By Gini Dietrich
Nearly a year ago, Sean McGinnis and I had a conversation about life, love, and what we’re all supposed to be doing every day.
You see, he’d found a blog post from Andrea Balt as she turned 30 and wanted to hide under the covers and die (for the record, it’s 31 that isn’t fun, not 30).
That big milestone, for her, marked an existential question: Why am I here?
On Rebelle Society, she detailed 31 questions you should ask yourself before you die, which I present here without her commentary.
Take the time to sit down and answer these. Use Sidenotes on the blog, if you like and want someone (me!) to hold you accountable, or keep them private.
The goal is to take the time to think about your answers and then create a plan for change.
31 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Die
- How much have you loved?
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What do you love doing that you aren’t doing?
- What person or type of person would you choose as a life companion?
- Where do you want to live?
- What do you want to accomplish? And most importantly, why — what’s your motivation?
- What do you want to be remembered by?
- What kind of life would “make you jealous“?
- What adventures do you want to have?
- If you had to add something to humanity, what would your contribution be?
- What are your ghosts? Your unspoken demons?
- What are your favorite memories?
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Who do you love the most?
- What worries you the most? Why?
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What type of people inspire you and make you come alive?
- What type of people bring you down and make you hate yourself?
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Who are your mentors? What have they taught you?
- What is your cosmic elevator pitch?
- What issues can you help with?
- How can you express yourself creatively?
- How do you manage your time? What works for you?
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If you were to leave the world today, what’s your manifesto?
- What makes you come alive? What ignites you?
- What are your most painful memories?
- Why do you eat the way you eat and the things you eat?
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What ignites your brain?
- What physical exercise makes you sweat it like you mean it and enjoy both, the process and the afterward feeling?
- What does your body need in order to function at its best?
- What feeds your spirit? What gives you goosebumps? What makes you fall down to your knees in awe (and weep)?
- What are you proud of so far? What have you accomplished?
- Fast-forward to your epitaph.
- What is the meaning of life?
Use your answers to create a plan to change your life where you are unhappy.
Write your life’s story (who knows…there might even be a novel in there!).
Life is short. Don’t be unhappy. Even if you can’t make changes immediately, your answers will put you on a path to do so eventually.