time.

Would you rather have $10,000 or 10,000 extra hours? What do both of those get you?

The money may get you a new car, a down payment on a home, two semesters of college tuition, a nice vacation, home goods, etc.. NICE things for sure.

The time would get you 416 extra days.

So, flip the question. If someone came and took $10,000 or 416 days from your life, which would you prefer? (by the way there's no right or wrong answer) I think if you were to choose you'd have to ask yourself this question; What are we even here for? Whether you believe in God, evolution, both, neither, it's all the same in this perspective; we're not here to build a fat bank account for the status, yet though we wouldn't want to admit it, we seem to be working for that. Connection, however, is the most invaluable thing this life has to offer. Depression, anxiety, and fear sit at the top of many emotions in 2021, and why is that? Those emotions didn't just come out of nowhere, people have been feeling those things for as long as anyone can remember, but why does 2021 feel different? If you were asking me, which you're not but I'll share my opinion anyway, I'd say because of expectation. The expectation to have a certain job where the title sounds cool enough to share with friends and the money is worth talking about. The expectation to have the physique you see from people you absolutely don't know from social media. The expectation to do SO much in SO little time. The expectation to keep up with the trends around you, whether it be to buy a home because other people around your age are doing it, or to be in a serious relationship because you feel like you're getting "old" when you're 27 years old in a potential 80+ year life. The expectation to be religious because you grew up that way.

Have you felt any of those weighing on your shoulders? I have.

There's no other era like this one. Technology has proven to hurt just as much as it has to help, wars are happening just as much as any other year yet 15 second videos take our attention, diseases are coming out of no where causing arguments with family members and friend groups ultimately separating our genuine relationships.

What is happening?

Do you ever see someone and make a total assumption and think to yourself "Wow, they seem empowered. They don't care what people think, they just seem happy with themselves, and I want that." Why can't you have that? Why do we have to prove anything to anyone? Why are WE at the bottom of our own list of people to impress? Opportunities are endless, one way or another whether you're young or old, they'll keep coming. Time, however, passes you by. Sound cliche? Realistic things tend to be that way. You will never experience today ever again, so make the most of it. Go to lunch with someone, go on a walk and listen to music that will get you in the feels, call up a friend you used to be extremely close to and be vulnerable enough to say "I'm just thinking about you," go to the movies by yourself, go on a drive somewhere you keep thinking about, just EXPERIENCE today the way you want today to be.

You won't regret what you do, you'll regret what you don't.