“How do you want it to end Howey?” That was a question a buddy of mine asked me as we sat around a fire pit a few years ago. The stillness of the night and the warm, glowing fire drew him into deep thought.

I wasn’t sure what he meant so I asked, “How do I want what to end?”

“Your time here on earth. What do you want your life to look like the day you meet your maker? Where do you want to be, what do you want to be doing, what do you want to have accomplished, who do you want around you?”

I had never given that much thought, but it is a great question. Since then, I do have a vision in my mind’s eye of all the above. I know where I want to be, what I want to be doing, what I still want to achieve, and who I want around me. It’s a beautiful vision that gives me comfort, but I am not there yet, not even close.

I am not trying to be morbid, but none of us are going to get out of life alive. As I have mentioned before in this column, I turned sixty last year and a sense of urgency has gobbled my thoughts.

I bought an hour class a few weeks ago to remind me of how quickly time slips away. I’ll turn it over occasionally and watch the sand trickle down slowly and quietly to the bottom of the glass. The sand represents the time I have left on earth, and once it runs out, that’s it – game over.

I can remember walking through the living room as a child when my mother was watching the soap opera, Days of our Lives.

A large hourglass appeared on the screen and a voice came on saying, “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”

I know it’s from a soap opera, but it is true. I refuse to allow anyone or anything to steal my day. It’s my sand and I can get it back, plus I don’t know how many grains of sand I have left.

Brothers Bert and John Jacobs went from selling t-shirts out of their van with $78 in the bank, to $100 million in sales with the simple message, “Life is Good.” You may have one of their t-shirts.

Life is good, and I have learned it will be what you make it. If you want to start a business, start. If you want to write a book, write. If you want to learn to play the guitar, take lessons. The sand does not stop so why should we?

Be true to yourself.

According to a survey conducted with hospice nurses, the number one regret of the dying was not having the courage to be true to themself. They felt like they lived a life of what others expected of them instead of chasing their dreams.

That’s sad because there is no more sand left in the hourglass.

I do know how I’d like it to end for me when I am old and gray, but that may not happen. Regardless of that, I intend to spend the rest of my days being true to myself. That is not selfish, it’s just me trying to be the best version of myself.

I owe that to the people I love. In that, there is no regret.

“Lucky ain’t even lucky, go to make your own breaks. It’s my life and it’s now or never. I ain’t gonna live forever. I just want to live while I’m alive. Don’t bend, don’t break, baby, don’t back down. It’s my life.”

-Jon Bon Jovi

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Todd Howey is a columnist for BrownwoodNews.com whose articles appear on Fridays. Email comments to [email protected].