The Power of Four Words: "Have a Nice Life"

The Power of Four Words: "Have a Nice Life"

From Making It with Jess Ekstrom by Jess Ekstrom

March 31, 2026 · 11 min · Season 6 · Episode 3

About this episode

Jess Ekstrom reflects on the importance of embracing finality and presence in life through personal anecdotes and insights.

We spend our entire lives avoiding "goodbye." We trade Instagram handles, promise to "catch up soon," and say "until next time"—all to protect ourselves from the discomfort of a finished chapter. But what happens when you lean into the finality instead? In this reflective solo episode, Jess Ekstrom breaks down a chance encounter at a Colorado campground that changed her entire perspective on presence. When an older traveler told her, "You kids have a nice life," it didn't feel like a well-wish—it felt like a gut punch. Jess explores the beauty of impermanence and why acknowledging that a moment will never happen again is actually the secret to enjoying it. In this episode, we discuss: The "Until Next Time" Trap: Why our digital age makes it impossible to have true closure and how that prevents us from being fully present. The Japanese Tea Tradition: A lesson from a matcha bowl about noticing the "foam at the bottom"—the unique shapes that only happen once. Hurry Up and Relax: Jess’s struggle with "sprinting" through the day to get to the "good part," only to find her brain won't shut off once she gets there. The Turtle Pace: How walking with toddlers (who stop for every sidewalk…

People in this episode

Host: Jess Ekstrom

Topics covered

  • impermanence
  • presence
  • closure
  • mindfulness
  • reflection

Keywords

  • goodbye
  • presence
  • impermanence
  • mindfulness
  • closure
  • life lessons

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Japanese Tea Tradition

Places: Colorado

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