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Life Actually Isn't Short, So Stop Making Excuses

The average life expectancy is 72 years, which is a pretty long time

Callie Spencer

Apr 08, 2019

University of Oklahoma

424

Life Actually Isn't Short, So Stop Making Excuses

https://pixabay.com/photos/smartphone-face-man-old-baby-1790833/

It's common for people to claim that life is short. And they use it as an excuse to spend money, take risks, and make mistakes. That saying has always bothered me because I don't think it's true.

I'm only 20 years old. If I live to the average age, I won't die for another 52 years. That means I can still live for two and a half time longer than I already have. By that logic, I'm barely getting started. I still have to graduate college, get a career, start a family, and more. According to some, I haven't even entered the "real world" yet.

I understand that it's easy to fall prey to the "life is short" trap. You feel tempted to force things and move faster so you don't run out of time. I feel that way with relationships. Not many 20-year-olds have never had one, so it's easy to believe that I need to make it happen before I lose my chance.

The truth is, I have plenty of time. My parents didn't get married and have kids until their 30s. That's true for lots of people. There's no rush because, chances are, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.

If you always tell yourself it's okay to eat ice cream because life is short, you might end up obese with health problems that, ironically, shorten your otherwise long life.

If you spend a lot of money because life is short, you might end up broke and spending the rest of your surprisingly long life paying off debts.

If you do dangerous things because life is short, you might cut your life short.

It's time to stop believing the lie that life is short and you should do whatever you want. You should savor your life. Take things slow. Cherish every moment. Enjoy your innocent children and your years of curious adolescence. Enjoy learning and exploring and falling in love. Enjoy raising your kids and holding your grandchildren. Travel the world but don't forget your home.

Spend money only if you have it. But save money, too. You've got a long future ahead of you, so be prepared for it. Life is long and beautiful. You'll have ups and downs, but embrace them both. Stop making excuses and slow down. You have your whole life ahead of you.

I told my mom that I think life isn't short. This is what she said:

True! Sometimes I get tired just thinking about it!

She's only 55.

PEOPLE OLDER THAN 72:

My grandma: 75

My other grandma: 78

My grandpa: 83

My friend's great grandpa: 91

My friend's boyfriend's grandpa: 98

My friend's aunt: 101

My friend's great grandma: 102

Someone my friend knows: 106

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Life Actually Isn't Short, So Stop Making Excuses

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"Uh? Eating? Am I Eating? Yeah..."

"Oh, yeah. I've been eating super healthy"

"Sorry, I can't talk! I'm studying!"

"I aced my final! No worries!"

"My grades? Uh..my professor hasn't updated them in awhile.."

"Everyone failed that test. Not just me!"

"I go to class literally every day. I'm NEVER late"

"I really try to just spend money on necessities.."

"No, I didn't call just to ask for money.."

"I'm feeling really motivated about the coming semester.."

"I'm really right on track to graduate"

I'll be there for you.

1. MONICA: Welcome to the real world. It sucks. You’re gonna love it!

2. JOEY: You can’t just give up! Is that what a dinosaur would do?

3. JOEY: Here come the meat sweats.

4. WILL: We started a rumor.

RACHEL: What rumor?

PHOEBE: Oh, come on Will! Just take off your shirt and tell us!

5. ROSS: Wow, you guys sure have a lot of books about being a lesbian.

SUSAN: Well, you know, you have to take a course. Otherwise, they don’t let you do it.

6. PHOEBE: Come on Ross, you’re a paleontologist. Dig a little deeper.

7. JANICE: OH… MY… GOD!!!!

8. CHANDLER: WHOOPAH

9. JOEY: Well, I’m sorry if I’m not a middle-aged black woman. And I’m also sorry if sometimes I go to the wrong audition.

10. JOEY: Hey, Ross, I got a science question: If the homo sapiens were, in fact, HOMO sapiens… is that why they’re extinct?

ROSS: Joey, homo sapiens are people.

JOEY: Hey, I’m not judgin’!

11. PHOEBE: If it’s a girl, Phoebe. And if it’s a boy, Pheebo.

12. CHANDLER: Hold on, there’s something different.

ROSS: I went to that tanning place your wife suggested.

CHANDLER: Was that place the sun?

13. JANICE: 15 Yemen Road, Yemen.

14. JOEY: Paper… Snow… It’s a ghost!

15. JOEY: Is it obvious I’m wearing six sweaters?

16. PHOEBE: THIS IS BRAND NEW INFORMATION!

17. JOEY: What’s not to like? Custard? Good. Jam? Good. Meat? GOOD.

18. JOEY: It’s a moo point. It’s like a cow’s opinion. It doesn’t matter. It’s moo.

19. PHOEBE: Oh I wish I could, but I don’t want to.

20. CHANDLER: Condoms?

JOEY: We don’t know how long we’re gonna be stuck in here. We might have to repopulate the world.

CHANDLER: And CONDOMS are the way to do that?

21. ROSS: PI-VOT! PI-VOT! PI-VOT!

22. JOEY: Why do you have to break up with her? Be a man. Just stop calling.

23. PHOEBE: Je m’appelle Claude.

JOEY: Jet aplee blooo.

24. CHANDLER: I’m not so good with the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?

25. JOEY: JOEY DOESN’T SHARE FOOD.

26. JOEY: I swear to god, Dad. That’s not how they measure pants!

27. ROSS: You could not be any more wrong. You could try, but you would not be successful.

28. ROSS: So, uh, what did the insurance company say?

CHANDLER: Oh, they said uh, “You don’t have insurance here so stop calling us.”

29. CHANDLER: Gum would be perfection.

30. JOEY: Look at me! I’m Chandler! Could I BE wearing any more clothes?

31. MONICA: My motto is get out before they go down.

JOEY: That is so not my motto.

32. RACHEL: Oh are you setting Ross up with someone? Does she have a wedding dress?

33. RACHEL: Hey, just so you know it’s NOT that common, it DOESN’T happen to every guy and it IS a big deal!

34. JOEY: How you doin’?

35. JOEY: That’s right, I stepped up! She’s my friend and she needed help. If I had to, I’d pee on any one of you!

36. MONICA: Fine! Judge all you want but married a lesbian, left a man at the altar, fell in love with a gay ice dancer, threw a girl’s wooden leg in the fire, LIVES IN A BOX.

37. RACHEL: Go tell him he’s cute. What’s the worst that could happen?

MONICA: He could hear me.

38. PHOEBE: But they don’t know that we know they know we know!

39. PHOEBE: Smelly cat, smel-ly cat, what are they feeding you? Smelly cat, smel-ly cat, it’s not your fault.

40. JOEY: Suppose we’re a divorced couple.

CHANDLER: Okay.

JOEY: And I got custody of the kid, right? Now, suppose the kid dies and I gotta buy a new kid.

41. JOEY: Oh, sorry. Did I get ya?

CHANDLER: No, you didn’t get me! It’s an electric drill. You get me, you kill me!

42. ROSS: WE WERE ON A BREAK!

43. RACHEL: He’s a transponster!

44. MONICA: SEVEN! SEVEN! SEVEN! SEVEN!

45. MONICA: You were my midnight mystery kisser?

ROSS: You were my first kiss with Rachel?

MONICA: You were my first kiss EVER?!

CHANDLER: What did I marry into?

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