Comments on: How to Live Before You Die http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/how-to-live-before-you-die/ Augmented Humanity, Second Selves, and Cybernetic Yoga Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:03:11 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: eek http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/how-to-live-before-you-die/comment-page-1/#comment-2521 eek Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:52:13 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1290#comment-2521 I'd go give my friends and family a big old hug. Then I'd cook and eat a great meal with each of them. I'd go for a walk at the park, and maybe kick a soccer ball against a wall. Then I'd sit down by something beautiful and whip out my sketch book. I'd capture the moment and in doing so really live it. That's about it, hanging with the people I love and enjoying what the world has to offer. This is basically what I do now, but I should give those aforementioned people those hugs. The only differences are right now I focus a lot on learning through school and also on really putting my effort into a specific piece of art. I'd slow it down a little bit if I was about to die and just trim it to the essentials: sketching in a sketchbook and the other stuff mentioned. I’d go give my friends and family a big old hug. Then I’d cook and eat a great meal with each of them.

I’d go for a walk at the park, and maybe kick a soccer ball against a wall. Then I’d sit down by something beautiful and whip out my sketch book. I’d capture the moment and in doing so really live it.

That’s about it, hanging with the people I love and enjoying what the world has to offer. This is basically what I do now, but I should give those aforementioned people those hugs.

The only differences are right now I focus a lot on learning through school and also on really putting my effort into a specific piece of art. I’d slow it down a little bit if I was about to die and just trim it to the essentials: sketching in a sketchbook and the other stuff mentioned.

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By: Taylor http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/how-to-live-before-you-die/comment-page-1/#comment-2515 Taylor Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:41:27 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1290#comment-2515 Great post Everett, I have had the challenging and misfortune of losing my 2 brother and my parents in a five year period. As to be expected i went through the standard symptoms and challenges that this has entailed. BUT: It taught me some valuable lessons. 1. Live today like it was your last day...cause it just might be. 2.Get rid of all the crap that doesn't make you feel good or generate a living. this includes spouses, animals, and television. 3. Find the things that inspire you and drive you toward what you believe your passions to be. 4. Ignore everyone except yourself and your family and your 3 true friends...you know who you are. 5. Find five people who will help mentor your vision of the future. T Great post Everett,
I have had the challenging and misfortune of losing my 2 brother and my parents in a five year period. As to be expected i went through the standard symptoms and challenges that this has entailed.
BUT:
It taught me some valuable lessons.
1. Live today like it was your last day…cause it just might be.
2.Get rid of all the crap that doesn’t make you feel good or generate a living. this includes spouses, animals, and television.
3. Find the things that inspire you and drive you toward what you believe your passions to be.
4. Ignore everyone except yourself and your family and your 3 true friends…you know who you are.
5. Find five people who will help mentor your vision of the future.

T

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By: Melissa Schmalenberger http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/how-to-live-before-you-die/comment-page-1/#comment-2492 Melissa Schmalenberger Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:38:40 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1290#comment-2492 I am a lawyer turned professional organizer and am in love with the idea of living with less. I try to teach my clients and readers that as well. I live each day as it is my last and never go to bed with regret. I too often speak my mind.....but what would happen if we all did? Take a stand for equal treatment of others and tell people when they are doing a good job. Focus on the positive and make the world a better place! MS. Simplicity I am a lawyer turned professional organizer and am in love with the idea of living with less. I try to teach my clients and readers that as well. I live each day as it is my last and never go to bed with regret. I too often speak my mind…..but what would happen if we all did? Take a stand for equal treatment of others and tell people when they are doing a good job. Focus on the positive and make the world a better place!

MS. Simplicity

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By: Ash http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/how-to-live-before-you-die/comment-page-1/#comment-2491 Ash Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:46:14 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1290#comment-2491 I'm in love with this post. Excellent work, writing, thoughts and philosophies as always, Everett! I’m in love with this post. Excellent work, writing, thoughts and philosophies as always, Everett!

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By: Eva @ Eva Evolving http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/how-to-live-before-you-die/comment-page-1/#comment-2490 Eva @ Eva Evolving Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:42:54 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1290#comment-2490 Excellent post. It's so important to stop and reflect, every so often, on our mortality and how we are living our life day to day. It isn't easy to balance the wishes of our "bucket list" with the demands of our regular lives - but your blog is helped me with that! This post reminds me of "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. A beautiful lecture - and subsequent book - written by professor Randy Pausch after learning his cancer was incurable. It's part love letter to his children, part practical advice to all the rest of us. Really beautiful and surprisingly uplifting. Excellent post. It’s so important to stop and reflect, every so often, on our mortality and how we are living our life day to day. It isn’t easy to balance the wishes of our “bucket list” with the demands of our regular lives – but your blog is helped me with that!

This post reminds me of “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch. A beautiful lecture – and subsequent book – written by professor Randy Pausch after learning his cancer was incurable. It’s part love letter to his children, part practical advice to all the rest of us. Really beautiful and surprisingly uplifting.

