I don’t ever want to have regrets that I got too busy to spend time with the people who mean the most to me.
I also don’t want to miss the chance to tell them how I feel.
Does this resonate with you?
I’ve been writing recently about my “100 Lifetime Experiences” list. While a lot of the things on my list are fun — run one mile in 100 countries, attend Burning Man, see the pyramids, sleep in an igloo — I also picked experiences that carry a lot of purpose and meaning.
Life happens fast, and I find that having these meaningful experiences on my list helps me prioritize them before it’s too late.
I’ve written before about Papa Days and how they help me get intentional about sharing experiences with my kids and grandkids.
Earlier this month, my grandson and I enjoyed having a Slurpy for breakfast (what’s not to love?) while on the way to a ropes course at the top of a ski slope. We then raced Formula 1 style go karts and finished the day sharing dinner, at his request, with his great grandparents.
Another one on the list is “Go on 10 vacations with friends.” My wife Jean and I want to experience the world with our closest friends. It bonds us and creates amazing memories.
Here are two more:
Write Handwritten Letters to 10 People Who Have Impacted My Life
I’m working on writing handwritten letters to 10 of my close friends and family members. These letters are usually about four pages long. In them, I share the ways and specific situations each of them have impacted my life and why I value them.
I don’t have this on my list just to check the box, and I don’t write these letters randomly. Usually, something has triggered me to sit down and write. I want to make sure the people in my life know the positive impacts they’ve had on me before it’s too late. I never want there to be words left unsaid.
Spend One Week with My Father
Another experience is to spend a full week, one-on-one, with my dad. We spent our week in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, when he was 84. We took turns cooking meals for each other and sharing some of our favorite dishes. We played cribbage and watched a couple of movies that we each thought the other person would enjoy. We went skiing, out to dinner, and for walks. We talked at length.
We both felt completely present. It was an opportunity for us to truly experience each other, and it’s a memory we will never forget. It also helped me realize the value of investing time in the most important relationships in our lives.
Start Your List of Lifetime Experiences
Creating a list that includes meaningful experiences like these prompts me to look at the items at the beginning of each year — and throughout the year — to determine which experiences should be prioritized.
If you’re like me, you don’t want to have regrets. You don’t want to let life get too busy to spend time with the people who mean the most or miss the chance to tell them how you feel.
If you don’t yet have a “lifetime experiences” list of your own, what are you waiting for?