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-   -   If you knew you would die in 6 months... (http://www.stevepavlina.com/forums/personal-effectiveness/17370-if-you-knew-you-would-die-6-months.html)

YourSelf 04-18-2008 06:49 AM

If you knew you would die in 6 months...
 
...what would you do during your time left?

This is a question I often come across in texts about time management.

I personally think that 5-10 years ago I would have replied that I would do something really incredible in these six months, such as learning to fly a plane and do aerobatics with it.

But now (I'm in my early 20s) I think I would answer to the same question:
"Dunno, whateva..."

Have I become realistic or have I become apathetic/lazy? Or could it simply be that I feel I have already done enough things in my life, am satisfied and have seen the whole world?
(even if it's not objectively true, i.e. I have never married, never raised children, nor a family... I feel fulfilled.. as if there's nothing left to explore)
Perhaps I have lost the excitement in new things...?

In such case, isn't such [over-]satisfaction somewhat negative?

Stephen 04-18-2008 07:44 AM

Dunno. Probably have lots of amazing no holds barred sex:) Read as much as possible, classics I have yet to. Spend as much time with my kids as poss. Have more sex.:)

Probably after that, I would repeat the sex bit. That would probably kill me prior to the 6 months. :-)

Keith 04-18-2008 09:34 AM

It's actually kind of an annoying question, because a lot of the stuff I'd like to do (eg. become a great artist) take a lot more than 6 months to achieve.

Stephen 04-18-2008 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith (Post 178088)
It's actually kind of an annoying question, because a lot of the stuff I'd like to do (eg. become a great artist) take a lot more than 6 months to achieve.

lol For crying out loud Keith, lighten up and just answer the bloody question cobber!
:)

Michelle 04-18-2008 11:13 AM

I don't see that I would do anything different than now. It doesn't really matter if I die today, tomorrow, in 6 months or in 60 years - my life is being lived just the way it wants to be lived.

silicon toad2000 04-18-2008 11:30 AM

panic and try to figure out how to get life insurance before I die.

hmmm really should go and get that done...

Stephen 04-18-2008 11:35 AM

I think I would like to try naked skydiving as well: just for the breeze:)

I couldnt do it in real life though incase I had to face a lifetime of embarassment on landing.:p

danas 04-18-2008 11:45 AM

Id probably make a film titled "my last 6 months"
I would take my camera everywhere, and go spend time with people I love whom are scattered around the world. I would probably also go find and have coffee with that man whom I saw only once on a BBC documentary program, but fell for instantly.
If I was to go in 6months, Id be quite pleased with what Im leaving behind:
many friendships and many works of art:)

jawillie 04-18-2008 12:24 PM

I'd spend it with my family and make sure they knew I loved them. I wouldn't want them to know about it, though, so they wouldn't be burdened by the news. I would also spend the time in the woods: kayaking, hiking and just being. I don't really feel the need to achieve much of anything spectacular.

maxdof 04-18-2008 07:35 PM

would go back to my family.

babuji 04-19-2008 06:56 PM

Well.. I believe that we're given this life with a specific purpose in mind. So even if I knew that I only have 6 months to live, I'd try my best to make a positive impact amongst the people around me and within my environment.

Making the most of the life I have would be the highest priority.

Imagine if we all took the perspective for each day as a 'new life' and every time we go to sleep it would be 'new death'.

Within each 'lifetime' (one day), from the minute we're 'born' (wake-up) in the morning, we try to make the most of this day, since we only have until our bedtime 'death' to do all the things we need to do in this life (day).

I think that if we could put ourselves in that mindset for each day, we'd be much more productive and supportive to each other as a group.

What do you think?

MidasGirl 04-19-2008 11:54 PM

I'd be doing everything I can to make sure I don't die in those six months. After all, it's never set in stone.;)

shivraj 04-20-2008 04:34 AM

I would find real self realized Guru and become self realized and go beyond notions of LIFE and False DEATH (death of body)..:D

Dave Kaminski 04-20-2008 11:29 AM

I'd probably do exactly what I'm planning on doing even though I'm not planning on dying in six months.

stevedevane 04-20-2008 07:21 PM

I guess the idea is to go ahead and live like you only have six months, just in case you really do only have six months (or less). But one thing I would do is write long letters to all the people I love to make sure I'd say the things that I really want to say. I'd also write that book I've been putting off, although I'd be hard pressed to get it together in six months.
I expect we'd all like to think that we'd leave something behind that made our life worth living. Whatever that is (or at least whatever we think that is) is what we'd do.

evelynlim 04-21-2008 06:44 AM

Other than taking care of my health, I'd give all that I've got by publishing my insights more often on my blog Attracting Abundance Begins In The Mind | Attraction Mind Map .

I want my writings to be able to touch more souls and tranform more lives. In leaving a trail of my thoughts, I also hope to leave a legacy for my young daugthers. May they get inspired to follow their mother's footsteps in helping others in need of love and support.

Evelyn

The David 04-21-2008 10:30 PM

I wouldn't do anything that spectacular. I would just be a little more gutsy. I guess I would drop out of school, but unless I know I'm going to die that wouldn't be a good idea.

Sam988 04-21-2008 10:44 PM

I'd spend until the last second trying to find a way to beat this death timeline. As cliche as it sounds, i will fight against anything that is imposed to me by life and that i don't like.

Stephen 04-22-2008 12:26 AM

Dylan Thomas
 
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.




I couldnt help but recall this mighty work of poetry from Dylan Thomas after reading the last post.

missing 04-22-2008 07:04 AM

I'd drive around North America for six months, alone, contemplating death amidst the beautiful scenery. Of course I'd max my credit to hell in doing this, especially with gas prices the way they are. But I'm gonna be dead, so...? I wouldn't tell anyone what I was doing, I'd just disappear.

Ohabu 04-22-2008 10:43 AM

I would do exactly what I'm doing now. I would spend time with my people and otherwise do whatever I felt like at any given time. Hey, I'm doing that already.

If I was told I were to die tomorrow I probably turn off this computer and don't bother drying my clothes, but other than that .. I try to live every day as if there is no tomorrow anyway:)


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