What could you do with 6 months? What do you do to feel alive? How do you LIVE? Feel free to share your stories, hopes, and actions here. Inspire others!
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About me
Welcome! Almost three years ago, I was asked a single question that changed my life,
“What would you do if you had 6 months to live?”
No one knows when our time will come, so why wait? We can enjoy life now. We can pursue our dreams. We can LIVE for the present while also planning for the future. My vision is to create a community of people who support and inspire each other in choosing meaningful and authentic lives. Together we can make a difference. Life is waiting.
Will you join me?
Feel free to contact me: Jacqueline@6monthstolive.me.
6 months to live?
1. Say goodbye to everyone
2. Experience more love, compassion and peace
3. Make sure I die with $0 in my bank account
That’s it, no big plans; I try to live every day as it is my last one… and also first one
I really like those, Joey! And, I think that’s a great philosophy and way to live life!
I’d stop worrying!
Pray more.
Love more unconditionally.
Let things go.
Be uninhibited.
Speak my mind more often.
Thanks for sharing, Jessica! I especially like the one about being uninhibited!
I wish I could do all these things!
i’d quit my job and travel to all the places i’ve received a postcard from (www.postcardtravels.wordpress.com) and i’d also make sure i made sure my kids know how much they mean to me and how much i truly love them….glad i found your blog (congrats on being FP!). since i can’t do the first thing i listed (bills to pay) i can certainly do the last ….
Sounds great, travlingirl! Maybe you could take a day or two here and there to see some local places with your family. That way you can share those experiences, see new places, and not break the bank. Best of luck to you and your family!
the most amazing thing that happened when I took half of 2006 off to travel around the world with my (now) husband was that, afterward, I could tell you something about every. single. day. of that six months period. I realized, once I got back, that I couldn’t even tell you something about every day for the past two WEEKS. This has always resonated with me. And while I don’t have the opportunity to always live the way I did during those six months, I know that I will always strive for it.
Being a world traveler myself, I struggle with this idea too. I’ve come to realize (after just being gone a month internationally) that there’s all types of living. There’s the excitement that comes from traveling and seeing new places and people every day and there’s also the quiet calm that comes from the day-in-day-out activities. Now the trick is reminding myself that neither one is “better” and that they’re both just as exciting in their own way. Thanks for your wonderful thoughts!
Oh this comment is SO how my mind works!
High five, Holly!
What an interesting blog! My answer to the question, “How do you choose to live?” is that you choose to realize that you ARE living, right here and right now. There is no other way. You can realize this by abandoning the imaginary criteria you’ve attached to “living”, turning your attention to the present, and understanding that, whatever you’re doing, you’re living.
Good luck with your blog. It’s great!
That’s an excellent point! I will keep that in heart and mind today. Thanks for reading and sharing!
When I was diagnosed with stage III cancer in 2005, I was faced with this question. Thankfully I’m still here and plan to be for a long time!
During treatment I did silly things with my kids and didn’t worry about how clean my house was!
I believe that silliness is the best medicine!
1) I would apologize to people I have hurt (if I did).
2) I would ask my husband to allow me to travel and experience the cultures around the world.
3) I would pray and thank God for all he has given me.
4) I would go back to the place where I was born and connect with people I have not seen for decades.
5) I would visit my friends and family and tell them I love them.
6) I would not think about money or material things because I will not take them with me.
What a great list! Where will you start?
In six months I will most likely be in China again!! See you there Jackie, hao ma?
I meant to say “for the next 6 months”…
That’s great! I hope I get a chance to see you there!
If I had 6 months left I would most likely:
Share my positive spiritual experiences more with others
Quit my job (not because I don’t love it, but because it takes up so much of my time)
Spend more time with family
Travel more
Push myself to complete the novels I’m working on (I have a great passion for writing)
Just appreciate every moment for what it is – LIFE
That all sounds great, Nicola! What novels are you working on?
Well.. maybe I’ll spend more time with my family .. and try to write a book
Awesome! What kind of book?
If I had 6 months left I would most likely…
Spend my time with the people I love
Travel across Asia, Africa and America
Play Claire de Lune everyday
Go to the theater every night
Do everything I always wanted to do, and not let fear hold me back
Pray
Write my book
Those all sound like great things! What is your book about?
*Travel, a lot.I’d love to visit China (the most), Japan, India and lots of places in Europe and some more!
