My last year - my daughter's nails

Throughout history, humans have shown that they are truly ready to start living consciously only when something terrible happens. I, however, want to make a change here; I’ve decided not to wait until I’m pushed against a wall to start living in the moment and to the fullest. I want to do it now, while I am in the most beautiful period of my life.

Currently, I live a wonderful life. Of course, I still have quite a few unfulfilled wishes, but I am a truly happy person who lives life to the max. I have always been, and will always be, a positive person. I also have one other stroke of luck in life: I didn't know fear in my childhood because I developed courage for everyone around me who was afraid. My psychotherapist, Eva Erpič, taught me this. Of course, she also told me that fear is useful—that it’s great to bring it to the surface sometimes—and that now that I am an adult, fear can serve me if I allow it to.

My husband, Gregor, would probably say to me right now: "Well, if you live a wonderful life, why would you want to complicate it?" YES—because that is me. Despite my life being truly beautiful, I want to take it a step higher. That is why I chose 2026 as the year for my personal experiment.

WHAT IS MY EXPERIMENT?

I will live this year as if it were my last, so that in my imagination my life ends in December 2026. Of course, in theory, it could end whenever I feel like it, none of us knows that in advance.

This year, I will live as if it were my last year—meaning that in my imagination, my life ends in December 2026. Of course, theoretically, it could end whenever it is destined to; none of us know that in advance.

AN EXAMPLE FROM MY PARENTING

Today, I’ll share what happened last Sunday evening when my daughter asked if she could go get her nails done again on Monday afternoon. Lili is 15. She first got gel nails for her primary school prom. At the time, our agreement was that I would pay for them once, but if she wanted to continue, she would have to pay for it herself from her pocket money. After the prom, she paid for them a few times herself, and then, to my delight, she stopped. Why "to my delight"? I used to get my nails done like that for years, but now I am returning more and more to nature. I want to use products of local origin; I’ve started using natural hair dyes; there is nothing "artificial" on my body anymore. I still enjoy wearing makeup, perfume, and nice clothes, because I use them to highlight the beauty nature gave me.

But yes, it took me 45 years to get to this point. Every period of life brings something new.

Then came this Sunday, when Lili decided to do her nails with gel again. She asked me if she could go on Monday to have her nails done. It was already 10pm by the time it was time to go to bed, I was tired, and she had only just started to dry her hair, which I really don't like to do, breaking home arrangements.
Already seemingly irritated, I first started to grumble and opposed her proposal. She asked me: ”Mum, why can't I, I'll take the bus there, I'll pay for it myself, just like we agreed the first time I went”.
I haven't given up yet, I mentioned the bad grade and how she doesn't have time for that. She responded to my remark by asking, “but now you're going to keep throwing bad grades at me, because you see how much I'm learning, how hard I'm trying”.

I went silent, sighed, and remembered my experiment. I said to myself: "So, Petra, if this is your last year, is this important for her upbringing? What will Lili learn from this?"

I had my answer, but now I had to swallow my pride and admit she was right. I told her: "You’re right, Lili. You do study a lot, you work hard—I see it with my own eyes. You are taking responsibility. The problem this time is with me, because I was really happy that you stopped doing your nails. It’s important to me that we start returning to nature. But I realize that I didn't think that way when I was a teenager; I looked for beauty elsewhere. So, go get your nails done tomorrow."
I also told her that the time was really late, that she should leave her phone outside and dry off quickly and go to bed. We hugged and went our separate ways, both happy.

IT’S NOT OVER YET

The story doesn't end there. Gregor and I went to bed, and 10 minutes later, I got up to go to the bathroom. I heard Lili recording a voice message instead of drying her hair. Without hesitation, I opened the bathroom door and asked her what was going on—was that our agreement? She said no and put the phone down. In a very firm voice, I said: "Put the phone in the hallway, don't touch it again. You have 10 minutes to finish up and go to sleep."

When I lay back down in bed, I asked myself one last time that day: "Petra, if this is your last year, was that necessary?" A peaceful smile spread across my face. Yes, I definitely did the right thing. Because healthy boundaries are my legacy for my children.

And so my experiment continues, I'll be back again soon with a new example, you can read more about my work here.