Sometimes things happen that remind us how fleeting life really is. Today, I reconnected with the family of my childhood best friend, Andrew. He and I met when we were 5 or 6 and were best friends until my family moved from South Carolina when I was 12. We initially kept in touch, but as we got older we spoke less and less. He came to my wedding in 2002 – and that may have been the last time I spoke with him.

I’ve often thought about him, wondered what he was doing. I even Googled his name, and searched for him on Facebook a time or two. But I never really tried to find him. I never really tried to reconnect.

Tonight his mom, who was like a mother to me, found me on Facebook and soon after I learned that Andrew had passed away. Wow.

What Will You Regret?

I don’t regret many things I’ve done in my life. In fact, the only things that I truly regret are the things I haven’t done. Today, I just added one more to that list. I wish I had reconnected with my old friend before it was too late. I regret not being a better friend.

This has reminded me to never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Hug your parents. Tell your children you love them. Reconnect with an old friend. Do it today, because you may not be able to tomorrow.

Don’t Waste Time

Andrew was my age and died suddenly, before his time. That is incredibly sobering news. I am not one to spend much time watching TV or playing video games, but honestly I do my share of time-wasting. We all do, in our own ways.

I don’t want to waste my life… I want it to mean something. A few days ago, I wondered aloud on Twitter:

Do you ever wonder what it was you were put on this Earth to do? I want to make a difference… but how?less than a minute ago via TweetDeckBrandon Eley
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I don’t know what it was I was put here to do, but I do know I am going to figure it out. I’m not going to wait until next year, next month, or even tomorrow. I’m starting right now. I am going to make a promise to myself to not only figure out how I want to make a difference, but start doing it.

Don’t Wait For Your Wake-Up Call

We all get wake-up calls from time to time. Sometimes it’s a small one… something someone says just resonates with us or we barely escape a car accident. But from time to time, we get big wake-up calls. I got one tonight.

Don’t wait for your own wake-up call to make changes in your life. Let this little reminder be a wake-up call for you too. Now is the perfect time to take a look at your dreams, your career, your life. Do you wish you spent more time with your family? Do you wish you could start your own business? Do you really wish you could go back to school, but “don’t have time?”

Don’t put it off anymore, because life is short and you may wake up one day and realize your whole life has passed you by. Or you may not wake up at all.