I once saw a commecial where someone said they wanted to visit the Great Wall of China before they diedSeptember 17th, 2007 @ 7:01 am
The King woke up this morning and walked into the kitchen, where I was frantically cutting up peaches for Babboo’s breakfast. I asked him how he slept. He asked me if I had a list of things I wanted to do before I died.
Huh?
That’s the start to a pretty deep conversation before 7am on a Monday morning. I just looked up at him and told him that no such list for me existed.
He questioned why I hadn’t thought about a list. I questioned why a person would need such a list. Do you really need to put pen to paper and make a list. Or are those the type of things that you just know.
To be completely honest, I’m not ever sure I have a mental list of things I want to do before I die. I’ve never really thought about it. I’m sure that when I was 12 I probably made up a list in some writing class, right after I made my list of Things I Want in a Husband.
(I wish I could find the “husband” list. I’m sure it’s in my journal. Which is in storage. I know it says things like must make me laugh and must like kids. Gag.)
The King then asked me again about this list. He wanted to know what might be on my list, if such a list existed. He asked if maybe I wanted to travel more. And if so, where might I want to travel. I was trying to get out the door and get to work, so I didn’t have time to discuss it much.
On my walk into the office I kept thinking about this. What do I want to do before I die? Do I have goals that will span my lifetime? Are there places I’d like to visit? I think that 14 year old Isabel would have only said she’d like to visit Paris before she died. 32 year old Isabel has been to Paris twice. The only other place that 14 year old Isabel would have wanted to visit was Washington DC. And we all I know I just crossed that off my (non existent) list this month.
I e-mailed The King this morning and asked him why he wanted to know if I had a list. He responded by saying this:
“I was reading somewhere or heard someone talking about it and started thinking about mine, since I never really had one. I guess mine would say: go to Greece. Learn to draw people. Ride my bike from Seattle to Portland. Travel all the way around the world. Run a small business. Get into a sport for a season. I wanted to learn to play poker, and I kinda did that one I guess. Be with you forever.”
Wow, his list is very specific. I’ve never thought in terms of goals this specific. Really, I’ve never had specific goals and dreams. I just sort of let life take it’s course. And I go on the path I want and leave the other paths behind. Easy, breezy.
Yesterday at church they were talking about having goals and working towards them.
Crap.
I really don’t have specific goals or things I’d like to do before I die. At least not any that I could think of this morning. And maybe I should. Maybe I should make a list of things I’d like to do before I die. And another list of things I’d like to do within the next year. Maybe it should even be in spreadsheet form and color coded so I know whether it’s a career goal, a personal goal, a family goal, a spiritual goal, or even a blog goal.
Maybe I’m thinking too much about this too much.
So tell me, do you have a list of things you like to do before you die? Do you have goals and dreams and aspirations? And if so, what are some of them?
Maybe I can use some of yours as a starting off point for my list.
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Dawn
said,
September 17, 2007 at 5:06 pm
I don’t have a list… or I guess, my list is currently fulfulled… I think maybe I could make a new one though.
Audrey
said,
September 17, 2007 at 5:09 pm
I’ve never really thought about such a list before, but I think it might include the following: Go back to Spain (take Tim with me this time), go to Australia, go to Hawaii, go to Switzerland, go to Scotland, go skydiving, learn to scuba dive (maybe, if I can overcome my fear of fish with teeth), drive (and own, if possible) a mini cooper, have kids, go to NYC, and live somewhere besides Colorado.
Hmmm…I guess I need to find a higher-paying job if I ever want to cross these things off the list!
*pixie*
said,
September 17, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I had a list once in high school. I know I have that somewhere packed away. I’d like to see if I still aspire to achieve any of those things. I’m so different now, even in just the last few years, that my list today wouldn’t even compare.
Maybe I’ll start one of soon.
Parker
said,
September 17, 2007 at 5:19 pm
The link above will take you to my current list. The things to do before I die concept was a little too broad for me, so I went with things to do in (roughly) the next 3 years. It keeps me on task and when I’m completely bored, I pull up my list and find something to work on.
