Blame It On The Veuve Clicquot.

July 21st, 2010 by Martine St-Victor




I spent Saturday night celebrating a dear friend, along with a brochette of great guests. Delish conversations oscillated between the disappointing post Earthquake developments in Haïti to the inevitable I-Phone vs. Blackberry debate. Then later in the night, many glasses of champagne later, my friend Adrian asked a simple question: what would I do if I knew I would die in exactly 30 days?  Instead of killing the festive buzz I was on, the depth & simplicity of the question forced me to take stock of my life. Not the life I aspire to have but the one I’m living now. Breath by breath, heartbeat by heartbeat.
Although the chances I ever write a ”how-to” life guide are slimmer than those of me ever going to lunch with Mel Gibson, there are a few things I know for sure about Life which are even truer if you have only 30 days to live:
  • If you haven’t been Loved unconditionally, you need to try again;
  • Life is too short to be with someone you feel so-so about.
  • If you keep on looking at the clock between 9 & 5, quit your job and find something you’re passionate about.
  • Giving is better than receiving perhaps, but you need to go out & get yours.
  • If you count calories while looking at a menu before ordering at a restaurant then you don’t understand that Food & sharing a rich meal are the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
  • Ambition is essential, but no one on their death bed has ever said” I should have spent more time at the office”.
  • Sometimes, doing something that scares the living lights out of you, will provide you with best high of your life.
  • If it’s on your chest, say it now.
  • Balance is key. Every hour of work should be met by an hour of play (oh, and you can always sleep more tomorrow).

It’s essential for thirty-somethings to do a life balance-sheet. Young enough to make changes & start over and wise enough to know that what they want and what they need are two different things. Go!


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