Dreaming Dreams, Setting Goals, and Making Lists Continued
In the movie A Walk to Remember, Mandy Moore’s character makes a list of things she wants to do before she dies. In her case, she knew that death was coming quickly; so her list strictly consisted of things that she felt were possible to accomplish in a short time. Though a death sentence would make us all rush to create the list, I don’t believe we should wait for tragedy to make a commitment to achieve things that we want to do.
A life List
A year ago, I decided to make my own Life List, as I call it. On it, I have composed a long list of things I am going to do before I die…hopefully. Since I don’t know when I am going to pass on, it is important to daily push toward crossing something off the list. There are mostly normal things on the list but also some crazy ones that seem stupid, even to me, and I wrote them. The important thing is, I made the list, and I am working to make each thing a reality.
Giving yourself something to look forward to is a great way to stay emotionally healthy and active. At least you will never have the excuse, “I have nothing to live for.” Consult your inner child while making your special list. Don’t be logical and adult for this task. It will take freedom of spirit to truly discover the core of your desires.
The Commitment
Like mine, your list may consist of items that require long-term commitment to accomplish; such as, running a marathon, writing a book, recording a CD, etc. Well, don’t worry about how in-depth your dreams are; take small daily steps until each item becomes your reality. Another tip is to create a Life List Club with several friends. You might find that sharing your aspirations with others gets you motivated. Those who have common items on their lists can work toward their goals together and be accountable to one another.
An Exercise to Get You Going
In case you have trouble compiling your first draft, a good starter question to ask is, “If I only had six months to live, what would I do, where would I go, who would I see?” My daughter recently had an essay assignment that asked the question, “What would you do if you had only 24 hours to see and hear?” The mere thought of losing your sight and hearing all at once is emotionally staggering, but for this exercise, I think it’s worth exploring. You’ll be surprised at what you come up with.
I believe everyone should have a Life List, especially women like us who want to live fulfilling, happy lives. It’s just one more step to self-improvement. Make your list and smile at the thought of accomplishing it all.
[...] doing what makes you happy and will bring the best results. Accountability is just a part of your journey to self-improvement. Be well-be [...]
[...] I had the pleasure of being interviewed by my new friend from Six Feet Over. Melody is blogging her way through her “Bucket List” (aka the things you want to do before you die or kick the bucket). Well, the interview is about one of my BL items. You’ll have to go to her inspiring blog to read about it. My interview at Six Feet Over. If you have not made your BL, or Life List, as I call it, check out a previous post for some tips. [...]