The Gift And Burden Of Knowing Your Expiry Date
Would life be easier if we knew our expiry date?
A basic human need is certainty—the comfort of knowing what lies ahead and feeling in control of our future. Ironically, another equally essential need is uncertainty—the thrill, the adventure, the surprises that make life worth living. These opposing needs coexist, shaping our experiences in ways we sometimes don’t notice.
Would we be more prepared if we knew our last day on earth? Would the certainty of that final date help us live life to the fullest, or would it make each day feel like another step toward our inevitable end?
I often wonder if Maddie had an expiry date in mind. She was only 14, but sometimes she might have known, perhaps weeks, months in advance. I can’t help but wonder if she felt she was inching towards her own finish line, and whether that knowledge shaped her in ways I could never understand. These thoughts are painful, but they’re part of my reality—one I can’t escape, no matter how much I wish I could.
My work today involves helping others prepare, ensuring their financial needs are met, their families are cared for, their wishes are known, and their legacy articulated. Yet more than half of the people I meet seem to think they know something I don’t. They live without the same urgency I carry. They often don’t see the mess that could be left behind—the burden their loved ones might face in grief and sorting through chaos.
I want my clients to avoid that outcome. To make choices now that bring a sense of peace, so their families have the space to grieve without needing to pick up countless, scattered pieces. The process isn’t easy—facing hard truths, uncomfortable conversations and making difficult decisions. But there’s peace of mind at the end, knowing your loved ones are protected, and that nothing was left to chance.
We may never know our expiry date, but we have the power to prepare, to bring some order to the chaos, and perhaps in doing so, to live more fully each day we’re given.