*Make sure everyone I love know how much I appreciate them and let them know how grateful I am to them.
*I hope to help improve someone’s life, one every day if possible.
*Learn to play the piano (so I could play ‘I like Chopin’ when ever I want) and the violin.
*Learn to swim.
*Go out for a drive every day/night, with Bryan Adams blasting over the stereo.
*Find the courage to fight my doubts so I wouldn’t be scared to try new things.
I’m only a teenager but I hope that someday I’ll get to do all of these things. I’ve never thought what I’d do if I had 6 months to live and how I should go about doing it, so thank you for that thought provoking question, I’ll continue to keep asking myself
Sounds like a great list, Devina! When you plan your trip to China, let me know, and I can offer you some tips (lived there 3 years). Letting your loved ones know their importance is heart opening and makes all the difference. I also play piano, and highly recommend that you play!
Looks like you’re already on your way to overcoming your doubts–I see great adventures for you and look forward to hearing about them! Happy 2012!
I’ll let you know when the time comes and I thank you for the offer, I really appreciate it!
Sure thing!
Oh, and from the different places I’d go I would like to learn how their people live and why they do that way, by doing that I hope to open my mind to all to all the possibilities out there and appreciate people different from me!
Right on!
I had to think a long time to come to this answer: right now I wouldn’t change anything. I’m fortunate to have juste moved to another country and I enjoy the expat life. Sweden is the 5th country I get to live in and I have so much to learn from this new experience.
P.S. I love your blog.
That’s awesome! And that has always been my ideal answer. What brings you to Sweden? Sounds like a great adventure! So glad to hear that you enjoy the blog, and thanks so much for visiting and for commenting!
Work brought me to Sweden! I have a job which offers endless opportunities in terms of where I can go. And as much as I enjoy traveling everywhere – I’ve been to over 50 countries – I really appreciate life in Europe. And now I look forward to finding some inspiration on your blog as you continue the experiment!
That’s fantastic! I’ve been to about 20, but I still have many more to see and most likely many more places (and countries) to live in! Look forward to seeing more of your comments around the blog. Thanks again for visiting and best wishes for 2012!
Since my father passed away in 2002, I have lived every 6 months like they were my last .. You know, it’s things like these that put everything in perspective ..
love & light
EL
I can only imagine what it’s like to lose a parent. Both my parents lost one of their parents very young. It seems that you’ve taken the sadness of his passing and turned it into a wonderful approach to life.
If I’d have six months to live – I guess I’ll work for another 3 months save as much as I can in that time and then start travelling to all the places i’ve wanted to visit.. europe, australia, morocco, spain and mongolia… and of course pray alot.
Sounds like a good list! What attracts you to those countries?
Many things I think its only fair to start with the architecture, the art, food, culture, natural beauty, the alps of vienna and italy… spain for antonio gaudi and his beautiful works.. morocco for its history and arab culture .. mongolia because of its blue clear skies , the mountains, the natural beauty, it’s breathtakingly beautiful just on the screen of my computer i can’t imagine it in reality.. australia again for natural beauty of it and I want to be at a place at least once in my life where I can witness the northern lights
Very cool! You’re making me want to go to all those places. Haha. Be sure to keep me updated and let me know how it goes when you visit all those places!
What a thought provoking question. The first things that comes to mind is family, travel and listening. As I have lived in Sweden for the past 17 years, I would take the time to travel “home” to Australia and reconnect. I have been fortunate to stay close to family and love ones, but I feel I have missed out on everyday events. Events that can be as simple as attending a neices school concert or my Mum’s craft night with the ladies. I feel at times its these small moments and experiences that we learn so much about ourselves and those near to us.
Hi Kimsy! Thanks for commenting–I’m glad that you found the question thought-provoking, and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. our life in Sweden sounds interesting. Do you have a trip to Australia planned in the near future?
I actually ask the folks I interview for my blog “what would you do with 6 months to live?”.. their answers are usually pretty interesting, since they are the adventurer/traveller types. But they always involve “get together with friends and family” towards the final days.
Hi Ian! Love your blog! It seems like you and I (as well as your readers) have a very similar approach to life. Some of my favorite and most interesting responses to the “6 Months” question were from Dwayne: http://vimeo.com/46735935 and Reese: http://vimeo.com/43226858 on the show. If you get a chance, check it out and let me know what you think.
Will definitely be keeping up with your blog! Look forward to more of your travels and inspiration!