A traveler from India went to Africa to acquire some local products and animals, and while in the jungle, he saw thousands of beautiful multicolored talking parrots. So he decided to capture a talking parrot and take it back as a pet.

At home, he kept his parrot in a cage and fed him wonderful seeds and honey, played music for his pet, and generally treated him well. When it was time for the man to return to Africa 2 years later, he asked his parrot to deliver any message he could deliver to the parrot’s friends back in the jungle. The parrot told his master to say that he was pleased in his cage and that he was enjoying each day and conveyed his love.

When the traveler arrived back in Africa, he delivered the message to the parrots in the jungle. But, unfortunately, just as he finished his story, a parrot with tears welling up in his eyes fell over dead. The man was alarmed and decided that the parrot must have been very close to the parrot in the cage, which was the reason for his sadness and demise.

When the traveler returned to India, he told his pet what had happened. As he finished his story, the pet parrot’s eyes welled up with tears, and he keeled over dead in his cage. The man was astounded but figured that his pet died from the despair of hearing of the death of his close friend back in the jungle.

The trader opened up the cage and tossed the dead bird outside onto the trash heap. Immediately his pet parrot flew up to a branch on the tree outside.

The trader said to him, “So, you are not dead after all. Why did you do that?”

The parrot answered, “Because that bird back in Africa sent me a crucial message.”

“What was the message?” the trader inquired impatiently.

“He told me that if you want to escape from your cage, you must die while you are alive.”

What does this mean to me?

Think about how we all choose to live our lives. What decisions do we make every day? Are we pursuing those things that matter in life?

Our time here on this planet is short. People in their final moments often chronicle a list of regrets or failed opportunities. Many of which stem from working too hard, not spending enough time with loved ones, emphasizing acquiring material possessions, and not expressing their true feelings to those who matter.

Regrets are a call to take action. Why wait for the right time, since that moment may never arrive?

Focus on experiences, relationships, adventure. Focus on living life–while you’re still living.

Clayton Craddock is a father, independent thinker, and the founder and publisher of the social and political commentary newsletter Think Things Through and host of the Think Things Through Podcast. He’s an alumnus of Howard University and is the drummer for the Broadway musical Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times Of The Temptations.

Other musicals include: “Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.

Follow him on Instagram, Twitter or read more on his website: claytoncraddock.com