You can avoid taxes, but not death

Many of us live our lives spending a great deal of time thinking about tax deductions, ways of investing that will have the least tax consequences, moving to an island without any taxes. We take life far too seriously. Look to your right and left, everyone lives as though life will go on forever and all immediate problems are of the highest import. It is a very human characteristic, but it also limits degrees of freedom. Limiting freedom in some ways is a good thing (we have to live in and around others responsibly), but in investing – even small amounts of money (sometimes especially small amounts of money) and in managing our own lives, it can be a very bad thing.

Perspective – understanding that life is fleeting and all problems of less consequence than they seem at the moment – is very hard to get a handle on. We hear about people dying from illnesses, even at young ages; we watch our parent die or approach dying. But all this seems external to us, and we move on.

Perspective on our mortality does not have to lead to morbid thoughts and fear of living. Quite the contrary, it can give you an edge over almost everyone else who is going about life thinking it will never end. It is not an easy thing to do. Most of us think about it once to twice, but quickly put it out of our minds. But those who can keep it front and center, and not run from it, have some advantages, so long as they don’t let it overwhelm them. Here are some ways to take advantage of an appreciation of this reality:

Buy an iPhone now

Take real risks in investing

Tell your boss what you think

Celebrate daily key relationships

You are likely to enjoy the life and time you have more than others, and you certainly are going to see things more sharply.