Throughout different points in my life, I reset my perspective by thinking about what it is I'll look back on with pride and/or regret in my life on my deathbed. I spent a lot of time when I was younger talking to older people, and it's finally in my late 30s that I'm feeling age enough to start making smarter decisions. Most humans died much younger than me. By the time they were my age, 2Pac, Jesus, Alexander the Great, and so many other names we all remember were already dead. I'm lucky to live as long as I have and to have the internet. I may not have the same accomplishments as those people, but I also understand better the marketing and politics and such behind why we remember those people. Eminem, for example, is just the face of a well-oiled machine. Phil DeFranco too. James Patterson. Donald Trump. No one person can accomplish what these people have. It takes a group of people focused on making it happen. Even with that, there's still luck and skill involved, because everyone's going for the same goals.
It's funny, because I always thought success would suddenly change my life, but I've long been successful. Even billionaires (which I'm not) can't escape the inevitability of death. We all die one day, and I remind myself of that enough to live each day like I'm dying but not enough to miss out on enjoying life by focusing on what will happen anyway. I was dead for billions of years before I ever existed, so it's time to stop and smell the roses.
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