What If You're Living a Near-Life Experience?

A Different Kind of List...

It happened mid-conversation. One of those moments that makes you stop and sit straighter in your chair.

Karen Salmansohn and I were talking about mortality—but not in a grim, philosophical way.

We were talking about urgency. Joy. Meaning. The kind of clarity that only comes when you realize that life doesn’t wait forever. And she said something that landed with force:

“Most people aren’t afraid of death.
They’re afraid of reaching the end…
and realizing they never really lived.”

That line wrecked me a little. Because I know what it’s like to be “successful” on paper, while feeling like something essential is missing. I’ve had those stretches where every day is packed, but none of it feels aligned. Where you're not in crisis... but you’re not fully alive, either.

That’s what Karen calls a near-life experience.

And chances are, you’ve had one too…

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