Jura
said,
September 17, 2007 at 5:20 pm
I keep my list at 43things.com . Like the very first I could think of: “dance quickstep with a pro one evening per month, until my old days”. But when I read you, I want I want I want to have a blog as interesting as yours.
But you make a great observation here, I think. In couples, there is often one person who “keeps the list”, the other finds it difficult. A source of both frustration and joy (sadly not at the same time, the list keeper’s point of view).
For destinations, I had that fixation on Lilla Nassa. The only ways to get there are either sailing or kayaking. So we kayaked there. Well, then there is 43places.com … But I could indeed die already after having camped on Lilla Nassa.
(sorry for a long comment, I loved your entry too much)
Carrisa
said,
September 17, 2007 at 5:21 pm
I don’t really have a list per se.
I’ve always known I wanted to be a mom before I died.
I do have things in life I want, but I’ve never really made a list. I do want to go to Europe. I do want to own my own business.
And funny thing, I also want to be with your forever. It’s nice to see that the king and I have some common goals.
Parker
said,
September 17, 2007 at 5:23 pm
PS - Came to your site via CarrisaBlog. Loving your site!
Operation Pink Herring
said,
September 17, 2007 at 5:24 pm
I used to have very specific goals, but then I would get really upset if something came up and I didn’t meet them. Things change, things happen, things don’t always work out exactly as you planned… and that’s OK. So I have stopped making the lists of life goals. I am still addicted to To-Do lists. I have one for every day, one for the weekend, and one for the year!
Keri
said,
September 17, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Great post - I started a list. It all came about b/c my former manager at work has a list (that she & her husband developed one night over dinner years ago). They actively work to check things off - such as “Go to the Olympics” and she went! So I recently started a list b/c it got me thinking. So far on my list: (in no particular order)
- Travel to Croatia (husbands family is from there) and Italy
- Visit all 50 states
- Go to the Kentucky Derby
- Go to The Olympics (summer)
- Drive across country (again) with my girls and appreciate it more.
Random list, but its a start…
katie
said,
September 17, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Well written post. I myself had peaches for breakfast too.
Here’s some things from my list.
-Make my own dish and serve it in a fancy restaurant.
-See the world’s largest frying pan and ball of twine.
-Have my garden or home photographed for a magazine.
-Raise children to be honest and happy.
-Start my own business.
-Plan a beautiful party.
-Do that kite surfing thing.
-Go to Italy with my husband and see the village his family is from.
-Be able to retire early and live off my investments
-Take both sets of my parents on a cruise
Just a few
Marriage-101
said,
September 17, 2007 at 5:55 pm
I’ve always had a mental list, but it changes as I change. Aside from the various places I’d like to see before I die (i.e. Italy, London, Paris, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, Austrailia, Hawaii, Colorado, etc.) I also want to lose the excess weight I’ve carried around all my life. I want to have flat abs for just once in my life! And I figure, I better work on that now because I hear it’s much harder after having children. I also want to be a grandmother some day. Weird that that’s a life goal, but I just want to make sure I live that long. So no bungee jumping for me.
Nic
said,
September 17, 2007 at 6:07 pm
I was actually thinking about starting a list. I’m having major issues about turning 25 in less than 3 weeks when I’ve done NOTHING. I can’t even talk about it now.
Josie
said,
September 17, 2007 at 6:10 pm
About a year ago I came up with a list of 30 things to do before I turned 35 and started a blog to keep track. Some of the items are:
Volunteer on a regular basis Learn to knit
Get a will
Buy and learn how to use a drill Travel to 5 places I have never been to before
Watch the sunrise over the ocean Read all of Jane Austen’s books Take a day trip by myself.
Christar
said,
September 17, 2007 at 6:15 pm
May I first just say, the very last thing on The King’s list is absolutely ADORABLE. How sweet!!!
Shaun and I were talking about ‘goals’ the other day, and the way he was talking reminded me of what Vince Vaugn says in Dodgeball, “I found that if you set goals, you might not reach them, so by not setting goals I’m never disappointed, and I gotta tell ya, it feels phenominal.” or something along those lines, haha!
But I do have goals for myself. Things I’d love to accomplish in my life time. No list, but goals. Of course right now my main one is to finish school and get out of my crappy job. But beyond that, I definitely want to get married and have kids. I’ve always wanted is a Family.
