It’s a confronting question, but a powerful one: If you knew you only had 24 hours left, how would you spend them?

Would you gather your family and tell them how much you love them? Watch the sunrise. Call an old friend. Laugh, cry, forgive, or finally speak words you’ve kept inside for years? Or would you sit quietly, reflecting on the journey of your life and all the moments – big and small – that made it worthwhile? Or would you go to work and try and make that extra sale you’ve been chasing?

As human beings, we often rush through life ticking off to-do lists, chasing deadlines, and putting off the things that truly matter for “one day.” Yet when time feels short, our priorities shift. What makes life meaningful isn’t the busyness or the material markers of success; it’s connection, love, authenticity, and the experiences that make our hearts swell.

Imagining 24 hours left to live brings clarity. It invites us to ask: Am I living a life that reflects who I am and what I value? It reminds us that what makes us most human is our relationships, our ability to love and be loved, to forgive, to share stories, and to leave a positive imprint on others.
So, take a moment to consider: if you had only one day left, what would matter most? And more importantly, what’s stopping you from making time for those things today, while you still have the gift of time?

Australian nurse and author Bronnie Ware spent years caring for people at the end of life, and she recorded their reflections in her book The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. The regrets she heard most often weren’t about money, possessions, or promotions – they were about wishing they’d lived more authentically, spent more time with loved ones, expressed their feelings, allowed themselves to be happier, and not worked so hard. Her insights are a poignant reminder that it’s never too early to realign our lives with what truly matters.

According to Bronnie Ware, the Top Five Regrets of the Dying are:

I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
I wish that I had let myself be happier.

So, I’ll leave you with this: What would you do with your 24 hours – and how can you start living that way today?