One Life Remaining

I think an individual’s lifetime is very similar to a playing a video game…

You learn a lot on the beginning levels — testing new tools and knowledge as you come across them and learn how the game is played.

As you get older, the knowledge you pick up in school and by reading books and by having conversations with new friends and mentors you develop game strategies to employ as you advance to higher levels and the game play becomes increasingly more difficult.

At each level you encounter a “big boss” where you apply the knowledge and wisdom you gained in order to overcome the biggest challenge you’ve face in your life so far, and the reward is earning more experience to apply in your next level of maturity and progress.

The game gets harder the more you play it.
Unexpected puzzles and hurdles must be overcome in order to advance.

The biggest difference between your real life and video games is that in a game you get multiple lives.

In the old arcade games of the 80s you typically started with 3 lives and could earn additional lives by earning points in the game.

In the real world, you start (and end) the game with a single life.

Make it last.
Make the most of it.
And your one life will be enough to get you through to the end of the game.