My dad with Billy Mays

One of my clients told me that her biggest fear is death. I think this is many people’s biggest fear, though it’s not top of mind most of the time. We don’t think about how short life is until someone near to us falls ill or leaves us – or when celebrities leave this mortal coil.

Ed McMahon, suffering from multiple illnesses, including bone cancer, departed at age 86 on June 23, 2009. Farrah Fawcett, battling cancer for a few years, exited at age 62 on June 25. Michael Jackson, about to go on his last tour, also died on Thursday, June 25 at age 50. And famous “yell and sell” Pitchman Billy Mays died Sunday, June 28, possibly of heart failure.

With all of these high-profile passings, it’s hard not to think of life as fragile and fleeting. As my dad says, you don’t know when your number will be called.

The question is, then, what do you do about it? Are you living your life as fully as you want to? Or have you been holding back and delaying your dreams?

And if now is not the time, then when will it be right to do what you know you’re here to do?

• Become your dream
• 3 true cliches from Grannie to help you live happier
• Losing It with Jillian