Life Experiments

Welcome! Today I’m initiating a 6-month experiment. I want to find out what happens when I take 6 months to LIVE.  I got the idea when I was recently asked, “What would you do if you only had 6 months to live?”  I originally answered, “I would be doing exactly what I’m doing now,” but then I thought about it some more, and that’s not completely true.

As I mention in the “About” tab, popular culture often focuses on re-evaluating one’s life in the most dire of situations such as terminal illness or bankruptcy.  I am deeply grateful that I am in neither of those situations.  Life isn’t perfect, but it’s good.

2008 Beijing Olympics

After I was asked this question, however, I decided that if I knew I only had 6 months to live, I would pay more attention to those around me.  I would pause longer to take in the beauty of the fall leaves.  I would spend more time in nature.  I recently returned from living in China for the past 3 years. While living there, it was easier to appreciate the ‘little things’ because there was always a newness and a strangeness to them.  Breakfast wasn’t cereal, it was bao zi (a steamed bun). In my recent return to the States and even more timely return to my hometown, I find myself slipping into automatic pilot.

For me, a life worth living is one that serves a purpose and meaning for the one who chooses it.  More importantly though is that feeling of being alive! It can come in something as large as a first trip across the ocean or in something as small as a cold glass of sweet iced tea.

Tree Climbing in Hangzhou, China

I’m starting this blog for 3 reasons:

• Sheer Curiosity
• Personal Motivator
• Hopefully it will inspire others to pursue their passions and to really live!

You are all witnesses.  I started this website on 11-11-09, but my first official day of choosing to LIVE begins on November 12th, 2009.  I extend a personal invitation to anyone else who would like to join me at any time in my ponderings.   Come May 12th, 2010, we’ll see what happened…