What My Brother’s Death Taught Me About Wasting Time

During Covid, the world seemed to stop. For many people, everything changed — jobs were lost, loved ones passed away, and entire lives were rearranged overnight. But for me, on the surface, not much shifted.

My family members were essential workers, so they kept right on going. My grandson was homeschooled, which kept our daily rhythms steady. Life inside our home looked pretty much the same, except for one big difference: we weren’t getting out much.

And yet… even though my days looked familiar, I let them slip away. I didn’t use that time intentionally. I didn’t set goals. I didn’t build momentum. Looking back now, I can see all the opportunities I missed.

The hardest part of that season was losing my brother. He passed away, alone, across the country. I couldn’t be there, and the distance still aches. His passing was a painful reminder that life is short, fragile, and unpredictable.

If I had been using a system like the 12 Week Year back then, I know I would have made more progress. I would have created goals instead of drifting. I would have invested in building my future self instead of just passing the time.

Here’s the truth I carry now: I don’t want to waste another day. At 62, I can’t afford to keep waiting for “someday.” None of us can. Every single day is a chance to be intentional — to decide what kind of future we’re building, and to take one small step toward it.

This season of life isn’t about what others want me to be. It’s about becoming who I want to be. It’s about creating a life I actually love, not just one I get through.

I can’t change the time I lost, but I can choose differently today. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.

You don’t need to fix everything today.

But you can stop letting the days slip by without noticing them.

Choose one thing — just one — that matters to you, and do it today.

That’s how this changes.

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