We often forget how precious and uncertain life is. We tend to think that we have all the time in the world, but we don’t. According to the latest United Nations Population Division estimates, the average life expectancy at birth for the world population in 2023 is 73.2 years. That means that on average, we have about 26,800 days to live on this planet. But this is just an average. Depending on where you live, your health, your lifestyle, and your luck, you may have more or less time than that.
For instance, if you live in Hong Kong, Japan, or Macao, you have the longest life expectancy in the world, with over 84 years. That gives you about 30,600 days to savor life. On the contrary, if you live in Afghanistan, Africa, or Chad, you have the shortest life expectancy in the world, with less than 63 years. That means you have only about 23,000 days to make your mark on the world. And these are just the extremes. There are many other factors that can influence your lifespan, such as genetics, diseases, accidents, wars, violence, pollution, climate change, and so on.
So what does this imply for us? It implies that we should not squander our time on things that do not matter. It implies that we should concentrate on what makes us happy and fulfilled. It implies that we should appreciate every moment and every person that we have in our lives. It implies that we should live with gratitude and compassion. It implies that we should pursue our dreams and passions. It implies that we should make a positive difference in the world.
Of course, this is not easy to do. We all have obligations and responsibilities that we cannot neglect. We all have challenges and difficulties that we have to overcome. We all have fears and doubts that we have to face. We all have limitations and constraints that we have to accept. But we also have choices and opportunities that we can seize. We also have strengths and talents that we can develop. We also have goals and aspirations that we can achieve. We also have love and joy that we can share.
The key is to find the right balance between what we have to do and what we want to do. The key is to prioritize what is important and meaningful over what is urgent and trivial. The key is to align our actions with our values and purpose. The key is to live intentionally and authentically.
Life is short, but it can also be long enough if we live it well. We may not be able to control how much time we have left, but we can control how we use it. We can make every day count. We can make every day a masterpiece.
