I've travelled domestically and overseas a lot in my lifetime and have seen some amazing destinations, so many I'd love to re-visit a second, third and fourth time and, of course there's still so many I've yet to visit. It's been a privilege to travel so much but not something that just happened, I created it, worked to make the ability to travel possible and so it's less of a privilege I suppose and more of a by-product of hard work and effort.
Even with all that travel there's a destination I've yet to reach and I'm in no real hurry to arrive there - I mean the end of my life...and you're going there too.
Literally no effort or work is required to reach that place, one only need to sit and wait and they'll get there eventually. I don't focus on that destination...although am well aware it's inescapably in my future; no, it's not my focus but it is certainly a motivation.
I've spoken and written about this and it's something that often comes up in the real world (off the internet).
Recently I was conducting a session in which I broached the topic of the end of life asking those present to think forward about the end of all things, their death, then step backwards through to the present moment and write down all the things they wanted to do and achieve in the intervening time on a piece paper; I purposely made them work backwards in time so that the very last thing on the list was the thing that would occur the soonest and be most relevant to the present moment.
The result was interesting and there were a lot of comments about how hard the task was, mutterings about not being able to think of anything and a lot of things written then crossed out. After the fifteen minutes I allotted ended many had only a few items written down and some much more, but not one page was full.
I believe it is everyone's responsibility to be able to list the things they wish to do and achieve in their lives - those that want to get to the end of life without regret or feelings that they didn't make the most of it it anyway.
When I say list I mean write them down in a short focused space of time which would mean they are front of mind and thought about items.
Sure, it's difficult to know what one may like to do, be or have many years down the track but a concept would be nice right? Things like health, financial security, good relationships, job promotion, travel, children, accolades, skills and education...these things and others like them should be a goal for everyone. I believe that being able to list short, medium and long term items is one of the keys to unlocking a better future because knowing what that that thing is, the goal, and why it's important means people can plan for it and start the journey to that point.
Without the goal, the why and the plan the journey can't begin and those desired things become little more than a dreams.
With those in the group, I asked them to take the very last thing on their lists and set out a plan of attack they could follow to actually make it happen, to identify the roadblocks and challenges they'd face, what was in their control to affect and was was without, how they would measure their progress and to where (and how) they may pivot should things not work to plan amongst other such items...and that's what everyone should be doing when it comes to working towards a short, medium or long term goal. It takes action as well and a whole lot of other things besides, but the journey always needs to start with the set goal, the why or reason and the plan of attack.
I'm going to a place I'd rather not go, the final destination, and you're going there too,that fact isn't in question, you, me and everyone else is going to die. What the question everyone on the planet should be asking themselves is, "what am I doing on the way there, what value do I want my life to return and what am I prepared to do to make that return a reality.?"
Have you asked and answered those questions?
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[Original and AI free]
Image(s) in this post are my own
Mate, this isn't weekend experiences, but this is a hell of a prompt. I might do this exercise for a post in my Handwritten community, and as part of some sort of demented personal therapy.
The problem is, we don't know how much time we have left. It makes it hard to work backwards from the moment before the transition to the great void, to the present moment.
What a great session that would've been to be a part of though, I love challenging people about their mortality (not threateningly) but to make them think about what they really, truly care about and value.
And as the adage says, if you don't make a plan, you plan to fail, so I hope that people don't fail their remaining years. So many waste it scrolling, expressionless, brief splashes of dopamine.
I want to be there building relationships, strengthening old ones, and expressing myself and as one of my many favourite members of hive has in their byline (paraphrasing here: me, pushing my ideas onto you.
This is really a great and very thoughtful post. Hopefully it changes someone's life.
Yep, super exciting, or so I find it. Make me live the fuck out of today whilst concurrently planning for tomorrow (the future).
Seems a good use of time.
Thanks mate. This was Thursday's post but I managed to fucken click post not save and fucken fuckety cunt munch...it posted today.
I wouldn't want to know, even if I could, the moment of my own death. Unless I was suddenly plummeting from a plane without a parachute. That wouldn't be very exciting at all.
I have also done the same, fat fingered post, instead of save, or worse, post instead of save, nothing worse than letting a post out half dressed.
I really do sincerely hope that this post will force someone out there into becoming a better human being. We need more of them.
Yeah, this wasn't ready to post but I'm not going to bother editing it, it'll be what it'll be. Besides, I think it's ok, no typos etc.
I'm hoping this post, and others I've done like it, have an impact on someone. I'll never know of course, and that doesn't diminish my time and enjoyment from writing it, but hopefully someone finds something they're looking for.
It'd only be a source of concern for a short while.
On that topics I think we are very similar, i couldn't live without a goal, I need one, an objective to reach, I always make up a plan and just because I'm an extreme planner I always make a plan B in case something goes wrong (more rarely even a plan C) because I want to reach that goal no matter what... If I have no goal, I would feel like empty, without motivations to do anything. My goals now are grow up the kid the best I can, buy a house, financial freedom (if not total freedom at least a financial support), travel and watch the world (I stopped after covid and then kid)
Yep, that's the way to do it!
A few excellent goals, well done!
It gave me pause, if only for a minute or two. I may post about this also. We spent an hour last night saving and reintegrating a baby duck 🦆 into a flock of 10 ducklings. If I could just stay home for the rest of whatever time life gives me. That time would be spent helping critters and growing flowers and vegetables. And just building things (finishing) that I have started.
I always think, you wanker, when people tell me they'd rather stay working even if they didn't. There's so much more to life and so many things a person could be doing,you situation above is just one of them, and yet those small-minded cock's would rather work.
Well, have at it I say, they can go to work and pay taxes while I kick back livin' large.
Hopefully things are going well up your way. Busy as usual I'd imagine.
You know the drill. When I am not truckin'. It is a scramble to keep up. Now that my paying side gig with land maintenance and building repairs with the neighbors is in the mix. My homes to do list is growing. Either the Trucking has to go or I need a Clone. 😳
You side gigging? I didn't know, mainly because you tell me fuck all. Lol.
Loose Lips Sink Ships. The hours of service are so ridiculous up here that a paying side gig needs to be on duty not driving. It is like WTF is next? Mowing the grass needs to be on duty not driving?
Buncha Overbearing Government Authoritarian Fuks.
Hope this sums it up from my perspective. Live each day as if it is your last. Fortunately, through hard work, dedication and being focussed throughout my life I am in a position to do what I want when I want. Just call me Mr spontaneity.
I guess when I was a whipper snapper I had plans and dreams, lost in the mists of time
As I approach the winter of my life, the eternal darkness is close, going to my grave not regretting the things I have done, rather than rueing the things I haven't. Living in the real world not preparing for an 'afterlife" Death is the end. For all eternity,
Afuckingmen
I am happy. I am content. I have lived a life I wanted. I am that baby boomer.
Yep, legit track that one...I'm a huge Tim McGraw fan so it's a good song to make your point with...and generally says it all really.
So, well said.
Cheers, same here always been a fan of his
Yeeeeee Haaaaaw
I think the biggest thing on my list would just be the general idea that before I get to the end of my life I just want to be a better person. All the other things seem so commercial and superficial. I mean yeah, I'd love to visit Europe one day, but when I get to the end, I'd rather know that I was loved and will be missed versus "I remember he went on that trip that one time". I think travel is an easy one for a lot of people to go to simply because there are so many amazing places on this Earth that we likely know we will never get to see all of them.
I wonder if you have a plan to achieve that goal by the end of your life?
It's a daily process! :)
What makes you say 77 or 88?
It's a solid age...I wonder what you're doing now to financially sustain your life until then, considering you'll not be able to work forever.