Five Wake-up Calls You Need To Hear Before It’s Too Late

He was known as the people’s pope.

A leader who chose compassion over condemnation. Kindness over fear. Forgiveness over fire and brimstone.

Pope Francis was a man who shook up centuries of tradition–not by force, but by grace.

He spoke about climate change, inequality, and the value of mercy in a world that’s increasingly cold. He kissed the feet of migrants. He reminded us, often, that being human means more than being right.

And now… he’s gone.

His passing wasn’t just the loss of a religious figure. It was a wake-up call. A reminder that even the voices we count on to challenge us, comfort us, and make us think–don’t last forever.

So here are five wake-up calls you need to hear before it’s too late. Because life has a way of moving on, with or without you. And some things shouldn’t wait.

1. Tomorrow Isn’t Promised

Every day, every minute, someone takes their last breath.

A stranger. A friend of a friend. A loved one.

Statistically, we’re only about seven degrees of separation from every person on Earth. I suspect, at least technically, we’re likely connected to someone who dies every single day. We just don’t always feel it…until we do.

We say things like life is short without really sitting with the weight of that truth. 

We make plans. We push things off. We assume tomorrow will come because, for most of us, it always has.

But for someone, today is the last day.

And one day, it’ll be ours.

I’m not saying you have to live in fear. I want you to live in awareness…in the present. Learn to appreciate what you have, while you still have it.

The people. The chances. The moments we think are small but might actually be everything. That’s really all you need.

You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be present. Because tomorrow isn’t promised—and neither is your chance to make today count.

2. That Bad Thing Is Going to Happen 

Worry doesn’t change outcomes. And, it doesn’t prevent problems. In fact, the only thing it really does is rob you of the present moment. Trust me, things can always be worst.

As Jason Chatfield puts it, “You create an infinite amount of imagined futures, only one of which can ever actually eventuate.”

By dwelling on endless what-ifs, we carry stress for things that may never happen. It weighs on our minds and our bodies—raising stress hormones, disrupting sleep, damaging our health. And worse, it keeps us from enjoying what’s right in front of us.

Bad things are going to happen. Now, I don’t say that to scare you. It’s meant to set you free.

We spend so much of life trying to outrun the hard stuff.

We worry. We overthink. We play out every worst-case scenario like it’s a shield.

But all it really does is steal the good moments before the hard ones even arrive.

My sister worries about me constantly.

If I don’t answer the phone, her mind spirals. She assumes the worst—every time.

But here’s what I wish she knew: Even if something happens to me, I’m okay. I’m happy. I’m at peace.

She doesn’t need to suffer in advance. Worry doesn’t stop the pain. It just makes you feel it twice.

I want her to live. Really live. To enjoy her days. Laugh without guilt. And stop carrying fear that was never hers to begin with.

You can’t control what’s coming. But you can control how much of today you let it ruin.

3. Failure Is Really The Best Thing That Can Happen To You

We’re taught to fear failure.

To avoid it, deny it, hide from it.

But failure is one of the best things that can happen to you.

It strips away the fluff. It humbles you. It teaches you who you are when things don’t go your way—and that’s the version of you that actually grows.

We celebrate success like it’s the goal, but success doesn’t change you. Failure does.

It forces you to rethink, rebuild, and sometimes restart from the ground up with stronger hands and a sharper mind.

Some of the most fulfilled people you’ll ever meet have failed—and failed hard. Careers derailed. Relationships ended. Plans crashed.

But what came after? Clarity. Purpose. A new beginning they wouldn’t have chosen, but wouldn’t trade for anything.

If you’re afraid to fail, you’re really just afraid to begin.

Don’t be.

Fail big. Learn fast. Rise stronger.

Because failure isn’t the end. It’s the part where the story gets interesting. 

4. Your Health is a Silent Clock Ticking Away

Your body keeps score.

Of every late night. Every skipped meal. Every time you said, I’ll deal with that later.

Your body doesn’t wait. It doesn’t care about your deadlines, your to-do list, or your excuses.

It’s keeping time—quietly, patiently, relentlessly.

Most of us don’t notice until something breaks. Until the symptoms show up. Until we’re forced to care.

By then, the damage is already done.

We think we’re invincible. We power through stress, fatigue, pain. We tell ourselves it’s normal.

But it’s not normal to be this tired. This inflamed. This disconnected from our own body.

Taking care of your health is more than looking good or living longer…it’s about living better. It’s you showing up for your life with energy, clarity, and presence.

You don’t have to be perfect. But you do have to pay attention.

Because your health is the foundation, and when it cracks, everything else falls with it.

This is your reminder: rest is productive, water is medicine, and movement is therapy.

And your body? It’s the only place you have to live.

Don’t wait for the breakdown. Start listening now.

5. People Aren’t Promised

People aren’t promised. We know this in theory. But we don’t live like it’s true.

We assume we’ll always have more time. More chances. Another holiday. Another phone call. Another someday. But people are not promised.

My dad died young. And while I don’t carry regret because he knew I loved him, I do carry a quiet, constant sadness. I silently wish I had more time.

I waited to have a child. I told myself I was waiting for the right moment, for life to be more stable, for things to feel more perfect. But life isn’t perfect. And while I was waiting, the window closed. My dad never got to meet my son.

That truth stings more than I can put into words. There’s no fixing it. No, making it better. It just is. And that’s the hardest part–we don’t get do-overs.

So don’t wait to make the call. Don’t put off the visit. Don’t keep pushing the people you love to the back of your schedule like they’ll always be there.

Because one day they won’t be. And all that time you thought you had will be gone.

Love them now. While you still can. Because people are not promised.

I’ll Remember

Pope Francis saw suffering, saw pain. He wanted to show that things can be better. That we should seek good in each other. I hope you take these wake-up calls and live your best life. I know that I’ll remember and embrace them as I continue to live my best life.