I used to measure time by milestones—degrees earned, papers published, kids grown. But somewhere along the way, I realized that the most profound moments weren’t always marked by achievement. They were measured in toes.
Let me explain.
Years ago, while on a picnic with my daughter Amber in Finland, I snapped a photo: the ocean before us, our legs stretched out on the grass. That simple image—a view from the tip of my toes—stuck with me. She was about to begin a new chapter, and I would return home. That day marked the beginning of my journey to becoming a collector of moments.
Now I take that same photo in every country I visit, embarrassing my family along the way. One day, I’ll call it “The View from the Tip of My Toes”—a scrapbook of slowed-down seconds I refused to let pass unnoticed.
I’m still learning. From Amber, from my patients, from those who are dying—who, surprisingly, have taught me the most about how to live.
This, in part, is why I wrote Anticipating Heaven—not as a book about dying, but about living richly, intentionally, and with eternity in mind. And if you’re ready to start savoring time instead of racing through it, my Planning for Peace guide is a gentle place to begin.
Don’t just survive your days. See them.
Don’t just count time. Collect it.
