In this Article:
- Why do we wait for "someday" to live our dreams?
- What life lessons can we learn from unexpected health crises?
- How can we prioritize joy and fulfillment in our daily lives?
- What are practical steps to start living fully today?
- How does taking action now prevent future regrets?
Living Life Fully: How To Make Time for Joy Now
by Sean McMann.
My fiancé and I had been having a typical Saturday night. We had just eaten dinner with my roommate, Sonja, and settled down in the living room to watch a movie together. I can’t remember what we were watching, but I’ll never forget what happened next. Sonja got a phone call.
As Sonja listened to the voice on the phone, her body started to collapse in on itself, and then as if by magic, sprang open and straight like a board. Knowing her so well, I could tell she was trying to keep her composure, the stiff-as-a-board routine, possibly a result of her uppercrust upbringing. As admirable as it was to sport the ‘typical stiff upper lip‘ that we all have learned to associate with those of an almost forgotten generation, the mood in the room had already shifted.
My fiancé looked at me, her face already showing she was worried. We could feel the sorrow, the sadness, the fear. We’d soon learn that Sonja’s stepfather, Ron, had a heart attack that night. Thankfully, he didn’t die, but the event would forever change all who knew him.
Not surprisingly, the man was driven. He usually started each day, before the sun got up, to run 5-10 miles. He would then spend a couple of weekends a year running a marathon, ultramarathon or Ironman. In his early 70s, the man was a force – successful, driven and fit.
Time Is on Our Side... Or Is It
Sonja got off the phone and filled us in on what happened, explaining she was going to go to the hospital and sit with her mom. As the news hit us, it was like someone had placed a thick, dark grayish-white cloud in the center of our living room, the type you see coming from miles away on a beautiful sunny day. The type you know is going to dump buckets of rain on you.
Do you recall the popular song, Time is On My Side? So often we go through life as if the time we get is up to us. We make plans for retirement, allot things that bring us the most joy to “someday” and then go about our day-to-day drudgery without thinking at all how “someday” might never come.
As Ron helped teach me, living your healthiest, best life isn’t guaranteed by how many miles you run every day, or how healthfully you eat. Although these things clearly help, living your best life is as much about finding what brings you joy, as it is about taking care of yourself.
Make Time to Live While You Can
In case you have no idea what the things are that bring you joy, I’m here to help.
Start by looking at what’s in your someday bucket. Do you hope to become a yoga instructor or a pilot? Maybe you had your eyes on building a separate garage, in order to one day build hot rods. Or, maybe you simply want to travel the world and see The Seven Wonders.
As I was reminded sitting on that couch years ago, “life is what happens to you in-between making plans” (John Lennon). So instead of planning everything you want to do someday, start today.
Step 1: Make a List
Write down everything in your someday bucket, no matter how outlandish or ridiculous. Think of this like a loose brainstorming activity. Don’t get too caught up on what’s possible yet, just have fun.
Step 2: Pretend to Cull Your List
Imagine you’re in the hospital, and you’ve lost the ability to do something -- maybe it’s run, use your left hand, or talk. Is there anything on your list that you can no longer do? Cross it out. As you do, pay close attention to how you feel. Do any items create a profound sense of sadness as you cross them out? Do any leave a dark cloud of gloom in whatever room you are in?
Step 3: Take Action
Take action based on what hit the hardest: Maybe as you crossed out “become a yoga instructor,” you lost a very real sense of joy and hope for the future of your life. Or maybe, “learn how to weld” was the item that hit you.
Whatever it was, take your emotional reaction as a sign pointing you in the right direction. Go to a yoga class, then maybe 2 and 3 more. Or reach out to the nearby trade school and ask if you can shadow their class for a day.
As you take each step, your courage will grow. Eventually you will get the courage to leap into that someday activity with no regrets. Soon enough, your today will become your someday, and a heart attack won’t cause you to miss anything you shouldn’t.
Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved.
Book by this Author:
BOOK: Hacking the Corporate Jungle
Hacking the Corporate Jungle: How to Work Less, Make More and Actually Like Your Life
by Sean McMann.
This book is your guide to the questions seething deep down in your gut. From dissecting how we view work and its connection to our very self worth, to how to instantly eliminate hours a day in email and meetings, this book will teach you the proven method Sean McMann used to go from new Grad to Director of Consulting in eight straight years.
With expert tips on how to manage your days for maximum productivity, how to manage your boss to avoid unnecessary work, and how to invest in yourself from your very first day on the job, this book is for anyone looking to make more, work less, and remain relevant in a constantly changing world.
For more info and/or to order this book, click here. Also available as a Kindle edition.
About the Author
Sean McMann was recruited right out of college to work at one of the largest data firms, and then embarked on an eight-year journey from new grad to consulting director. Privileged to see behind the curtain of some of the largest corporations today, he recognized the system was broken and quit at the height of his career. Though he'd been working the least but making the most money he ever had, he bet everything, including his money, reputation, and time, on trying to fix the problem of the corporate jungle. He shares his insights in his new book, Hacking the Corporate Jungle: How to Work Less, Make More and Actually Like Your Life. When he's not writing, researching, and speaking, Sean spends his time riding his bike, visiting art museums, snowboarding, and playing with his two young sons. Learn more at seanmcmann.com.
Article Recap:
Living life fully requires making time for joy instead of waiting for “someday.” The story of a sudden heart attack serves as a wake-up call, highlighting the unpredictability of life. By identifying what truly matters, recognizing what we would regret losing, and taking action now, we can ensure our lives are rich with fulfillment. Practical steps, such as listing dreams and acting on them, help turn aspirations into reality.
#LivingLifeFully #MakeTimeForJoy #NoMoreWaiting #LifeLessons #SeizeTheMoment #PrioritizeHappiness