I’d also love to travel! Even if it’s not a lot, but I have always wanted to visit Italy!!! I’d also love to see Asia and other parts of Europe, and even more of the U.S.
Most of all, I just want to be happy in my life. I try and live every day to it’s fullest because we only get one life to live, and I want to make the best of it and try to make every day enjoyable.
Anna
said,
September 17, 2007 at 6:23 pm
I do. My blog is dedicated to a list of things I want to do before turning 30. I’ve been making “life lists” since I was in high school.
I recently found one of my high school lists and I was actually surprised at how similar it was to my current list. I’d even accomplished some of the goals without knowing!
I have an entire life list too, but for now I wanted to focus on the things that I could get done right in a short amount of time. I feel like writing things down and working toward them in a (somewhat) tangible manner has really enhanced my life and inspired me to try even more new things.
FunnyGal KAT
said,
September 17, 2007 at 6:41 pm
I admire people who keep these kinds of lists but, like you, I don’t actually have one. Sure, there are things I’d like to accomplish, places I’d like to visit, but I haven’t actually listed them out.
It’s more… when I think of something I’d like to do, I start working on doing it. Once that’s done, I’ll eventually think of something else and start working on that.
Not very inspiring for your own list, I’m afraid.
jessica
said,
September 17, 2007 at 6:53 pm
When I was in high school it was my goal to get arrested before my 18th birthday, thank god I never saw that one through. I was a weird kid…
stefanie
said,
September 17, 2007 at 7:11 pm
I have no such list, but now I want one.
Also, my cold, skeptical, cynical single-girl’s heart melted just a little bit when you said the King’s list included “Be with you forever.” Awww.
Lisa B
said,
September 17, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Haven’t ever made a list either. But yes, methinks the 14 year of Isabel would think the 32 year old Isabel is super-duper cool because you’ve gone to the two places she was dying to go.
lizarita
said,
September 17, 2007 at 7:23 pm
I stopped reading and came directly to the comments section after “Be with you forever.”
AWWWWWWWWWW!
Laurel
said,
September 17, 2007 at 7:33 pm
I don’t have a list either, which is a little strange since I love: lists, planning ahead and setting goals.
Right now I’m most concerned with completing my MBA degree and having a good (leading to marriage, family etc…) with my boyfriend. Much more immediate than most other life list items!
Liza
said,
September 17, 2007 at 7:43 pm
I love lists like that!
Doing them online doesn’t really work for me, but a great place to explore and see what interesting things people are doing is http://superviva.com/.
Plus, I used to work with the founder, Susie, and actually, you remind me of her.
Molly
said,
September 17, 2007 at 8:04 pm
I have a list, surprise surprise. It was really fun to make. I listed 100 things I wanted to do within my lifetime, no matter how out there they seemed. Get the hell out of my current house was one of them, hahaha.
May
said,
September 17, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Like Molly I also made a list of 100 things to do before I die. It was CRAZY how long it took me to think of 100 things…. the first 30 or so were really easy, but I had to stretch to get to 100. Because really, I don’t WANT to skydive. Or ride in a hot air balloon. Or walk through europe. And aren’t those, like, REQUIRED list items?
Steph
said,
September 17, 2007 at 10:57 pm
The last few years I’ve done some things that I didn’t necessarily have on my list, but that I think are friggin’ awesome. SO…I remake my list and then add the cool things I do and cross them off immediately. Definitely makes me feel more accomplished. Like…I never planned on seeing an American get a gold medal at an Olympic event and therefore seeing the medal ceremony with the National Anthem OR going to see the Rockette’s Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. BUT I did, so I put them on my list because they’re pretty darn cool.
