Life is short

It's amazing how as we get older the years just pass so much faster. I remember when I was a kid how Christmas took an eternity to arrive. Now that I'm older I understand what they mean when they say life is short. It feels like Christmas was just a few weeks ago but half the year is already gone.
We really need to learn to appreciate the time we have here, because that time is very brief. So why do we waste so much energy on the little insignificant things that bother us.
My father in law was recently told he had cancer in of all places a big toe. This is a man with financial wealth, but obviously always unhappy. It took for him to hear that he might have a limited time left for him to realize that he was merely existing, not really living.
His toe had to be cut off and doctors are hoping that he'll be okay. Now, he's planning to take the family to Europe next year. This is something he's never done before, not because of lack of money, but because he didn't want to spend it. I guess now he knows what's more important.
But why did something bad had to happen for him to understand that.
I guess it's better late than never.