My thought for today comes from a little book called Words That Matter: Everyday Truths to Guide and Inspire by the editors of O, The Oprah Magazine. Oprah Winfrey says,
"Anyone who has ever come close to death can tell you that at the end of your life...the thoughts that linger are the 'if only' questions, like Who could I have become if I had finally done the things I always wanted to do?"
I wrote in my journal yesterday "What things have I always wanted to do?"
I sat with this question, letting it sink in, and then I wrote my answers as they came to me. I found this exercise very useful. I am still thinking about the things I wrote down, and what it will take for me to do them. One of the answers that surprised me was that I want to live in another country again. I lived in Japan for eleven months when I was 17-18 years old, and I lived in the Philippines for sixteen months when I was 21-22 years old. Those were incredible experiences, and I want to have more experiences like that. I will be 52 years old when my youngest child graduates from high school. Maybe that will be a good time for me to start a new overseas adventure. I'd like to try Europe next. Any suggestions?
What things have you always wanted to do, and how could you get started on a path that will lead you to them?
From my dad:
ReplyDeleteI would like to spend more time with each of my children and grandkids. I would like to visit New Zealand for an extended period. I would like to visit France with Teresa. I would be delighted to hike in every national park in the USA. I want to snorkel more. I would like to spend more time with my siblings. If I died without doing these things though the only ones I would seriously regret is the first one, spending more time with my siblings, and France with Teresa. The best combo would be hiking with my kids, Teresa, and siblings. Some of the happiest memories of my life involve hiking with people I love. Think of that wonderful 20 mile hike we did with you and Karen on the coast and the 20 milers I did with each boy! Teresa and I did some wonderful hikes years ago. Dad