Meg
said,
September 17, 2007 at 11:08 pm
I had an actual list at one point in high school. I have absolutely no idea where it is now, probably in a dump somewhere. Your post made me think of two things: 1.) be a mom 2.) see U2 live in concert. They don’t exactly go together, but those are the two things I can think of off the top of my head.
moosh in indy.
said,
September 18, 2007 at 12:31 am
Lie on the floor of the Sistine Chapel.
bananas
said,
September 18, 2007 at 5:34 am
I’m the QUEEN of lists. I have several versions of what I want to do (although I typically leave of the macabre “before I die” part, oddly enough), lists I want to do before I’m 40, lists I want to do before I’m 30 (VERY LITTLE time left to get anything done on that one…)
Rachel
said,
September 18, 2007 at 4:00 pm
I am like you. I don’t really have a list. I know there are some things I would like to do, but I’ve never really just sat down and put on paper the things I would like to do before I die.
Maybe the fact that The King has specific goals and you are easy going and “breezy” (I’m breezy) are what make you guys work. Maybe you don’t need a list.
Oh, and, how freakin sweet is the King!!!
Jackie
said,
September 18, 2007 at 5:55 pm
I always thought this kind of list was morbid, so I never made one. There are things I want to do, but it’s all in my head, totally scattered and unorganized. So no list for me.
Felicity
said,
September 19, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Popped in for the first time today. I have a list. I made it when after a bad breakup and was on the healing road. I’ve gotten to cross a lot of things off, and there are still a lot on there.
Some are small and some aren’t, for example, go on a road trip down the Oregon coast, or learn how to waterski, or travel to blah blah blah countries (there are a few on the list) etc. It’s nice to check once or twice a year and cross off the ones I’ve done and maybe add new ones. It’s rewarding! I’ve got it on my computer.
Lindsey
said,
September 19, 2007 at 6:36 pm
I don’t really have a concrete, specific list either. I mean, there are a few places I’d really like to travel. I’d like to have kids. I’d like to buy some nice furniture for my house within the next few years, but furniture isn’t really a “life” goal. I remember we used to have to write lists of goals when we were kids. I wonder what I wrote. I’d have to think about this for awhile. I just don’t have specifics like the king does.
metalia
said,
September 20, 2007 at 12:07 am
“Be with you forever.” AWWW! So sweet…and now I’m going to start making a list of my own.
KARA!
said,
September 20, 2007 at 1:35 am
I love how he stuck the “be with you forever” all casual like. Very sweet.
I feel a bit inspired now to make a list!
Inscrutable Exhortations » Blog Archive » Before I Die
said,
September 20, 2007 at 4:57 am
[…] Isabel has opened up a terrific and overwhelming train of thought for many people by asking, “Do you have a list of things you want to do before you die?” This seems to be a somewhat common list to make, especially recently (or maybe I’m just noticing it as a trend because I’m getting older and older even as we speak). There are even multiple books on the subject, wherein other people give suggestions for things that it might be good to do before death. Clearly we are talking about things outside the realm of get your affairs in order. We are talking about things like Write the next Great American Novel and Skydive. I’ve never made such a list and don’t expect I ever will. For one thing, I don’t expect that such a list is ever complete. Just as one thing is checked off, ten more will need to be added. It doesn’t seem possible that everything on the list will ever be accomplished … and would you really want it to be? Imagine how one would feel on the day that the last item was checked off. What’s left, then? Why get up tomorrow? So why write it down at all? Why check off items? I feel that the process, in a sense, takes away some of the joy of living. (Maybe it’s just me, but isn’t the whole idea of making this list a thoroughly western approach to life? I don’t expect many Buddhist monks participate in this experiment. And how many of these lists, do you suppose, are written on a ratty old piece of paper, tacked to the dashboard of a battered old truck? I expect the vast majority reside on hard drives of one kind or another.) The process of making such a list would drive me crazy because it could never be long enough. If I even started such a list, it would consume my thoughts, sucking valuable energy away from the other lists that are begging to be written and maintained. I wouldn’t want to leave out anything. It would concern me, and I think by now we all know that I’m a worrier. So I keep instead a fuzzy outline in the back of my mind. I know several of the places in the world that I hope and plan to visit one day; I have an understanding of a few basic personal and professional goals; and I know that I’m going to one day have a guinea pig farm. What about you? […]
Adria
said,
September 21, 2007 at 4:33 am
A few months ago I saw a list on someone’s blog: 100 things I want to do before I die.
It got me thinking. I should do a list, but I don’t think I have 100 things.
So far on my list: run a marathon, travel to Israel.