Do We Really Need to Take Life So Seriously?

For years, I carried this lingering question, why don’t I take life more seriously? I’d look around at people I crossed paths with—people who seemed so focused, so driven, so serious about everything—and I wondered if I was somehow missing something. Was I lacking? Was I doing life wrong?

But somewhere along the way—probably in these last few years—I realized the truth, taking life too seriously is a waste of time. From the moment we’re born, we’re on a path toward death. That’s not meant to be morbid—it’s just reality. We spend our younger years in good health, our bodies strong, our energy high. But as we move into our 40s, 50s, and beyond, things inevitably change. Our bodies slow down. Life feels shorter. So, the question for me became less about why am I not more serious? and more about why should I be serious at all?

Here’s the thing, nobody is going to get to their deathbed and say, “I wish I had been more serious. I wish I worked harder. I wish I skipped out on fun, on travel, on laughter, on love.” That’s not what we regret. What we regret is not living fully, not spending time with the people we love, not letting ourselves be joyful or playful.

So, why do we get caught in this cycle of seriousness? Why do we spend five days a week doing something we don’t like, just for two short days of “freedom”? Why do we chase lifestyles that force us into jobs and routines that steal our time—time we’ll never get back?

The truth is, we get to choose. We may not choose every circumstance, but we do get to design our lives. It might be challenging, it might take sacrifice, and it may not look like everyone else’s path—but it’s possible. You don’t have to work a job that drains you. You don’t have to carry the weight of an expensive lifestyle if it keeps you stuck. You can choose less, so you can live more.

Selfishly—and I use that word intentionally—I’ve learned that living in alignment with myself isn’t just for me. It’s actually better for the people I love. When I’m happy, when I’m choosing joy, when I’m free to be playful, I have more to give to those around me.

My girlfriend, Kelly, has been one of my biggest teachers in this. She radiates joy. She doesn’t take life too seriously. She has this light that shines to everyone around her, and being with her has opened my eyes even more. It’s no surprise—her parents are the same way. And here I am at 50, still learning. Maybe later than I thought I should, but never too late.

So I’ll leave you with this, life is short, and it’s guaranteed to end. Why not let go of the seriousness? Why not choose joy, playfulness, and love? Why not live in a way where you’ll look back and say, “I really lived. I really loved. I really was present.”

Give it a shot. You might be surprised how beautiful life feels when you stop taking it so seriously.