Friday, April 25, 2008

Life List

I read an article in a magazine the other day about "life lists". These are lists of things you would like to do before you die. They can be short or long. They are not promises (meaning if you write something down you don't have to do it -- you can change your mind and take it off of your list). The idea is to "think like you are 7". In other words, the sky is the limit -- you shouldn't not put something on the list because you are thinking that is would really be impossible -- though being able to do a backflip might have been on my list when I was younger and I left it off now even though I'd technically still like to do it. It's easy in my imagination and I'll just count that.

I decided a life list sounded like a fun idea and I decided to try it. I went for the "100 things I'd like to do before I die" method. Kayli and I decided to have a race to see who could get to 100 first. I'm at 55 and I'm counting some things that I want to want to do. Kayli is on about 40. She was rather pleased though that she now knows what she wants to do with her life. She wants to earn 50 dollars for charity (among other things). This is, to me, a rather fun experiment. In a future blog I will share some of the things on my life list. For now, I will try "living in the moment" (which is on my list) and enjoy the little boy who wants to ride "the bus" which is my yellow 4-wheeler. What would be on your life list?

7 comments:

LC said...

Great idea. We just had a talk in church about listing your 100 dreams/goals. What a fun thing to do with the fam.I tried to get BD to do it with me but he didn't think that activity sounded as fun as I did. So, I'll start writing anyway and we'll all have to share our highlights sometime.

Megz said...

I started thinking about it and it made my head hurt. I started compartmentalizing my goals as physical, spiritual, educational, relaxing, expensive, gaining certain talents....and as you can see I was all over the place. So I'll stick to living my non-list life and hope I accidentally do something I subconsciously wanted to.

TisforTonya said...

hmmm... I doubt I'll get to a hundred very quickly unless I start making some smaller goals - maybe that's the trick to life though! My number one is going to be to have a house that stays clean for 2 days (and leaving for the weekend can't count). Number two is going to be compiling my recipes into a usable form. Number three is going to be taking a photography class... that's enough to get me feeling a little guilty already :)

Sherie Christensen said...

megz, your thinking is way to complilcated for a 7 year old so I think you're breaking the rules and Tonya it is NOT supposed to induce guilt. My friend suggested putting the things you've already accomplished first -- maybe the things you've done since you were 7:)

Sherie Christensen said...

Oh, that to should be too.

cold cocoa said...

I would like to travel to Europe and live in a penthouse suite in NYC for a month. I know how to think like a seven year old. I also want to get more schooling and have a job like Ann Landers. But, like Megan, thinking about that stuff feels overwhelming as I can hardly get a shower in most days. I really wish I could go on "So You Think You Can Dance" but I can't dance. That premieres May 22nd. Watch it.

LC said...

This really isn't that hard guys--it's FUN. I want to see the ruins in Mexico, write a song, finish the basement into a warm cozy getaway with a big TV (don't tell BD about the TV part), learn Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C-sharp minor on the piano, get a master's or 2nd degree, teach the kids Spanish, read the entire Bible (never have gotten past Job in the O.T.), take some ballroom dancing classes for date nights, keep a daily or weekly journal, etc....