Saturday, December 20, 2008

The Bucket List

I apologize to my regular readers for the prolonged absence. The past six months have been very challenging for me personally, so I have not been able to post frequently.

As stated before, I am somewhat of a movie buff. I just had a chance to see the movie "The Bucket List" released last year starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Both men meet in a hospital room where they each are dealing with terminal cases of cancer. One is a billionaire, the other a mechanic. Outside of their imminent futures, they have nothing in common.

They decide to make a list of things to do before they "kick the bucket", but want it to be a positive experience rather than just waiting to die. This brings me back to the title of this blog and why I started writing these posts 15 months ago. What is the meaning of life? How do we want to be remembered? What is our purpose for our lives?

The most telling thing about the movie can be summed up in two questions asked while looking at the Great Pyramids in Egypt. Have you experience joy in your life? Have others experience joy because of you?

There is a lot to contemplate in the last two paragraphs. The question is, do you want to answer those questions?

The past 15 months I've tried to share many insights and things I've picked up over the years. The more I learn, the more questions I have. I don't have all the answers. No one does. I have tried to make a positive difference in the lives of others. I have no regrets. One life at a time. One person at a time.

What about you? What is important to you? What gives your life meaning? On your deathbed, what do you have to say? How do you want to be remembered? Did you have an impact on others?

The last several months the financial markets have been in turmoil to say the least. If you create wealth, does that really change things? In the movie, the billionaire still faced imminent death. It did allow them to do their final wish list and enjoy those experiences that they never had before. But nonetheless, we all die. We cannot take material things with us.

Wealth only allows more choices while you are alive. Because of wealth, you may be able to impact far more people, either positively or negatively. As I like to say, the choice is yours.

What will you put on your bucket list? Don't wait until you have a terminal disease to do it.

Live each day as if it is your last. As always, the choice is yours.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever. Psalm 23 (NIV)


If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at the address below.

Email: DeltaInspire@hushmail.com

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