I typically read three different books at any given time; one in physical form, one on my e-reader, and one that is read to me. Because each has a different medium, I seem to easily keep them straight in my mind. Plus, I use each format differently. The e-books I save for before bed and middle-of-the-night reading. I reach for an audiobook while walking or cleaning the house. I typically save the physical books for the luxurious times I can sit and enjoy the traditional experience of reading — early morning with coffee or by a campfire. Currently, I am reading “On Pluto” by Greg O’Brien, “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver, and “This Book Belongs To” by Nick Levy.

Some books stick with me longer than others, but all in some way shape my life, clarify my thoughts, and (hopefully) open my mind. Without planning it, some texts echo a real-life situation. That was the case, recently. The book, “The Measure” by Nikki Erlick, still resonates with me. The overarching plot was a topic many people deal with every day: Would you make different decisions or live your life differently if you knew the span of it? Then it took a twist. All at once, every adult in the world could know, with certainty, the span of their life. All they had to do was look in the box that was delivered to their doorstep for the answer.

Would you look? What would you do if you learned you only had two years to live? Six months? What if you knew you were going to live into your mid-80s? Would you conduct your life differently? How many different areas of your life might be impacted if you knew how much time you had left on Earth? Ask yourself what new rules you would implement based on this knowledge. What if you held a position of power? Would you demand to know the lifespan of those around you and use it to your advantage? That is exactly what the characters in the book dealt with in varying degrees.

And while the plot of the book seems fantastical, every day, in medical centers across the world, countless people are hearing the span of their life might be less than they thought.

We all know the average lifespan for a human. Many of us understand that certain factors reduce that lifespan. Smoking, excessive drinking, unhealthy eating, stress, lack of exercise: all of these are life shorteners. Do you partake in any of these activities? Do you fully understand that you’re choosing a statistically shorter life? Even if we do everything right and live “as directed by medical experts” we can still be diagnosed with a condition that limits our days.

Would you like to know the length of your life? How would that impact your romantic involvement with someone? Would you start a family, or quit your job? Does the answer to that question change if you were told you had six months to live versus 30 years?

Those among us diagnosed with life-shortening medical issues tend to deal with this question. We have specific knowledge we didn’t before. Once we know something, we can’t remember what it was like not to know it. Nor can we choose to not know it once we’ve heard it. We live with extra knowledge others don’t possess. Unlike a fictional story, ours is not concrete knowledge. Doctors and experts can give us a prognosis and treatment plan based on medical expertise. But the treatment may make living uncomfortable. Treatment can bring with it many other conditions — good and bad, physical and mental. But you won’t know the impact treatment has on you until you try. And once you try, you’ve potentially changed the quality of your life. All choices have consequences.

The measure of a life isn’t how long our body lives. Our life should be measured by how long the things we did while we are alive are still felt after we’ve gone. We live on in others because of our life’s choices. What choices have you made? What legacy will you leave? Will the impact of your life positively change a life? Will your words, your presence, and your friendship make a difference in another’s life? And then, because of how they were impacted by you, will they continue forward making someone else’s life better.

The ripple effect of each of our lives cannot be measured in years. The measure of our lives is far greater than we can ever fully comprehend. Each day matters. Stop saying someday I will make amends, volunteer, strengthen my relationship with (fill in the blank), or advocate for myself. We simply need to make each day, each moment, count. Hopefully, at the end of the time we have, we can look back and confidently say we did more good than harm.

If today was your last day, how would you speak to people? How would you treat your neighbor? How would you want to be remembered?

Lesslee Dort is a board-certified patient advocate who firmly believes knowledge is power when it comes to being in control of one’s health. She spends her days at Friends Together helping others navigate their health care. Reach Lesslee via email at lesslee@friendstogethermi.org. Read her here the third Thursday of each month.