Before I die, I would like to see a monster truck rally. I would like to take a plane to Italy. I would enjoy winning the lottery, even if it was just one-hundred dollars. Before I die, I want to have a family — two kids and a husband who love me while we live in a cozy little home in Pennsylvania. I have a long list of things I would like to accomplish before the time comes to leave this earth.
During my first year in college, I noticed blackboard chalk boxes painted on the walls of the academic buildings. Every time I have walked by one, I have written something that I hope to do before my life takes a turn. This past week, during my final classes of the spring semester, I sat and read what my classmates would like to do before they die. Some of the activities were fairly reasonable while others were once in a lifetime chances.
As college students, several of us find ourselves in a rut. In the winter, we're cooped up in our dorms, forced to snack on microwavable macaroni cups and study until our eyes cross. We go about our day-to-day activities like this: We wake up. We go to class, catch up with a friend or two on the quad, grab lunch, go back to our dorms, study and then wait to restart the entire process over again. For me, my "Before I die" seemed like it would be possible literally seconds before I die. I know that school is necessary. I need it in order to move onto a permanent career. I don't want to have to spend four years lethargically going about my day. In college, we have little if any money. We're broke from working minimum wage jobs and spending the cash by paying off our textbooks. We as students have this whole world we want to discover. Hell, that's half the reason we're going to class. But sitting behind a desk isn't going to give us the rush we're looking for. As students (or bored twenty-somethings), we have the energy of a power plant and the financial credit of a fish. We find ourselves with that abundance of energy and not being able to do anything with it.
So say we wait...
After some time has passed, it'll be years after graduation. We finally have enough money to go out and do the things we said we'd do during undergrad! But after graduation, we all went different paths. Some of us went to grad school. Some of us had kids and have a family. Others went directly into the workforce. Time can be a blessing and a curse. We now have the money to do the things we wanted to do — but we don't have the time or the energy to do it. After several more years pass, those students who didn't get the chance at their "Before I die," may give up on it.
Living can be defined in different ways. Each person's destiny is going to be different. I was watching a video the other day on Youtube. A team of two people laid out nearly 28,400 jelly beans. The beans represented the days you've lived, the time spent bathing and eating, time at work and caring for others, etc. At the end of the video, there is a small pile of jelly beans leftover. This represents the time left to do what you want. It reminded of the "Before I die" painting. Hence, the reason I'm writing this article.
Life is all about living life to the fullest. No regrets behind you. No hesitating on your next step. I have heard so many people say their biggest regret was no going for what they wanted in life. The video about the jellybeans actually keeps me going. It shows me that time is sacred and there's so much to explore.
That day, I saw more than "just another student" in the hall. I saw the laid out hopes and dreams of my best friends and comrades. As I read the individual notes written in multi-colored chalks, it was as if I could hear each person saying, "This. This is what I want to do before I die. This is my goal and I know I can get there." Now, I am not saying college is the main reason why we may not get the chance to accomplish these things. There isn't enough time in the world! I pray that my classmates find what they are looking for in life. I hope to see a Facebook post with a fellow classmate cheering that they are finally going to become a doctor. I want to hear stories about the person who got to skydive. I want to be there for a friend when they need help achieving their goals. Life is more than "living." Life is going out and getting what you want.
Before I die:
I want to do more than just live.
I want to see my generation and find our success stories.
