I’m back from two weeks of exploring the Basque Country, Cantabria, and Asturias. I can’t afford not to do that. As a hobby world cuisine chef, I was particularly excited about the Pintxos, the Basque variant of tapas.

Small treats for everyday use to be shared with friends and to spark inspiring conversations. Kind of an excellent metaphor for what a post on LinkedIn can be.

Instead of driving 1,300 kilometers to Biarritz, my wife and I decided to buy TGV train tickets. As a result, we experienced a relaxed arrival and return journey with a lot of time for talking, writing, and reading.

I had bought Karin Kuschik’s book “50 sentences that make life easier” (only available in German) for the trip. She is a business coach and a gifted writer. The book offers 50 pintxos for the mind, soul, and heart in the form of stories, inspirations, and insights. You can pick and enjoy each chapter in any order: I love this kind of flexible book.

“I can’t afford not to do that.” is one of the 50 sentences that resonated most with me. Kuschik connects this sentence in a personal story with insights from the book “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying” by Bronnie Ware:

• I wish I’d dared to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me
• I wish I didn’t work so hard
• I wish I’d dared to express my feelings
• I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends
• I wish that I had let myself be happier

So, I’m enjoying the now, letting go of old beliefs, and have decided that I prefer to take it easy.

When is the next time you will say in a relaxed way: “I can’t afford not to do that”?

Categories: balance, discovery, energy

Hashtags: #pintxos #lifecoaching #books #liferegrets #lettinggo