What would you do if you knew the exact day you were going to die?

I would make every single moment count. If there was no way to stall or prolong and it was an absolute certainty, I wouldn’t spend any of my time on things that didn’t bring me fulfillment in my life. If I was working a job I would probably quit, because when I think of fulfillment in my life I think of my family. My husband, my son, my parents, sisters, friends. I would want to make sure they all knew exactly how much I cherished them and didn’t leave any regrets behind in my relationships. So, I probably wouldn’t have a lot of time left over to work.

Also, I would make sure my family was taken care of. I would probably sit down and take care of finances for my husband, I do all the budgeting and financial stuff for our house and I would want to make sure he had clear instructions and plans to follow so that he didn’t have to worry about money. I would also want to make sure I left behind a legacy for my son to remember me by. In a way, I guess I’m already kind of doing that, with my books and writing.

All of the things I talked about wanting to do; going to Scotland and renewing my vows at Gretna Green, eating hot butter croissants on the top of the Eiffel tower, diving the Great Barrier Reef, spending time in a buddhist monastery, etc. I wouldn’t wait until circumstances were better or when I could get enough time off of work or when it was convenient with my schedule. I would do them all with wild abandon and my loved ones by my side to share in the experiences.

I wouldn’t have time for dishonesty, even little white lies, so instead of placating people I would be honest. Kindly honest, not brutally honest, but I would encourage and uplift as many other people as I could. I hope I would be able to inspire others to live life with more intention and care. Or an aspiring author to write the book they’re too nervous to start. I would love to measure my life by words. Words written, spoken, read. Words have a certain gravity that we’ve seen can persist throughout time and that’s part of what I love about writing. The idea that even many years after I’m gone, someone could read my stories and be moved.

Finally, I would thank God for every single moment and experience he allowed me to have.