Hi

When you reach the autumn of your life, as I have done, you tend to reflect on the things that have mattered to you the most and how little importance you place on some of the things that seemed to matter at the time but no longer do.

I made this list recently of what matters most to me. 

• Trying to be a good person
• Helping other people whenever I can
• Making a difference
• Taking care of my family
• Being lucky enough to have a lifelong partner
• Achieving my big goals 
• The places I’ve visited
• The people I’ve met who have inspired me
• The experiences I’ve had
• The books I’ve read

As I compiled this list, I realised that my physical possessions, what people thought of and said about me, people who’d taken advantage of me and I’m sure other things that seemed to matter at the time, well…. didn’t matter at all but probably took up time and energy that I could have used more productively.

Remember that today is the youngest you will ever be again. And tomorrow is not guaranteed. Why not spend time on the things that really matter?

Noel Guilford