To Do

To Do

288. Write my own obituary

My Story

Updated July 24, 2009

I guess that technically I should mark this one completed. Just like anyone else who’s ever taken a college-level writing class, this was one of the assignments we had to complete. But that’s not really what I meant when I added this to my list. I meant I would actually write my own obituary – the one that would be published in newspapers – provided newspapers even exist by the time I leave this realm.

Sometimes it seems like there just aren’t enough hours in a day, days in a week, weeks in a year, years in a life to accomplish everything. I feel pulled in so many different directions – so much to do and see and try. It seems like writing your own obituary would be an exercise in morbidity but it’s actually enlightening and can help point out the things that are truly important – what do I really want to have accomplished by the time I die? What do I want to leave behind?

As a child and teenager, I felt convinced that I would die when I was 27. When I lived past that, I thought I might make it to 45. I’m nowhere near 45 yet, but I’m already convinced I’ll live well into my 90s. Think of all the time I have left. I don’t want to waste a minute.

Shared Stories

If you've done this, tried it, or always wanted to, you can share your story here, or tell your story on your own blog and link to this to do item.

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