This really is a reflection of my life approach after a couple major life shaping events. To put this in perspective allow me to share a little about those events. First I had a young man that worked for me in the military, he was 19. After a tour in Iraq he returned home to his new wife and within a matter of weeks died of massive heart failure. The next event was the soon after discovery that my father had terminal cancer. We had been estranged for years but we found new hope after his diagnosis and I cared for him full time the remaining 13 months he was with us. These two events put how short life is into focus and serves as my motivation……Live like you are dying.

Fill your bucket. I used to say have a to-do list. However the movie the “bucklist” really sums it up. Everyone has to have a bucklist no matter how happy, healthy and blessed you are. It should be what drives you to have larger then life long and short term goals. If you empty the bucket that’s even better….just fill it up with more dreams!

Live with gratitude, I wrote about this in detail in a previous article. But find the time to give thanks, be grateful and love more then yourself. There is no bigger high, greater gift or feeling of accomplishment then giving back. Be grateful for the color of the sky, the smell of flowers in spring, your kids, family and health. The list goes on and on.

Write you obituary. If you want to really put things in perspective think about what will be said when you pass vs. what you want to be said. I know so many people that would really struggle with this if they knew their obituary was going to be read tomorrow. My thought is this: “I want my obituary to read loving husband, great father, friend to all”. Not be famous or accomplished in a worldly way; but rather by the ones that love and miss you most. What would yours read today?

Last I subscribe to this: “I don’t want to be remembered by thousands in public for being famous. I want to be remembered be one anonymously for changing their lives”. I have to close by giving credit to Tim McGraw for a great theme song in life. It has served me well as a way to live life and was the theme of my retirement from the military. So go fill your bucket, give thanks, write your obituary everyday and “Live Like You Are Dying”!