Six Months To Live

If you had 6 months to live, what would you do?

How would you spend your time?

Where would you go?

Who would you want to see, to talk to, to spend time with?

Would you call up an old friend or lover, or would you finally spend more quality time alone?

Would you do things that normally scare you? Cliff dive or bungee jump? Welcome intimacy with open arms? Sell all of your possessions and travel the globe? Move in with family and help them tend to their vegetable garden?

Would you eat all of the unhealthy foods you normally steer clear of? Or take the best possible care of your body?

Would you finally write that book or that screenplay? Get up at that open mic and tell your jokes or sing your songs?

Would you wear sunscreen?

Would you risk looking like a fool by saying exactly what is on your mind? Would you tell your friends and your family that you love them? That you’ll miss them? Would you even tell them at all?

Would you use the time to try to intellectualize your way through the mysteries of life? Or would you go out and explore and experience and learn by doing, through new adventures, people, and places?

Would you wait for the perfect moment to leave or a reason to stay?

Would you mend all of your relationships?

Would you be thankful for every minute? Connect with and cherish every single breath?

Would you play and smile and laugh knowing that nothing is permanent? Or would you cry and curl up in despair, knowing that nothing is permanent? Would you get up and try again?

Would you work hard at the job that you don’t like but it pays the bills? Would you worry about how your family will get on with you?

Would you agonize over the unfinished accomplishments and unfollowed dreams? Would you recount your successes and your failures? To which would you give more weight?

Would you be able to look back and say that you tried everything you wanted to try? Would it matter what the outcome was?

Would you have the courage to do what you have always wanted to do, knowing you have nothing to lose?

What would you do if you had 6 months to live, and then after that you had 6 more?

You’re living now, what are you waiting for?