If you only had a year to live...
"If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?"
Those are just a few of the questions posed by Stephen Levine, author most recently of A Year to Live: How to Live This Year as If It Were Your Last in which he reports on an experiment he and his wife, Ondrea, conducted by living one year as if it were their last year on earth.
If time was short, we’d probably all resolve to fully live each twenty four hours. Work less. Make amends. See the Pyramids. Stop worrying about money.
But how would all this actually play out in your day-to-day decisions?
For instance, as retirement coach Ann Harrison asks ….
- What unfinished business would you attend to?
- Which priorities would you re-examine?
- What would you stop doing?
- What would you start doing?
- What would you like to learn about?
- What would you like to buy?
- What would you like to try?
- What would you like to change?
If you're due to retire in the near future, how will you make the most of the freedom, choice and opportunities available to you? How will you get the retirement you deserve?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: Sue | Jan 20, 2022 9:40:22 PM
I am 50 years old and a single parent. My dream is being fulfilled right NOW since I believe in doing what we want to do ! We've travelled to 30 countries so far -- including Greece, Italy, Pyramids of Egypt, Jerusalem and Bethlehem, Barcelona, Palma Majorca, Moorea, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Ta'haa, Barbados, St. Martin, Cuba 9 times, many areas of USA and Canada, Guyana, Trinidad, Virgin Islands and am working ! My daughter has graduated with a B.Comm in Marketing and Law and no debts since I paid it all ! We have a great lifestyle and enjoying each other's companies, meeting many interesting people from around the world, and enjoying the different cultures and places we've dreamt of doing. Next is Asia and India.. enjoy the special moments, the sunsets, the beaches, the flowers in the summer and the people you meet along the way..and then if death faces you tomorrow, you have nothing to worry about since you've enjoyed life to the fullest !
Posted by: William | Jan 21, 2022 2:22:12 AM
1 year - well, 1 year till I get to see my sister and mother again..1 year till I kiss my daughter for the last time..1 year to live like I was dying...so here we are wondering what to do rather than doing..sad but true - smell a rose, feel the salt air by the ocean and hug the ones you love.. I've walked many a cemetary and yet to see ones occupation on a tombstone.. live to work or work to live - we all have a choice.
Posted by: Tenacious Otter | Jan 21, 2022 12:05:39 PM
Something I'd like to put forward here, I've recently been through my mothers passing, and will be going through my fathers passing. Something has become glaringly evident, a living will, what the medical community is allowed to do and not do with you. Instructions you have to leave, when no one can dispute your ability to make these decisions for yourself.
Posted by: chris | Jan 21, 2022 1:02:08 PM
I would stop saving money, cash in my investments and start doing some world travel. No more retirement savings or budgetting. However, there's only so much you can do in a year.
I would quit work and only do volunteer stuff. Maybe combine it with the travel, and do high risk stuff. Why not if I'm going to die soon anyway.
I would stop controlling my weight with diet and exercise and eat whatever I want and just do activities that I enjoy.
I would never bother to clean my house or make any improvements. Just hire someone as needed.
I would get very depressed as the year wore on, and probably be on a cocktail of anti-depressants by the end.
I would try and make it easy on the people I love and use the anti-depressants to mask my true feelings.
I would try and find out why I only had a year, how do I know this, how will I die and can I do anything to change it. I'd feel totally pissed off with the situation.
Posted by: scuba diver | Jan 21, 2022 2:46:37 PM
funny thing - i had a 3.2 cm long tumour in my bladder and was given 6 months to 2 years
so the first thing i did was get rid of the wife that was dragging me down for 19 years - the pleasure i felt was beyond belief
i am still alive and it is 4 years now - i went vegan - gave up drinking and started working out
Getting told i was going to die was the BEST thing that ever happened to me - gave me incentive to change everything!!!!!
Posted by: had a taste, no more waste | Jan 21, 2022 5:53:36 PM
There was a day when I "came to" on the bathroom floor after lying there unconsious for the better part of a day.....I was a 49 year old who took care of herself and there I was, near death with a very serious bout of pancreatitis (cause unknown)...all alone I somehow got myself to the hospital and clung to life for a week before I began to heal....
There is not a second that goes by that i do not fully engage in my life---nice winter holidays with hubby every year, a no-stress fun job, a smile for everyone....there is always a bounce in my step....
It's been 4 years and I feel great--but you never, ever know what is around the corner....I learned that one the hard way. Donn't wait for someone to say you have a year left--you might not even have a day--live your life now....
Posted by: Randy Kubbernus | Jan 21, 2022 11:28:01 PM
I know its late I wish I didnt wait HELLO HELLO!
Posted by: Sheila | Jan 24, 2022 11:28:09 AM
Have you seen The Bucket List? I have a Bucket List. I usually have 10 things on this list that I want to accomplish before I die. I think up new ones as the current ones are completed. I don't want to get to where dying is imminent to do all the wonderful things life has to offer and when I "GO" I will have no regrets. I will be happy with the life I have had!!!
Posted by: norma | Jan 25, 2022 4:47:01 PM
me i would just spend all my time with my husband and kids
Posted by: Alan | Mar 19, 2022 4:27:56 PM
I would finish building our retirement home on the Bay of Fundy.There I goi. I never wanted to be there in the first place.I live on the west coast & want to travel by bike the entire Vancouver Island.Trade my boat for a sailboat & head for New Zealand.I do not know how to sail so am sure that would be the end.
Posted by: Alan | Mar 19, 2022 4:40:11 PM
I forgot. Like Darren ,iI would invite a few large breasted ladies to come along,.