What Would You Do If You Were Given 6 Months To Live?

Let me just say that I am not trying to tell anyone anything about me or them. I am healthy and happy and plan on being here for many years to come.

Today, however, has been a day of discussing mortality. I just met with my attorney regarding my powers of attorney (which you all BETTER have!). Then I met with my accountant regarding my 2007 taxes (yep, I know I've waited til the last second, but it's done). Then I came home and had lunch while reading Brad's blog and he wrote about Randy Pausch, a man I wrote about in February in a post titled "The Last Lecture." Ironically, this morning I also saw a commercial for the Diane Sawyer special tomorrow night titled "The Last Lecture: A Love Story For Your Life," which you should watch.

So I ask again: What would you do if you were given 6 months to live?

There are quite a few things I'd do:

1. I'd call or write each person I've ever loved in any way and tell them how much they meant to my life and thank them for being part of it.
2. I'd tell everyone who ever brought me pain or hurt me that I forgave them a long time ago.
3. I'd apologize and ask forgiveness from those I'd hurt, even if I'd done that 20 years ago.
4. I would gather my inner circle close to me and spend as much time with them as possible doing all the things we ever talked about doing - travelling, singing, dancing, loving, and more. And we'd capture it all in pictures or video.
5. I'd toss out most of my stuff so my family didn't have to go through it once I was gone. It's just stuff, afterall.
6. I'd get out of my head, where I have previously gotten stuck too much.
7. I'd watch the sunrise and sunset everyday.
8. I'd use the words "I love you," "please" and "thank you very much" more.
9. I'd say "good morning" or "good afternoon" and smile at everyone, all the time.
10. If I read any books at all, it would all be stuff that lifted me up and fed my soul.
11. I'd see all the places I've always wanted . . . the Great Pyramids, the Grand Canyon, Paris, the Great Wall of China, and many more.
12. I'd abandon my fears.
13. I'd get out the "special" outfits, linens and dishes and wear and use them daily.
14. I'd journal or blog daily and I'd submit some of my writing for publication.
15. I would only eat foods I savored.
16. I'd no longer feel imposed on when asked to go antiquing with my dad or the other things with my parents that aren't exactly my favorite things to do.
17. Only kind and grateful words would cross my lips.
18. I'd climb Baldy again.

And there are quite a few things I wouldn't do:

1. I wouldn't waste a minute of time worrying.
2. I wouldn't waste one second of time wasting time.
3. I wouldn't watch TV.
4. I wouldn't sleep much more than was absolutely necessary, which given I'd only have 6 months to live, wouldn't be much.
5. I wouldn't work more than I needed to in order to fund the fun I would be having.
6. I would never raise my voice, lose my temper, or lose patience.
7. I wouldn't gossip.

Of course, even though I plan to live to a ripe old age, there's no point in waiting for "tomorrow" or some "special event." In short, I want to start Live Like I Was Dying so I never feel the need to squeeze it all in.