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By: Everett Bogue http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/how-to-live-before-you-die/comment-page-1/#comment-2487 Everett Bogue Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:40:44 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1290#comment-2487 Thanks everyone for sharing. These are such beautiful thoughts. Thanks everyone for sharing. These are such beautiful thoughts.

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By: Carla Sanders http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/how-to-live-before-you-die/comment-page-1/#comment-2485 Carla Sanders Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:37:21 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1290#comment-2485 I'd book two flights to Idaho: one for my son and one for me, to visit my other son, his wife, and the two grandchildren. And I call my exhusband to make peace, or make the offer. If he wanted to come to Idaho too, I'd book three tickets. Sometime during the week, if I still gave a damn, I'd have a skype conference with my world wide web of friends and say good bye, I love you, take some art home. Then I'd change my facebook status to Gone Home. I’d book two flights to Idaho: one for my son and one for me, to visit my other son, his wife, and the two grandchildren. And I call my exhusband to make peace, or make the offer. If he wanted to come to Idaho too, I’d book three tickets.

Sometime during the week, if I still gave a damn, I’d have a skype conference with my world wide web of friends and say good bye, I love you, take some art home. Then I’d change my facebook status to Gone Home.

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By: Katie http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/how-to-live-before-you-die/comment-page-1/#comment-2484 Katie Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:35:48 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1290#comment-2484 Great article! If I had a week left to live, I'd travel as far as I could. I've always wanted to travel the world, but have yet to do so because of everyday life - money, lack of travel partners, full time job. My goal in the next 3 years is to overcome these obstacles and get out there. Here's hoping! Great article! If I had a week left to live, I’d travel as far as I could. I’ve always wanted to travel the world, but have yet to do so because of everyday life – money, lack of travel partners, full time job. My goal in the next 3 years is to overcome these obstacles and get out there. Here’s hoping!

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By: SimplyJo http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/how-to-live-before-you-die/comment-page-1/#comment-2483 SimplyJo Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:31:28 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1290#comment-2483 @Sirius - I just read that article too - on Friday. It was fantastic...It was quite dark but fascinating - not something I'd get my Mom to read. I am actually going to apply some of the principle in order for me to get on top of a few outstanding things that I wouldn't want others to have to clean up after my departure. Rather than focusing on planning my own expiration I'm going to go for a more jolly (if you can call it that) 'I don't know when my time is up' so I'll set a date for getting everything done and dusted. One thing I have learnt going through an untimely death in the family is that to get your house in order is incredibly helpful to those you leave behind. Sorry this is a bit doom and gloom everyone! Have a great week and live life to the full - Enjoy - Life's here for the taking! @Sirius – I just read that article too – on Friday. It was fantastic…It was quite dark but fascinating – not something I’d get my Mom to read.
I am actually going to apply some of the principle in order for me to get on top of a few outstanding things that I wouldn’t want others to have to clean up after my departure. Rather than focusing on planning my own expiration I’m going to go for a more jolly (if you can call it that) ‘I don’t know when my time is up’ so I’ll set a date for getting everything done and dusted. One thing I have learnt going through an untimely death in the family is that to get your house in order is incredibly helpful to those you leave behind. Sorry this is a bit doom and gloom everyone! Have a great week and live life to the full – Enjoy – Life’s here for the taking!

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By: SimplyJo http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/how-to-live-before-you-die/comment-page-1/#comment-2482 SimplyJo Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:23:41 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1290#comment-2482 Even as a small child I was very aware of my own and those I loved's mortality. I believe this has been a positive thing (although it did worry me in my childhood greatly) and has led me to achieve much. I do not and have never taken things for granted. This heightened awareness of mortality was amplified when a close family member died two years ago within 3 months of diagnosis and at just 49. With regard living each day as though it were your last - you can take from that what you want. It does not neccessarily mean absolving yourself from responsibility - you can continue to earn a living etc... rather for me it means I do not get hung up on the small stuff and generally I am a more objective and positive person because of it. I don't get dragged down by the news or negativity, I don't spend ages worrying about who is coming for Christmas lunch and where they will sit as I may not even make the end of the year let alone those who may be seated at the table. There is no destination - there's no grand prize at the end. As my much loved and greatly missed brother in law always said ' Life isn't a rehearsal' and fortunately that's how he lived his life because he sure was right... Even as a small child I was very aware of my own and those I loved’s mortality. I believe this has been a positive thing (although it did worry me in my childhood greatly) and has led me to achieve much. I do not and have never taken things for granted. This heightened awareness of mortality was amplified when a close family member died two years ago within 3 months of diagnosis and at just 49.
With regard living each day as though it were your last – you can take from that what you want. It does not neccessarily mean absolving yourself from responsibility – you can continue to earn a living etc… rather for me it means I do not get hung up on the small stuff and generally I am a more objective and positive person because of it. I don’t get dragged down by the news or negativity, I don’t spend ages worrying about who is coming for Christmas lunch and where they will sit as I may not even make the end of the year let alone those who may be seated at the table.
There is no destination – there’s no grand prize at the end. As my much loved and greatly missed brother in law always said ‘ Life isn’t a rehearsal’ and fortunately that’s how he lived his life because he sure was right…

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