Life Is for Spending

Imagine saving for years to take a dream trip—and never going.

I once operated a business that helped people earn frequent flyer miles and hotel loyalty points. It was fun to see lots of readers getting points and booking long-awaited adventures.

Over time, I noticed that one of these objectives—earning points—was easier for some people than the second one, booking cool trips.

One day, a reader wrote to thank me. He said he had earned more than 400,000 miles from travel hacking in the past few months.

“That’s amazing!” I replied. “Great work!”

He had a question on how to earn even more miles and points.

Sure, I said—we could talk about that. There are always new strategies to pursue. But first, I asked, what was he using all these miles for?

“I haven’t figured that out yet,” he said. “Maybe I’ll go somewhere in a couple of years.”

What! That’s not the point.

Airline miles are for spending, not just collecting. If you earn miles or points, you should put them to good use. All the loyalty points in the world won’t help you if you don’t get on a plane.

The interaction stuck with me because I realized my reader probably wasn’t the only one doing this. How many of us are stockpiling something valuable—whether airline miles, money, creative energy, or emotional openness—waiting for the “right moment” to use it?

Sometimes I think that the lessons of deferred gratification, while well-meaning, can hold people back from actually living now.

Sure, you should plan for the future, and you should take care of your health. But no amount of planning can stop time's passage.

One day, you’ll either have spent your life or let it expire unused, like a gift card forgotten in a drawer. So perhaps ask yourself: what are you hoarding? What have you earned, created, or saved that’s sitting unused?

Spend the miles. Spend your time. Spend your energy, your art, your attention. Don’t wait for a finish line that keeps moving.

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