It also helps me to look at this image: http://i.imgur.com/39U4k.png. Each box is one month of your life. There really aren't that many of them.

Interesting image. I just made a quick tool for generating it here: http://lifeboxes.neocities.org/

I've been learning to code lately and worked up something like this not too long ago - http://mementomori.neocities.org/. Kind of buggy and unfinished, but it works. Mine uses weeks rather than months.

Well now I'm depressed AND procrastinating.

Don't submit to his dominance.

There is dominance and nothing else.

?? what.

What about the point would you like me to explain?

What do you mean by "dominance"?

Frame control; e.g., using and abusing language to empower oneself (or one's group or communities) and disempower outsiders in the pretext of giving advice.

I'm 30, and just put a layer on top of that marking the boxes that are behind me.

Like the OP, I consider myself a chronic under-performer.

And you're right. This kind of hits home. What did I fill those boxes with? What do I want to fill the remaining ones with?

Well, gosh, your life is meaningless drivel unless you fill those boxes with stuff! Produce! Nevermind what your wife and kids think of you, nevermind the laughter of your friends, the beauty you saw, the wonders you imagined. All those times you helped out a bum, cooked dinner, played with your niece: meaningless, if it got in the way of putting an achievement into a month-box! Produce! Produce! What are you going to have to etch on your tombstone if you don't have a dozen github URLs?

I think that's the point. It doesn't matter what you fill them with--fun, work, standing on your head--just that you feel accomplished by having done what you've done. If you don't, then maybe it's time for some change.

For the lazy and curious, there are 80 boxes. 24 by 40.

960 boxes, representing 80 years.

You probably mean 960 boxes representing 80 years...

Yes this is exactly what I was meaning :)

That's a really good (and horrific) image. Thanks.