“You Get 4000 Weeks Alive” is the partial title of an article I recently read. It stopped me cold! That’s 76 years—and I’m 85 years old. The rest of the title was “So, Stop Worrying . . . and Do Things.”
I have many excuses for not doing things and worry a lot. The author suggests doing things you want NOW rather than hanging on to the excuses. Humpff!!
He also recommends these options.
1. Do things you’ve always wanted to do.
2. Play with your kids more - if you have them.
I remember the Harry Chapin song “Cats in the Cradle.” It's about a son whose father had no time for him while he built his career. When the father was finally ready to spend time with his son, the son had no time for him. That song strongly influenced my parenting choices.
3. Work less. We work too hard because we think we need a giant security blanket for a disaster that’ll probably never happen.
4. Spend more time with your parents.
I would love to have known my parents better.
5. All of us should travel.
According to those calculations, I am in the last 750 weeks of life —15 years - if my goal is to live to be 100. I’d pretty much completed my bucket list: that list of experiences or achievements people hope to have or accomplish during their lifetime. In the past three years, I’ve managed to
go to Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest and take cruises to Mexico and Alaska
develop the newsletter, take art lessons, and identify other hobbies, such as plants and cooking
commit to aging well and being healthy
do more with my family
But wait!
After reading that article, I thought, “Maybe it’s time to make a new bucket list!!!” What would it include if I dreamed big?
a second cruise to Mexico or another trip to Hawaii, and other ventures
visit my grandson and his family in New York
continue writing and develop an email coaching program
experience excellent health, feel good, exercise, and age well
upgrade my apartment
learn more on various topics
I guess those aren’t big dreams, but they are doable ones.
Big dreams would include
traveling to Europe, cruising the Mediterranean, or around the world
having a new apartment or condo centrally located
be independent and experience well-being for as long as I live
Do you have a bucket list? What’s on it?
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Do you have a bucket list: that list of experiences or achievements people hope to have or accomplish during their lifetime? I just updated mine.
I need to revamp my bucket list. I'm not even sure that's what I'm name it. I held on to great expectations such as climbing to Everest Base Camp, sailing to Tonga, getting a dog, living in another country, going back to college, and drawing 365 angels. These were just a few. I'm just not inspired at the moment, living in the wrong place is wearing me down, so while revamping I'm starting at basics and working to a grander scale later. (Measuring life in weeks is sobering.)