You Have 27,375 Days Left to Live

Quiet Clarity is a 2x/week newsletter and podcast for people who want to build a life of presence, depth, and deliberate intention.

I was reading Seneca on the Shortness of Life and came across a passage that inspired me to write.

What Seneca is saying is that we think life is long and we have unlimited time. We don't even realize we're wasting it.

So we argue with people, try to prove points, do random meaningless things—only to realize at the end of our lives that the time we spent actually living was a fraction of what we had.

Seneca is basically grabbing us by the collar and saying,

"Listen, you fool, this is what you made your entire life about.

You went after desires, you chased the 'charms' of society.

But you didn't even question it, did you?"

So then what should we be focusing on?

Seneca reminds us to devote ourselves to an idea. To contribute to something deeper, where you lose track of time.

Where you are in the moment, in joy. Your mind is free and flying.

It's not accomplishment in the sense of doing more—it's accomplishing from a deep sense of purpose.

You are simply being and through that being comes creation.

For a long time, I was chasing what was out there. How could I prove myself to my friends? What's the best way for me to attract that girl?

On the outside, I was having fun—chasing girls, going to parties, getting validation.

But deep down, I felt lost and lonely. I was living for others.

But none of it was how I'd spend my time if I didn't have much left.

You don't give your money away carelessly, do you? So why was I giving my time away?

If someone said, "Srikar, you have one year left to live," I would've scrambled.

Because beneath all the noise, I knew something was off.

So I asked myself: How could I always be complete?

And that’s when I realized I had to stop chasing things that left me drained or wanting more, because those things kept me from being present everywhere else in my life.

When I first stopped, the void was empty.

I had no idea what to do.

Then came slight pulls of curiosity.

They weren’t obvious, but they felt light. So I followed them.

I started making content, which led to starting a business, which led to writing these newsletters.

All things that made me lose track of time.

And through losing track of time, I discovered a truer sense of clarity and purpose.

That clarity changed everything.

Why? Because I wasn't chasing anymore.

I was much more in the moment, experiencing it all.

That freedom made everything lighter. Each day began to feel complete in itself.

For the first time, I was truly present for my life.

So how do you make the most of your time?

Naval Ravikant puts it perfectly (I'm paraphrasing slightly): The only measure of using time properly is if you are fully present with it.

That's why restriction helps.

When you remove what you constantly chase after or numb yourself with, you begin to find what truly keeps you present.

You craft a life where you are truly there for every moment, not just fleeting moments.

Something I’ve found to help: Start by identifying one thing you're using to numb.

Replace that time with something that makes you lose track of time.

Something you do for its own sake, because it calls to you.

If you're not sure what that is, follow what feels light. Spend time with a loved one. Walk in nature. Pick up a hobby you loved as a kid.

The idea is to do what feels light—as opposed to what makes you want to chase more.

When you feel the pull toward societal charms, pause. Ask yourself: "Is this my authentic curiosity, or am I avoiding the void?"

It won't happen overnight. But the more you follow it, the more the path appears.

From My Father’s Voice

From My Mother’s Hand