The way I figure it I have a mere 358 days left on this earth, give or take a day. This is the year after all, that the Mayans predicted the end of the earth. So while I’m not going to make any resolutions this year, I am going to live this last year of my life differently, because when you know the exact date of your death you suddenly have outstanding clarity.
For my final days, these are my intentions:
- Family first. Full stop.
- Let my kids be kids for just one more year.
- Spend more time with my parents.
- Make sure my friends know I love them.
- Travel.
- Stop and smell the roses. Everyday.
- Be braver with my words. My opinion counts and frankly in a year you’re not going to care anyway.
- Less stuff. I can’t take it with me anyway.
- Spend more time in my kitchen. Food, slow food, is one of life’s great pleasures. I’m not going to waste any of my last meals eating processed garbage.
- Actively seek out joy daily, even when it’s raining.
This manifesto is being blown up and thrown on my office wall as a reminder that if my time is to be short, at least my heart will be full when it’s over.
What if the Mayans are wrong? What if the world doesn’t end? What if they just got tired of writing a calendar that far in to the future? What if I don't really believe the world will end next year? That’s ok. I’ll have had one year of living like it’s my last and I’ll bet it’s my best year ever.
Printer-friendly version