Why I value moments over milestones

And why I think you should too

Today’s office

Hi! My name is Bree, and I write about how to have better days at work and in life. Subscribe for everything from 20 short rules for better days at work to Grandpa Mornings. For even more, pre-order Today Was Fun!

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Every milestone is born of a million little moments.

A graduation is made up of of a million pages turned. An anniversary blooms from the compost of a million tears and winks. The peak of retirement is so tall because it’s built on a foundation of a million Mondays.

Milestones are beautiful. And yet, if they’re our only joy—if the moments that preceded them were valued as input alone—we’ve lost. Our finite days on this planet are too high a price to pay for the hope of cake one day.

I choose moments. I love Mondays. I don’t and won’t sacrifice them. Today, try to do one of these three things, and revel in what a lovely day it is to be alive:

…Face the sun with your eyes closed for one minute and bask. Think of someone you’ve lost who isn’t able to do the same. Enjoy it double, for you both. (for you, Jimmy)

…Procrastinate work and enjoy the people around you. Ask your team what kind of socks they’re currently wearing and how they feel about the cultural whiplash between no-shows and tube socks. Let it be spirited.

…Pick a delightful word you’ll say today after every task you accomplish. You sent the email? Boop. Finished the agenda? Boop. Ordered new, cooler socks? Boop boop.

You’ve got one shot at today. Get that last drop.

In the end, everyone is aware of this:
nobody keeps any of what he has,
and life is only a borrowing of bones.

The best thing was learning not to have too much
either of sorrow or of joy,
to hope for the chance of a last drop,
to ask more from honey and from twilight.

-Pablo Neruda