This is a call out to all futuristic inventors, magical creatures and powers-at-be. I have a proposition.
This is something that my friends and I have been discussing for years, and I think it's time that someone starts working on it. Here's my pitch.
An end-of-your-life stats recap. That's right. Picture this: your heart stops, everything goes dark ... and the credits roll. Except it's not credits, it's your stats. It's a recap of your life in statistics, rolling in front of your eyes, allowing you to see a measure everything you've accomplished, or every odd thing you can think to count up. How incredible would this be?
Now, granted, this could already exist, I wouldn't know. But in case it doesn't ... and to really sell you, ever-powerful creators, on this invention, let me give you some examples.
Here's a quick list of just some of the statistics I would like to see when my life ends.
1. How long I have spent in the car.
From spring break drives down to Florida every year growing up, to the drive between Chicago and Dayton for every school break ... I just want to know how many days of my life I've spent road tripping.
2. How many people have had a crush on me ... and who.
Don't you just want to know?
3. How many people I've made smile.
I don't think we really ever realize how much we bring smiles to people's faces and joy to people's lives.
4. How many lies I've told.
Just curious?
5. How much money I've spent on clothes.
The price of bras alone ... on second thought, maybe I don't want to know.
6. How many times [insert person here] thought about me.
Your ex? Your best friend from 1st grade who moved away? Tell me you don't want to know ...
7. How many minds I've changed.
Honestly, this is probably one of the most important things. As a writer, but also as anyone who is passionate about things ... it'd be interesting to know how many times my passion led to change.
8. How many socks I've lost.
Honestly where do they go and why do we all have this same issue?
9. How many of my goals I've accomplished.
A nice solid official check mark.
10. How many near-death experiences I avoided.
Did I turn left instead of right and miss a collision? Did my decision to stay home and watch Netflix save my life in college?
11. How many selfies I've taken ... and deleted immediately.
An embarrassingly large amount ... but it'd certainly be interesting to hear the number.
12. How many people I actually know...and how many know me
13. How many full things of Chapstick I went through.
This is an extreme accomplishment that I'd like to be recognized for at the end of my life.
14. The average number of hours of sleep I actually got.
If you calculate it all ... is it anywhere near eight hours a night?
15. The movie I watched the most times.
What is more telling of you as a person? For me it's probably "She's The Man" or "The Sound of Music" ... make of that what you will.
16. How many kisses I've had.
Tell me you wouldn't be curious.
17. How many minutes I've spent laughing.
Honestly, what a wonderful way to measure your life.
18. How much hair I grew.
Gross, weird ... but I wanna know???
19. Which song did I listen to the most.
Which period of song obsession trumps all?
20. How many people positively affected my life (and how).
Was it a small piece of advice given to me by a teacher? A smile from a stranger? What little things made my life what it was?
21. How many people's lives were positively affected by me (and how).
At the end of my life, there's nothing more that I'd like to see.