by Lisa Pearce

Created on: March 05, 2009

With only 30 days left to live, it would be a shame to waste any of it planning! Since I'm a list person, I'd better be pro-active and get that out of the way! Here's my bucket list of sorts:

I would -

- quit my job (which I love) immediately and go home!

- embrace my husband every chance I get.

- make love with abandon!

- sit with my husband on our veranda every evening to watch the sunset and sip white wine while the dogs are playing around us.

- visit my grandmother's grave.

- smile as much as I can.

- contact a few old friends from school in university whom I've lost touch with and thank them for the good memories we shared.

- go to our favourite holiday spot one last time.

- buy lots of beautiful flowers!

- plant a baobab tree.

- hug my family all of them!

- pray most of the time.

- take my husband to see Swakopmund in Namibia.

- ask forgiveness where I have to.

- try to let go of old grudges and forgive those that have hurt me.

- get up early each morning to worship the Lord and marvel at the new day.

- get my filing in order!

- give away all my stuff to people who can use it.

- develop all those films and make the photo albums!

- spend as much time loving my husband and family as possible.

- clean my kitchen and bake a lot!

- not once complain or moan about anything!

- hug my dogs and let them sit on my lap all at once.

- try to find wisdom.

- pray for my family.

As I write this, I realize that 30 days are not going to be enough! An entire lifetime won't be enough if one does not make a conscious effort to live the meaningful life you desire. Recently two long-standing family friends passed away, both of them around Christmas and in difficult circumstances. For the families left behind the tragedy was almost too much to bear. Life is so fragile, so precious, and so easily taken away. In the end, what matters are not those people's achievements or worldly successes, but their relationships and the personal legacies they left in the hearts of the people who shared their lives. It's the relationships that make them live on, nothing more.

Therefore I'm choosing again today to live as if there are only 30 days left. That means living every moment to squeeze the best out of life, giving my very best in every situation and doing every kindness I can. Not letting amazing vistas and moments along my path pass by without noticing them. Looking for the good in everything and taking time to cherish the beauty of love, life and people. But most importantly, continuing to love my loved ones with all my might and at every possible turn!

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