I got an email a few days ago from the folks over at WordPress.com inviting me to take part in something they are calling “Bloganuary,” which is a daily writing prompt gimmick with a horrible name that they are currently using to promote the platform. My Mother and Uncle are just winding up a years’ worth of weekly story prompts that I purchased for them from Storyworth.com, though, and getting those little weekly emails with their stories was really enjoyable for me so I figured I’d go ahead and join the “challenge” to see what kind of prompts I would get (amusingly, the notice came about ¾ of the way through the month so I’ve missed most of the prompts at this point, but maybe they’ll keep them going).

I got my first prompt on Saturday. “What is your favorite quote and why?”

Considering the day we had on Saturday, it was a bit on the nose in terms or appropriateness, but I suppose the universe really wanted me to focus on a message. I honestly cannot say that this is my favorite quote, but on the day I got this prompt it was the only one I could think of.

You cannot have it all. You can only have a sliver of it all. So pick your sliver well, my friend. – Hugh McLeod, gapingvoid.com

My wife Lisa introduced me to this quote not too long after we started seeing each other back in 2012. At that time, I didn’t know how or why it was so important to her. I just thought it was a really neat inspirational post that I could relate to as well. I think I’ve only just fully realized why it resonated so strongly with her, and why that last line in particularly was so poignant that she had it inscribed on an iPad she purchased that year.

Pick your sliver well, my friend.

I’ve known for many, many years that you cannot have everything you wanted in life and that for the overwhelming majority of us a life “well lived” is one in which you realize that fact and focus your efforts accordingly. What is becoming more and more clear to me as I continue learning the lessons that life often feels the need to beat into my head is that this is not an invitation to throw all caution to the wind and seize the day to follow whatever whim is bound to make you happy in the moment.

Pick your sliver well, my friend.

Pick your sliver well.

The time we have on this planet is minimal. Infinitesimal in the grand scheme of the universe, especially if you’re like me and you do not hold the belief that you get some kind of “do over” if you muck it all up this time around. This is it. From the day you are born until the day you die, everything you do in between that time is all you get. When it’s over, it’s over.

And it could be over in the blink of an eye.

Pick your sliver well, but more importantly recognize that there are always trade offs when you do so. The choices you make today could cost you far more than they are worth in the long-term if you do not pick them wisely, especially if those choices harm those around you.

Pick. Your. Sliver. Well.

I recognize now, more than ever, that this part of the quote isn’t intended to be inspirational. It’s a warning.