Fridays with Simon

Simon didn't look like a man who was weeks from dying. He still had that crooked smile, the dry humor. But his eyes told the truth.

I started visiting him every Friday. Not because I was noble — but because he asked. Something in his voice made me realize these conversations mattered more than anything else I could be doing.

"I've wasted so much," he said on our first Friday together. "And now I'm out of time to fix it."

Every week after that, Simon told me more. And every week, I realized he wasn't just talking about himself. He was talking about all of us.

1. The Illusion of Tomorrow Will Ruin Your Life

Simon always thought he'd "get to it later."

"I kept saying, I'll quit next month. I'll get in shape next year. I'll finally get serious about life when things calm down."

But they never did. He blinked, and ten years were gone.

2. I Traded My Life for Screens, Cheap Highs, and Nothingness

Simon didn't just lose time to work.

"I wasted years staring at a screen," he admitted. "Gaming until 3am, scrolling my phone like it was my job, watching porn because I was too lazy or too scared to find real love. I drank too much. I smoked too much. I wasted so much of my life being comfortably numb."

He paused. "I thought I was killing time. But time was killing me."

3. My Anger Hurt More People Than I Realized

Simon admitted something that shocked me.

"I wasn't just distant," he said quietly. "I was cruel sometimes. Sarcastic. Always needing to be right. Always ready to snap. I thought it made me strong — that it was funny, even. But I left scars on people I loved. My kids grew up thinking they were never good enough. My wife felt like she could never win with me. I burned so many bridges with my own pride."

He looked at me, tears in his eyes. "The apologies you don't give… they haunt you the most."

4. I Gave My Family My Leftovers, Never My Best

Simon had a wife. Kids. Friends. But he was too distracted to really know them.

"I was always 'too tired' or 'too busy.' I thought there'd be more time for them. But kids don't wait. Wives don't wait. And one day, you wake up and realize you missed it all."

5. Regret Is Heavier Than Any Failure Could Ever Be

Simon had dreams. Big ones.

"I wanted to open a café by the sea. I wanted to teach kids how to write. I wanted to travel. But I didn't. I kept saying, 'I'll start when life slows down.' It never did."

He swallowed hard. "Now all I have is regret. And that's heavier than any failure I could have faced."

6. Success Looks Good on Paper — Until You're Dying

Simon had a good job. He hit all the "life milestones."

But none of it mattered now.

"The world gave me applause," he said. "But applause is empty when you're alone. My kids won't care about my résumé when I'm gone. They just wanted me there. And I wasn't."

7. Fear Is the Thief That Stole My Whole Life

"I was scared of looking stupid. Scared of failing. Scared of what people thought. So I played it safe," Simon told me.

"But safe just meant small. Fear stole my dreams, my courage, my years. I let fear rob me — and I didn't even fight back."

8. You Don't Have Time. Stop Pretending You Do.

The last Friday I saw Simon, his voice was barely a whisper. But his words burned into me.

"You think you've got time. You don't. Stop waiting to start living. Stop numbing yourself. Stop wasting your one shot at life on nothing."

The Last Thing He Told Me

Simon grabbed my hand. His eyes were wet but clear.

"Don't keep it all inside like I did. I thought being strong meant hiding my pain, my love, my dreams. But silence isn't strength. It's a slow death. One day you realize nobody really knew you. Not even the people you loved."

The next Friday, Simon was gone.

What Fridays with Simon Taught Me

We are all running out of Fridays.

Every day you stay silent.
Every night you disappear into screens, drinks, cheap highs.
Every year you waste on anger, bitterness, and pride.
Every year you wait for life to "start."

And then it's over.

So don't keep it inside. Don't waste another day numbing yourself. Don't die with your story locked away.

Because Simon taught me the most brutal truth of all:
Silence kills faster than disease.
Regret lasts longer than death.
And the saddest words you'll ever say are, "I thought I had more time."

Author's Note

Simon's story is one I'll never forget. It's a reminder that life isn't endless, and that wasting years on distraction, anger, fear, and silence is a tragedy we can prevent.

If you're reading this and you feel stuck — in gaming, porn, social media, drinking, drugs, or just drifting without purpose — please know you don't have to stay there.

Take one small step today. Speak to someone. Start something. Apologize to someone you've hurt. Say the thing you've been holding inside.

Because you only get one life. And "someday" never comes.

We're excited to share that our first Google Meet will take place on 18 September 2025, from 7–9 PM (Norwegian time). We look forward to connecting with you then.
If you'd like to join, please send your name to ristgruppenlarvikayres@gmail.com.

Best wishes,
Raymond and Ken