Please, Keep Your Dream Alive
Most People Die at 25 and Buried at 75 — Benjamin Franklin
There’s a poignant quote often attributed to Benjamin Franklin that says, "Some people die at 25 and aren’t buried until 75."
These are not the deaths that make us mourn or send flowers; these are the deaths of the spirit, the slow fading of dreams, the quiet resignation to a life of mere existence.
The Death of Dreams
At 25, many of us stand on the brink of life, full of potential, energy, and dreams. The world is ours, and we feel unstoppable. But as the years roll on, the reality of life’s challenges begins to weigh us down.
The dreams that once seemed so attainable start to feel out of reach. Society’s expectations, financial burdens, and the fear of failure can slowly erode the fire within us.
Without realizing it, we start to make compromises, small at first, but eventually, they add up. We accept jobs that don’t inspire us because they pay the bills. We settle for relationships that don’t fulfill us because we fear loneliness. We put our passions on hold, telling ourselves there will be time later. And so, the vibrant 25-year-old, full of life and possibility, begins to fade, replaced by a not so unfulfilling life.
Living on Autopilot
For many, this gradual surrender to a an autopilot routine with no specific goal. We wake up, go to work, come home, watch TV, sleep, and repeat. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and before we know it, years have passed. We become so accustomed to this routine that we forget what it feels like to truly live.
We stop challenging ourselves, stop setting new goals, stop striving for growth. Our days become predictable, and our lives, once full of color and excitement, turn grayscale.
We may be alive in the physical sense, but spiritually, emotionally, we have died long ago. What happen to us really ?
The Fear of Change and The Fear of Failure
One of the main reasons people fall into this trap is fear. Fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of the unknown. We cling to the familiar, even if it’s unfulfilling, because the thought of venturing into new territory is terrifying. We convince ourselves that it’s too late to change, that we’re too old, too settled, too whatever. But the truth is, it’s never too late.
You can’t add days to your life, but you can add life to your days, so take risk!
Reclaiming Your Life
The good news is that just as you can die at 25 and be buried at 75, you can also be reborn at any age. It starts with a decision, a conscious choice to break free from the chains of mediocrity and start living with purpose.
So, What is Your Dream ?
Start small. Reignite an old hobby, take a course that interests you, or challenge yourself to do something out of your comfort zone. Surround yourself with people who inspire you, who push you to be better.
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is not the opposite of success. Remember either you win or learn.
Life is too short to live on autopilot. Don’t let the fire within you be extinguished by the pressures of adulthood or the fear of the unknown. You may have died at 25, but it’s never too late to reborn and live fully, passionately, and with purpose.
Remember, it’s not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years. So, dig deep, shake off the dust, and start living before it’s time to be buried.
Not the years, but the life that count
