Just about everyone at some point in their life has said,
”
Before I die, I want to …
”
Fill in the blank with anything from learning Hebrew or seeing
the River Nile to strapping on rollerblades for the first time. Put
all those things you’ve always wanted to do onto one piece of
paper, and you’ve got a life list.
Just about everyone at some point in their life has said, “Before I die, I want to …” Fill in the blank with anything from learning Hebrew or seeing the River Nile to strapping on rollerblades for the first time. Put all those things you’ve always wanted to do onto one piece of paper, and you’ve got a life list.
Quirky actress and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres made life lists a trendy must-have by sharing her personal list with viewers in September, promising to tackle it with gusto during the current season of her show. Her modest list included taking tennis lessons, learning another language, learning to use a computer, visiting Amsterdam, traveling to Africa and being more patient. Since sharing her list, she’s encouraged audience members and famous guests on her show to share their lists and make their goals happen.
“It’s very important for adults to have dreams and goals,” said clinical psychologist Dr. Carol Johnson-Schroetlin, who has offices in both Morgan Hill and Hollister. “Life means so much more when you have something to work toward. What would life be like without dreams and the desire to follow them? Probably very dull.”
Sharing your dreams with loved ones, getting their support and working toward your goals are key in stimulating the brain and growing as an individual, Johnson-Schroetlin said.
The idea of a life list isn’t original to DeGeneres, though she made it popular, Johnson-Schroetlin pointed out.
There are a number of books pertaining to the concept, such as “100 Things to Do Before You Die,” “1000 Places to See Before You Die,” and “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die,” all readily available online or in local bookstores.
“With all the different wonders of the world to see, languages to learn and experiences a person can have, making a list of things you want to do is a great way to stay excited about life,” Johnson-Schroetlin said. “People who have been through some sort of trauma or who have experienced grief and loss particularly could use life lists. It’s a way to stay motivated and work through difficult times.”
Gilroy resident Lisa Reed said she’d always kept a mental list of things she wanted to accomplish in life, but after hearing about DeGeneres making a physical list, she decided to write all her aspirations down, too.
“I first made a mental list after my daughter was born in 2005, because having a child certainly changes the way you think about the future,” Reed said. “I’d always thought about short-term goals, but after her birth, I started thinking long-term. Ellen’s show was the reason I actually physically wrote them down on paper. I try only to have goals that are feasible. I didn’t want to put down anything unattainable.”
Reed’s list of 11 goals includes having one more child, organizing family photos in scrapbooks, taking ceramics and painting classes, and visiting Greece and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
“My hope is to do everything on my list in about 15 years and then come up with a new list,” Reed said. “I think everything on my list will help me be a better person. Having my goals written down gives me something to look forward to and it helps me stay positive. I look at that list and I think, ‘I can’t wait to do all these things.'”
Celebrity Lists
Ellen DeGeneres asked a few celebrity guests on her show what they have on their life lists.
n Actor Zach Braff, star of the television show “Scrubs,” said he’d like to learn to fly an airplane.
n Singer Justin Timberlake said he wants to learn to cook and to speak Italian.
n Singer Beyonce Knowles said she’d like to learn to cook and take ballet lessons.
n Actor Orlando Bloom, who was in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, said he wants to learn to play bongo drums, learn to cook and learn to speak French.
