A Thousand Saturdays Left: A Beautiful Reminder to Live Fully
August 28, 2025
Have you ever stopped to wonder how many Saturdays you have left in your life? I have, ever since I heard the story of the 1000 marbles.
At the age of 55, a man realizes his life expectancy is about 75 and calculates that he has approximately 1,000 Saturdays left to enjoy. He buys a thousand marbles, puts them in a jar, and marks the passing of each Saturday by removing one marble. When he removes the last marble on his 75th birthday, he considers each subsequent weekend a blessing and a bonus.
It’s interesting how our perspective on time changes based on where we are in life. When we’re young, the time between BIG life milestones—getting a driver’s license, turning 21, and getting married—felt like eons. Or, when we plan a vacation, the waiting is almost painful. But then, the actual vacation zips by in the blink of an eye. Only days after returning, the vacation feels like ancient history.
I first heard the story of the 1,000 marbles over twenty years ago; it resonated with me, but it also felt distant. Now, it feels close. Social Security (yes, I’m there) tells me that I will live to be 87.1 (God willing and no plot twists). That means I now have roughly 1,000 Saturdays left. Like the man in the 1000 marble story, I want to make this time matter. So… I got myself 1000 marbles! I take one marble out each Saturday to remind myself that I get to choose how this chapter, my last, plays out.
I ponder Mary Oliver’s question, “Tell me? “What will you do with this one wild and precious life?”
The marbles prompt me to be mindful of what I give airspace, heart space, and real estate to; in other words, what I invite in, seek out, and be present in my daily living. I know what I want… Joy, Adventure, and Love… lots of love! I want to travel, see the world, and experience the diversity of life. I want to explore my edges and expand my comfort zone to see what lies beyond. I want to give myself more freedom just to BE. I want to fall in love, yes, with a man, but also with myself and with life.
But here’s the thing…
I’ve noticed that I have some letting go, some releasing, and some opening to do to live that life. Like a hot air balloon ready to take flight, I am unshackling myself from “shoulds”, “supposed tos”, and “have tos” that tether me to a life already lived, not the one I dream of. This letting go is sometimes uncomfortable, as change often is, but in doing so, I am creating space for the joy, adventure, and love that I desire.
I don’t know what lies ahead or how things will happen—I don’t need to. Instead, I’m focused on my big, beautiful, and delicious vision of this chapter, and I’ll let my heart take the lead. I know it won’t always be a straight or smooth ride, but that’s okay because I’m in it for the ride—not the destination. 
The space at the top of the jar. It might look empty, but it’s not… it’s simply a reminder that time is passing. If I use it well, it’s a trade. One marble for precious moments and rich memories that fill my heart and are as colorful and vibrant as the lid of my marble jar. As I pull a marble out each week…I’ll reflect on life and how I showed up. I hope I’ll be able to say… DAMN, that was great!
How many marbles are in your jar? And tell me? What will you do with this one wild and precious life?
As for me… I’m not losing my marbles. I’m USING THEM to do as Henry David Thoreau suggests: Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of each.
Take a moment… what do you most want for this next chapter of your life? And what keeps you from stepping toward it? Share your thoughts with me, and if you’d like support in clearing the obstacles and living fully, let’s connect. Coaching can be the catalyst that helps you claim your one wild and precious life.
