No Double Dipping: 3 Tips to Living as if You Could Die Tomorrow

“Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.” –Chinese proverb

The scene: a 4th of July party in Southern California. The host was carrying a trey of appetizers. Standing next to me was my cousin from a foreign country in which catered parties are few and far between. My cousin took an appetizer, dipped in the sauce, and tasted it.

“Yum,” he said.

While others were reaching for their own appetizer, my cousin again dipped his appetizer in the public sauce. As if someone screeched a chalk board with their fingernails, the immediate surroundings froze.

My cousin felt terribly while the host laughed and returned to the kitchen to dump the sauce. No harm, no foul. But let’s face it, double dipping in public is a bit gross.  Of course, the ideal strategy is to get the most you can from a single dip. And this holds true not just at a party but also in life. We all know those “lifetime double dippers” who take everything for granted and feel like the world owes them. When we approach life with an ungrateful, lazy attitude, it’s almost as disenchanting as the public double dip.

Human beings are fragile creatures. Each and every day we hear those stories of a life being swept away in an instant. I recently read about Jason William Schultz who sat in a bus stop and told another, “This is the best cup of coffee I’ve ever had.” Moments later, a senior citizen lost control of his car and plowed into the bus stop, instantly claiming Schultz’s life. Here one moment. Gone the next.  You just never know. We best live each day to the fullest. Following are 3 tips for living life as if you only get one dip:

1. Follow your Heart

I recently was invited to hang out with a bunch of friends. Upon arriving, I realized one of the friends was a super, super famous musician. I’ll be totally honest in saying I was a bit starstruck. Over the course of the evening, my awe faded and I realized this super famous person was also very down-to-earth and very cool. There was definitely something unique about her, something that we see in other human beings who command respect and become leaders. Such people need not be famous. They exist in every town in every country. Such people are those who can hear past the chatter of the world and look within. As Herman Hesse writes, “I wanted to try to live in accord with the promptings which came from my true self. Why is that so difficult?”

2. Confidence

Let’s face it. Some people are born confident. And others, like me, are prone to self-doubt. Either way, we always have a choice. And when we choose confidence, everything changes. Emerson said, “If I’ve lost confidence in myself, I have the Universe against me.”

3. Strong Mind

In the Western world, we emphasize a strong body, toned muscles, firm abs. But in the ancient Eastern world, there’s as much, if not more emphasis on a strong mind. When the mind is strong, we overcome self-doubt and have the tenacity to move past our naysayers, obstacles, and limitations. Gandhi said, “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”

Most every human wakes up each morning with the sense that life can be difficult. But with purpose, confidence, and mental strength, we’re more likely to recognize that life can be beautiful. And while its easy for a moment to be filled with angst, I share in my book, Yeah Dave’s Guide to Livin’ the Moment, how a moment can just as soon be enriched with a bite of chocolate, the orgasmic release of laughter, the softness of a sunset.  Barring some incredible scientific discovery of life after death, we best rise each day knowing we only get one dip. Make the most of it.