Don't Just Think About It, Do It
You Only Get One Life So Make The Most Of It
In 1995, I went travelling for 18 months with my partner Simon. We went to Thailand, Indonesia and spent a year in Australia. I vowed at the start that I wouldn't let anything prevent me from doing the things that I wanted to do on that trip because I realised that I may never be in such amazing places again. Hence, I did some easy rock climbing and swam in a river in Indonesia, even though I was a scared of doing both of those things. I went on a two day trek, even though I wasn't physically that fit and found it really difficult. I did a skydive in Australia because I realised that if I was ever going to do one, that was the location to do it. In places where the sunrise was the draw, I got up ridiculously early just to see the sun rise in that location, even though I knew that I could have done with a couple of hours extra sleep. Looking back, I can honestly say that I didn't regret anything that I did, but I know I would have regretted not doing them.
This attitude seemed to carry over on my return as I realised that life was like being in on a foreign holiday... except that at least with a foreign country, you might go back. I also realised that the reason I had such fun while travelling was because I had so many different experiences, and tried so many new things. Instead of getting too depressed about coming home, I decided to try and make my life at home as full and enjoyable as it was when we were travelling.
I know of many people who have experienced a life-threatening illness which has made them approach life differently, but you don't have to have a near-death experience to have that attitude. You only get one life, so make the most of it.
Living Life To The Full - Some Suggestions (and you don't have to do a skydive in Australia to do it!)
- Imagine looking back on your life. What would you regret not doing? List all the things you'd like to do, even the things you might be too scared to do, or can't afford to do at the moment. Decide what you'd like to do first, then make plans to do it. If it's something that costs a lot of money, start a fund to save for it.
- Think about how you spend your time. Do you spend time doing things that you don't enjoy, and don't need to do? If so, think about how you can restructure your time to do the things that you'd prefer doing. What do you enjoy doing that you don't do enough of? Try and plan it into your week or your month so that you know you'll get to do it more often.
- How many hours do you spend a week watching tv? Heed the advice of the 1970s children's tv show "Why Don't You?" and "switch off your television set and go out and do something less boring instead".
- Call up an old friend you've been putting off calling because you haven't had time or because you feel bad that you haven't called. They'd rather you called after a while, than you never called at all.
- You don't have to go on holiday to enjoy new cultural experiences. If you've never been to an opera, seen any dance, heard classical music or visited an art gallery or museum, then find out what's on locally to you and make firm plans to go. And if you don't like it, you know you're not missing out on anything!
- Likewise, you don't have to travel far to enjoy sightseeing. Imagine you've got a foreign visitor staying. Where would you take them? What would you tell them to do? Don't wait for the imaginary visitor, but make plans to go if you haven't already been there yourself.
- Check out a local landmark, or decide to go for a walk somewhere you've never been. Take your camera with you. It might make you approach your home town or city through the fresh eyes of a tourist and appreciate it in a different way.
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