02/20/2026
I’ve spent nearly 30 years studying economics, neuroscience, and human behavior.
And what I’ve learned is simple.
At the end of most people’s lives, there is really only one question that matters:
Who did you love, and who loved you?
We are mortal creatures.
We spend our lives searching for meaning and connection.
Along the way, we chase many things.
Awards.
Status.
Recognition.
But when life comes to a close, those are rarely what people hold onto.
Toni Morrison captured this truth beautifully in Song of Solomon.
At a funeral, a grandmother is asked to speak about her granddaughter.
She says only one sentence:
“And she was loved.”
That might be the whole game.
Because when everything else falls away, what most of us want is not proof of achievement.
We want to know that we loved.
And that we were loved in return.
Love does not end when we do.
It ripples outward, shaping families, friendships, and generations.
If you are thinking about what really matters, start there.
