopping me from starting now?
Because the myth of “later” is just that. A myth. The only time you have to live the life you want is right now.
Life doesn’t wait. Neither should you.
Such important reminders that not one of us is guaranteed tomorrow, or even the rest of today. A friend was diagnosed with brain cancer and that same day they did emergency brain surgery, completely upending her life as she knew it and making what remains of it much more fragile. Loved this one, Tarek.
"Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." ~John Lennon