Live like you are dying

Over the past 37 days, we have learned so many lessons from so many places in the world. So many essays poured in to answer the question, "What would I be doing today if I only had 37 days to live?" Thirty-seven were posted here, to give us a glimpse into action steps we might take to live as if we were dying (which we are), to live mindfully and be present. Fully, wholly, gloriously present.

My thanks to everyone who submitted--this is such an important question and yours were such important answers. I'm searching for a viable place to house all of these online so we can continue the worldwide conversation about this question. If you'd like to send your answer to that question, email it to me with a photograph and your mailing address.

You are all our best teachers.

These are the action steps that have emerged from the last 37 days:

Day 37 - Let us number our days
Day 36 - Pay attention to the p.s.
Day 35 - Do one thing on your list
Day 34 - Fly
Day 33 - Love as if you will be answered
Day 32 - Run to them, hold them
Day 31 - Embrace the can't know
Day 30 - Change your verbs!
Day 29 - Embrace your ordinary wonders
Day 28 - Cultivate enough-ness, record your wonder
Day 27 - Catch others, be catchable yourself
Day 26 - Eat a ripe, ripe peach
Day 25 - Sail on the Sea of No Control
Day 24 - Don't regret your fall on the cobblestones
Day 23 - Let yourself full body sing
Day 22 - Tell them
Day 21 - Savor the pink light
Day 20 - Meet a real cowboy
Day 19 - Stand on a riverbank with one you love
Day 18 - Practice unconditional love
Day 17 - Ask "what's stopping me?"
Day 16 - Take off your bra
Day 15 - Write those love letters now
Day 14 - Move beyond reciprocity
Day 13 - Arrive right on time for everything that matters
Day 12 - Show them instead
Day 11 - Just plain show up
Day 10 - Remember your smallness
Day 9 - Play tag in the park and knit without guilt
Day 8 - Chant your fall list daily
Day 7 - Color your movie wildly magenta
Day 6 - Be totally devoted
Day 5 - Give your blanket to your mother and go to New Hampshire
Day 4 - Live in the World Headquarters of the Verb
Day 3 - Do 37 things
Day 2 - Live in the hello
Day 1 - Jump into the mess, revel in it

Your one wild and precious life.

What happens on Day 38, and 40, and 41, and 42? And beyond?

Completely your choice.

Comments

[suzanne]

I love this picture.:) I love that it is what comes after 37 ... Looking forward to seeing what 38 may bring.

[janet]

I am so tickled to have such a small part to play in this wonderful journey your work has taken us all on.

And Patti -- I am getting my tattoo on October 1, so I'll show you mine when will I see yours?

xo-
janet