There was recently an article in the New York Times on making life lists, a list of things you want to accomplish in your life before you die. I think it probably all started with the book, A Thousand Things To See Before You Die. The article said that many people have a real feeling of accomplishment as they check things off of their list. There is also a movie coming out about two men with cancer who are trying to get everything done that they have ever wanted to do before the end.

I never had a list. I had some things in my life that I wanted to accomplish, rather vaguely.
I wanted to get married-check
I wanted to have children-check
I wanted to be a nurse-check. I never enjoyed working as a nurse but I did it.
I wanted to be divorced-check. Wait, that wasn’t my plan.
I wanted to live in Mexico-check. Wait, I never did and here I am living in France.

So, I got to thinking what would I put on my list? What do I want to do before I die? All I can think of are places I want to see, countries or regions I want to visit that I haven’t been to yet. What does that tell you about me? I know I’m not alone in this and that many people want to travel and see the world. I’d also like the have a house in the States so I could see my family more but this will depend on my winning the lottery. I’d like to publish a book-doesn’t every one?

I don’t want to jump out of an airplane, bungie jump, eat strange things, or have a new occupation.

I want to enjoy life, enjoy each day and try to live in the moment. As you get older, and boy am I getting older, simple things become a pleasure. I try to go out every day and look at the sun set. That is something that doesn’t require money, just a little time to be set aside, and my soul is refreshed.

He doesn’t have a list and I have to say he looks very content.