Staying at a Caravan park this week, I awoke yesterday to the sound of someone yelling at 5am.

We opened our curtains at 7am to have breakfast, and discovered two police cars near our bus. I was really keen to find out what had gone on, as having 3young kids, I’m always very aware of danger.

10:30am saw a body being carried to an awaiting van out front. Loved ones lined the driveway with tears and sobs of grief. It was a sobering site.

I heard a bit more detail later in the day, and was somewhat relieved to hear that it was actually a “natural” death, and there was no suspected foul play as far as the police were concerned.

Personally I don’t believe that this death was “natural”. Let me explain. Although this person died in their sleep, they had been working really long hours, 7days a week for most of their life, and were only in their late 50’s. The reason I heard the cry’s at 5am is because that’s when the family were getting up to go to work, and realized that one of them wasn’t waking.

I’ve heard (and believe) that one of the keys to health is to live with Passion. I think it’s a tragedy when I hear of someone who works their life away year after year and misses out on the quality time with their family, or enjoying the activities which they are passionate about.

It may be as simple as reading your child a bedtime story or having an eye to eye moment with your loved one…

What are you doing today which is worth it?

When telling new people I meet about our current situation we’ve chosen for ourselves, the most common statements are;

I could never do that, I need my house!

I wish I could do that!

I’m sure you don’t have to think for long to know which category you fit into, in fact it could evoke quite a strong emotion in you.

It’s interesting, because those people who respond with “I wish I could do that” are actually positioning themselves as victims of their circumstance. Whether that be financial based, career based or other, they are saying they want one thing yet continuing in the opposite direction.

Now the truth is, it’s neither wrong nor right that they stay in their current employment and don’t take up the opportunity for travel right now. In fact, it is true that the opportunity of a lifetime presents itself about once a fortnight.

I believe it actually comes down to values. If I value something strong enough, I need to abandon all else and pursue that thing or I am living in-conflict with my values which will create an internal battle, and if you live your life with that kind of incongruence it’s only a matter of time before you either burn out or just plain get sick.

Take some time to consider if where you spend your time is actually on the things you value the most.

When you get to a ripe old age, will you look back and be content with how you lived your life.

The relationships you built, the causes you supported, the way you took care of yourself?