The Tragedy of a Life Never Begun

RESONANCE

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1d ago 12:54

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“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.” – W.M. Lewis

In this solo episode, Michael reflects on the ways we delay the life that’s calling us. He shares how he waited years to launch this very podcast and over a decade to write his book, Resonance, and what finally helped him get out of his own way.

Drawing on Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic, he explores the idea of the “muse” – that creative force that wants to move through us – and the counterforce Pressfield calls “resistance.” He weaves in stories from elders facing the end of their lives, including a man who had never once been met at the airport, and contrasts that with memories of his father, a man who always showed up.

In this conversation, you’ll hear about:

Why we wait so long to begin the life that’s meant for us

The muse, resistance, and how to finally start dancing with your creative calling

The difference between résumé goals and eulogy goals

What elders’ regrets can teach us about how to live now

Why relationships — the people who would pick you up at 2 a.m. — matter more than anything

This is an invitation to stop postponing your real life, to sing your unique song, and to surround yourself with the people who help you play it beautifully.

Michael Trainer has spent 30 years learning from Nobel laureates, neuroscientists, and wisdom keepers worldwide. He's the author of RESONANCE: The Art and Science of Human Connection (March 31, 2026), co-creator of Global Citizen and the Global Citizen Festival, and host of the RESONANCE podcast.

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