Life Is Too Short to Die Early
A birthday dinner, an Italian proverb, and a wake-up call about how we’re really living.
The Tile Was Cute. The Comment That Followed Wasn't.
We were celebrating my son Jonathan’s 29th birthday at a cozy Italian restaurant, the kind that surprises you with a full vegan menu tucked alongside traditional favorites. It was lovely. The bread was warm, the pasta was perfect, and the whole meal had that simple joy that lingers longer than expected.
Above our table was a decorative tile nestled on a shelf. It had dark blue script on an off-white, cracked ceramic background, beneath it a painted full Italian plate bursting with vibrant colors. It read:
“Italian Proverb: Life is too short to eat badly.”
We laughed. It was charming. A reminder to savor your food and your life. I snapped a photo of it, thinking it’d make a great post later.
Then Jonathan looked up, smiled slightly, and said:
“Life is too short to die young.”
At first, I thought he was being funny. But the weight of it settled fast. Because he wasn’t joking. He was telling the truth.
And I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.
We Don’t Just Die of Disease. We Die of Neglect.
Here’s what I’ve seen again and again as a physician: people don’t just die of heart attacks, strokes, or diabetes.
They die from the years leading up to it.
The skipped breakfast followed by the 3 PM crash and vending machine compromise.
The stress we swallow every day without release.
The sleep we put off in the name of productivity.
The habits we know are harming us but feel too tired to change.
No one dies from one night of poor sleep or one order of fries. But repeated over years—those little choices become our trajectory.
And here’s the kicker: most people don’t even realize it’s happening until it’s too late to reverse.
How Early Is Too Early?
The science is stunning—and sobering.
Research shows that a significant portion of premature deaths, up to two-thirds, could be prevented through healthier lifestyle choices. Two-thirds.
That’s not about luck, genetics, or fancy supplements.
That’s habits.
Food, movement, sleep, stress, and connection. The basics. The boring things we dismiss in favor of the next trendy health hack.
But boring works. Consistently. Quietly. Powerfully.
The Myth of “Healthy Enough”
Most people think they’re doing okay. They eat a salad sometimes. They walk the dog. They don’t smoke. And they figure—“Hey, I’m not in terrible shape.”
But here’s the thing. "Not terrible" isn’t the same as "thriving."
I’ve reviewed thousands of lab panels from people who said they felt fine—until their cholesterol crept up, their blood sugar went haywire, or their energy disappeared. By then, they're already on the cliff’s edge.
And when they finally come in, they’re frustrated. Not just with their body, but with the years they didn’t pay attention. With the fact that they had more control than they thought, but no one ever told them how to use it.
Why We Don’t Change (Even When We Know Better)
Let me say this plainly: most people are not lazy.
They’re overwhelmed.
They’re juggling jobs, kids, aging parents, chronic stress, and a thousand conflicting health messages. They don’t need more advice. They need a path that feels doable. Practical. Forgiving.
Something that doesn’t rely on perfection or willpower. Something that works with their real life.
That’s why I created the Habit Healer Inner Circle. Because healing doesn’t happen from a list of rules. It happens from reworking the system, one small habit at a time.
So... Are You Slowly Dying Early?
I don’t ask that to be dramatic. I ask it because no one else will.
Is the life you’re living today one that supports long-term health, energy, and joy? Or are you postponing your wellbeing until you “have more time,” “feel more motivated,” or “get through this season”?
There is no perfect time. There’s just now.
And now is enough.
The Good News: It’s Not Too Late
This isn’t about fear. It’s about choice.
If you’re still here—reading this, breathing, curious—that means your story isn’t over.
You can start today. You can build one healing habit at a time. And you don’t have to do it alone.
Join Me Inside the Habit Healer Mindset’s Inner Circle
Inside the Inner Circle, we don’t just talk about habit change. We practice it.
Every week, I share practical, science-backed guidance grounded in experience and compassion—not perfection. You’ll get:
A fresh, human-centered coaching letter every week
A personal reflection to help you identify your hidden patterns
A tiny action step that makes change feel doable
Access to our growing archive of guides on identity, food, movement, mindset, and more
Community support from others on the same path
This is your place to get unstuck, rebuild momentum, and live in a way that doesn’t just add years to your life—but life to your years.
Want to stop dying early and start living deeply?
Join the Inner Circle here.
Because life is too short to settle for "fine."
And it's definitely too short to die young.
PS. You don’t want to miss tomorrow’s article, You Can’t Skip “Here” to Get to “There”.
Thank you! I always hav oatmeal & peanut butter w/ blueberries in the morning!