If there were a day when I was not reading, writing,  thinking purposefully, or endeavour to do my best,  I'd have had a deep sense of loss as it would have meant that the day had been lived in vain.

I've valued time all my life and this has helped me to achieve my goals.  This has also taught me discipline.  
Talent is never enough- I need patience, consistency and perseverance.

Life has too many imponderables and I've always been aware
that events might not turn out as I've expected.
I've to be prepared for setbacks and even failures. Also, I know that I'll learn much from such downturns.

Having Plan B is wise but I've also to learn to be flexible, adaptable, innovative, resilient and pragmatic.

Optimism is an essential ingredient for success but it has to be realistic and kept within reasonable bounds--euphoria can be disastrous and is a common factor for failure.

In success, I should be humble and not boast, and in my failure,  I should learn not to be bitter but instead to work harder as I move into the future.

I should be able to say this at my last hours:  
I have done my best and have not let myself down -- my life has found meaning and I've not lived in vain.