If we’re lucky enough to live until 80 — a few years more than the average life expectancy in the U.S. — we each get 4,160 weeks in this beautiful world.
That’s about 29,000 days from birth to death to learn, love, feel, succeed, fail, explore, try new things, teach and empower.
By the time we hit 40, we have about 2,000 weekends left before our 80th birthday. That’s if we make it that long! I don’t say all this to be depressing. It’s just the reality. And it doesn’t feel like enough time. I think it’s important to recognize and remind ourselves often — perhaps daily — that life is precious and can be stripped from us in awful, twisted and unexpected ways with little to no warning.
I was standing in the middle of St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City when I asked an Australian couple in their early 60s to take a picture of me in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. They happily agreed and we talked about our travels. They were on a three-month trip that just started in Milan. My trip that started in London is extending into its third month and will soon end in Milan.
“Don’t postpone adventure,” the gentleman said.
The couple — now in retirement — explained their mission to get to as many places as possible before they are older, sicker and perhaps not as mobile to explore cities on foot and navigate the harder-to-reach places.
“Q. T. L. — quality time left,” she told me. “We’re using all of it.”
When I start thinking deeply about time as the ultimate luxury it makes me want to prioritize my passions, loved ones, adventure and makes me worry much less about personal struggles, failures or minor inconveniences. There is simply not enough time to complain incessantly or dwell on the negative.
Recognizing time as a luxury comes with the realization that life itself is a gift — every moment is a gift.
When you’re most frustrated in life, ask yourself: will this matter in two hours, two days, two weeks or two months? Time is too precious to get angry or hold a grudge over minor things. I’ve been thinking so much about time wasted being angry, frustrated or unhappy that could be better spent planning, forgiving, forgetting or mending.
I reflected on my conversation with the Australian couple as I biked from Vatican City back to Rome and even shared the couple’s philosophy with another Australian couple a few days later while hiking the Blue Trail in Cinque Terre. Now, I’m sharing Q.T.L. with all of you — and I hope you’ll share it with the people in your life.
5 gifts from my two weeks in Italy:
1.) Making friends with the doorman at Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento. He tipped me off to the hotel restaurant at the end of a tree-lined walkway and garden. I was soon sitting solo at a five-person table on the patio with panoramic views of the cliffs and dozens of yachts on the Tyrrhenian Sea. I looked around and gave a friendly nod to the waiter who approached with a menu. “Are you a guest here,” she said. I told her I was not and ordered a beer. I sat in silence for two hours. 10€ well spent.
2.) Exploring (and photographing) Pompeii. I was pretty speechless for four hours. Once buried in ash, the unbelievable excavation and preservation gives a window into 1st century Roman life. Despite all the loss, it’s hard not to feel the energy of a bustling and hardworking town frozen in time.
3.) The six solo travelers I met in Rome outside the wildly popular Trattoria Da Enzo. This place is famous and a long line builds outside the restaurant before opening almost every night. We all found each other in line and chatted about our travels over red wine, Cacio e pepe and tiramisu. Delicious!
4.) Rome’s history and beauty! The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.
5.) The Blue Path in Cinque Terre. Hands down the most beautiful hike of my life! I started in Monterosso and ended in Riomaggiore. The seven-mille route through five villages took me about seven hours thanks to all the hills. The beauty is remarkable with sweeping views of the coast while passing through olive groves and vineyards. Cinque Terre might just be heaven!
(Bonus) A train delay in Pisa. (Yes, a train delay turned into a gift!) My train to Cinque Terre was delayed by 55-minutes in Pisa. I left the train station, biked seven minutes to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, walked around, took a few pictures and biked back to train station just in time for my departure! I’m thankful for the fellow tourist who coached me through this picture — making sure my hands were in the right position!
Our time is constantly slipping away. It’s out of our control. However, how we spend our time is very much within our control. Use your Quality Time Left (Q.T.L) to live the life you want. And don’t you dare forget to smile along the way!
The Coffee Break 
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