There's a lot to worry about. high inflation. Rise in interest rates. instability in financial markets; war. love. Social anxiety. No news is more confusing than this.
I'm also worried about what to have for dinner today. Did you remember to take the trash can out and clean up the dog poop outside before the gardener arrived? Life forces us to work harder, earn more, and buy more things. This brings happiness and financial security.
But that doesn't buy you time.
But sometimes events change everything. Today he is Tuesday, January 3, 2023. My alarm goes off at 3:10 a.m. as usual. I'm in the car and heading to the studio by 3:30am. Arrive by 4am so you can be ready for the live radio show starting at 5am.
I checked for messages I had missed overnight before focusing on what was leading the news that day. This is a message from my mother, aka Wendy. Edward passed away a while ago. ○○W”. Edward was only 57 years old and my second older brother. He had three brothers, but now he has two.
Ed had been ill for several years, so this terrible news was not entirely unexpected. But it was still a big shock. He was a larger-than-life man who had overcome adversity and appeared to be recovering from recent health issues.
Anyone who knows him will know of his bubbly personality, ability to tell engaging stories, make people laugh, and come up with and discuss the craziest ideas. When I say debate, I don't mean it in a malicious or petulant way.
Ed was very intelligent, very articulate, and politically astute. Even though we differed on almost everything, I loved the conversation. I often wondered why I was on the radio or writing columns and not him. It was Edward who went to Oxford to study English. I only trained as a real estate agent because he liked to remind me.
But he listened well, always read my output, and gave me encouragement and comments. I'll definitely miss his scathing reviews.
That day's commute was a blur of childhood memories: family vacations, pranks, and music, perhaps inspired by Chic's “Good Times,” that was playing on the radio. Ed once opined that his was “one of the best basslines ever written for a pop song.” As the car pulled into London Bridge, I was 52 again, tears rolling down my cheeks. And I went to work.
I really enjoy what I do. I'm willing to sacrifice early mornings, but even if he leaves work at 6:30 a.m., my day's work for him isn't over. I am the chairman of the company, provide consulting advice, and write. I also have unpaid work that takes up acres of my time. I am the president of my local tennis club and a board member and vice-chairman of the Royal Albert Hall. Given the scope of the problem I had to deal with and the lack of funds in my bank account, I began to wonder more and more whether I should write “The Problem of the Poor.” Cue that little violin!
Everything they say about bereavement is true. Of course, it affects us in different ways. Processing events takes time. To steal a word from one of my brothers, he's now gone and there is a significant hole in our lives like Ed's. The messages I received from family, friends, and colleagues were very encouraging. The words “The world is just a little less boring without Edward” summed it up for me. He was never dull.
It's not the boring stuff that his death inspires me to tackle. Yes, I need to organize my will and clear up the clutter on my desk. And continue with your diet to move the last stone of excess baggage.
No, the impact is more fundamental. He has 24 hours in a day, so can he use them more wisely?
My impatience to reduce the list of things I can't do because I don't have the time has increased. There are some trips I want to go on but can't. You can't watch the people or shows you want to watch because work takes up your time.
My priorities have been wrong for years, thinking that making more money is a goal for safety and security, even though the greatest asset and luxury we have is time itself. I wonder?
Many times I have met unfortunate people who have burned through large amounts of cash, but realize that even though it may be useful, it cannot buy happiness. But what I'm looking for isn't happiness. I generally have a cheerful personality. When a loved one's life ends prematurely, purpose becomes a focus. Although you can postpone your plans to another day, it may not be possible. Focus more on what you are doing instead of what you have.
You won't be surprised to read that depth is not one of my core skills. However, if I have learned anything from the impact of this earthquake, it is that life is precious. Perspective is the goal. A healthy bank account is only useful if you utilize its resources effectively.
What you achieve in life is not the legacy you create, but the memories and impact you create with others. If you don't take care of your body and mind, your life may be shortened. And what you could not achieve or do will become regrets not only for yourself, but also for those around you.
I cherish the time and holidays I spent with family and friends, but having a good year doesn't mean pumping tons of cash into my bank account.
I'm not going to waste money or be reckless enough to throw bills out the window on a windy day just because I might not be here tomorrow.
no. This is a simple mantra that I have to thank my dear brother Ed for spreading. “Run now.” Otherwise, these aspirations and plans will simply end up as a list on my messy desk or words in a newspaper column. And what's the fun in that?
James Max is a television and radio host and real estate expert. The views expressed are personal. twitter: @maaaaaaaaaaaaaa
