I Have 1612 Weeks To Live
A midlife reflection on time
In his eye-opening book ‘4000 Weeks’, Oliver Burkeman offers us a stark reminder of our mortality. If we live to 80 years old we are granted a mere 4160 weeks on this planet. I am 49 years old, which means I have 1612 weeks left to live, if I’m to make it to the merry age of 80. Honestly, that statistic blows my mind! Yet it also provides a profound opportunity to explore how I should live my life to the fullest.
Shortly after walking the dogs with my friend earlier this morning (in the dark), I was processing what we discussed and we discussed lots! Both of us divorced, both self employed, sharing what we had achieved, discussing what more we wanted from life and what was important to us as midlife mothers. It made me pause for thought. It left me thinking about the fragility of life. And the fact that I actually don’t know if I have 12 minutes, 12 days, 12 months or 12 years ahead of me. And how much I take life for granted.
When I’m in this sort of mood, trying not to worry about s…