Craft For The Soul Nice Life Reminders Pip-Life

What 5 Things Do You Want To Do Before You Die?

August 30, 2018
Norway

Are we all so different? Or a bit the same? I am thinking a bit the same and a bit different, but who am I to say? I mean, I might be totally wrong!

Maybe we could compare a list of 5 Things To Do Before We Die?  I’m not talking – ‘love my neighbour more etc etc’ or ‘be more charitable’. I’m talking actual things you fancy tackling out there in the world. Achievement type stuff. It doesn’t have to be a super large thing. I’m very much into small things (in case you needed my permission to go small which of course you did not!)

So let’s do it. And note that a) you can add more things, this is just a starter pack and b) you can change your mind at any time after committing to 5 things here and c) there is no actual time limit, so don’t feel pressured to adhere to the list if life gets tough/different.

There is no signing off on this. You don’t have to initial each page and stamp your personal seal on it. It’s just a starting point sort of thing.

Let’s go …

(Also, I hope you don’t die any time soon, because I’m not going to and I need friends like you. Not dead friends. But if you do die, I know it won’t be your fault. Glad we cleared that up.)

5 Things To Do Before You Die

1. See the Northern Lights

Because they seem amazing and magical and the world seems very different up there. PLUS? They have amazing animals that we don’t have here.

2. Take a train from one side of Australia to the other

Because how brilliant would that be?! I’ve lived on both sides of our country and flown across many times, but taking a train seems like a really fun idea.

Bad Baby

3. Be able to make ultra fancy French patisserie style cakes

Things with raspberry icing and lemon curd fillings … or topped with glazes and jellies. Yum! I think this is a hangover from a favourite childhood book, The Elephant and the Bad Baby. Or it might be because I read Emma Beddington’s book We’ll Always Have Paris. Probably both with my Brunetti obsession thrown in for good measure!

Stohrer

image via Stohrer

4. Spend a month somewhere just to write a book

I’ve always wanted to do this. I think it has to be on the list of things to do before it’s too late. I’m always cramming my books in around the rest of my bread-and-butter work. It would be ace to just be able to go and write some stuff, while the bills still magically get paid.

5. Visit South Korea

I would love to go there because I love the food … and the style … and I would like to find out more. I blame Hyori.  (I really want to go to India one day, too!)

It took me ages to think of those, but I’m pretty happy with that list. It’s hard to think outside of busy life routines, sometimes, right? But always a really good idea. Unless you do it allll the gosh darned time. Then it’s a bit much and bloody stop that.

What would your 5 things be (for now)?

x pip

Main image via

17 Comments

  • Reply Isabela November 1, 2022 at 2:17 PM

    1. Travel around France
    2 Learn French
    3. Learn english
    4. Start working out
    5.

  • Reply Tara September 8, 2018 at 10:38 AM

    I’ve done the train across Oz, do it for sure!! I’ve also done the train from Jasper to Toronto in Canada and it was amazing. Which leads me to my #1.
    1) Do the Trans Siberian or Mongolian railway. I always thought I’d do it for my 40th. Did a kombi wine tour in Margaret River instead which was still awesome.
    2) Go to Scotland. My mum’s Scottish and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do as it’s half of me 🙂
    3) Skydive over Rottnest Island. Fave place in the world, seems like the right place to give it a go.
    4) Work with indigenous children either here or overseas. I just started my teaching degree and would love to travel and learn with it at some point.
    5) Actually buy a car and drive it. Recently got my licence but have yet to use it for anything other than ID haha.

    Tara 🙂

  • Reply Sue September 3, 2018 at 5:54 PM

    I’ll celebrate my 70th birthday next month, and over this year I’ve been consciously aware that this decade is probably going to be my most important one ever, the one where I finally get my shit together and stop procrastinating. Narrowing my list down to 5 things has been more difficult than I anticipated! Here goes –
    1. Finish sewing quilts started with such enthusiasm years ago, and make one for both grandkids
    2. Read books rather than just accumulate them in hundreds each year
    3. Learn another language
    4. Rent a cottage in rural France during their Summer months
    5. Buy a Kombi campervan for short trips away here at home

  • Reply Julie September 3, 2018 at 3:51 PM

    Such an interesting question. My boys gave me a bucket list book a couple of years ago which has space to write 100 wishes I’ve found it so hard but maybe that just means I’m living a good life already!
    I’m currently at 15 My “best” five are
    Visit Japan
    Go whale watching
    Go to Shetland for wool week
    See the northern lights
    Own a VW camper van

  • Reply Nicole September 2, 2018 at 8:27 PM

    1. Perhaps a career change. I’m lucky enough to be on leave while our children are young and I’ll have to go back one day. I love my job, but I’ve been thinking more and more that I don’t want to do it anymore. A different role in the same field might be enough.
    2. Do a big move with my family, interstate or overseas for at least a year.
    3. Build a house. I have a fluid vision of what I’d like (must have a mezzanine though!). There’s a song I’ve always loved and I’d like our house to feel like that.
    4. Become much better at taking photos in general. Not for a career, just so the photos I take of our children actually look reasonable.
    5. Learn a musical instrument.
    Honestly, many of those will never happen without a huge influx of money!

  • Reply Rochelle September 1, 2018 at 9:11 PM

    Thanks for this post Pip.

    I am currently ticking off my first one

    1. Travel around Australia in a car and caravan. (You can follow our adventure on fb and insta @whydiss)
    2. Write a book.
    3. Learn another language (French)
    4. Finish all my scrapbooks
    5. Spend an week hiking and picnicking with my children.

  • Reply Lisa September 1, 2018 at 12:45 PM

    Live in Sweden and learn Swedish and swim in the sea up there and wear puffy jackets in the cold and see the northern lights.
    Have a minimalist intervention and live without clutter for a bit to see if it can be done if you are me.
    Ultramarathon
    Visit my friend Michelle in Cornwall
    Sew some fabulous clothes that fit and make me feel excellent.

  • Reply Jules August 31, 2018 at 1:38 PM

    What a thoughtful question, and what provoking answers all around from everyone. Thank you for making me really think about this. Here is me.

    1. Learn how to drive a very small manageable Harley.
    2. Sail again. With anyone. I miss sailing with my dad.
    3. Walk the Cornwall coast with my love, whether we are still married or not.
    4. Knit a sweater.
    5. Conquer debt.

    Cheers for all!

  • Reply kate August 31, 2018 at 7:52 AM

    Thinking quite early for a friday morning..
    1. live in iceland for a month or more, to really experience the place
    2. have a small home by the sea
    3. go on a yoga/meditation retreat, not a silent one though, although I’m quiet by nature a silent one would be a step too far.
    4. be myself, be brave enough to really live my life, not the life I think I should living. speak my truth and feel sure of myself when i do.
    5. walk the overland track (which happens to be in my backyard) and just do more weekend bush walks. Spend time in nature.

    this was really hard
    cheers Kate

    • Reply Pip August 31, 2018 at 8:26 AM

      I found it so hard. I started crying at the idea, at first! You are not alone in your ‘omg this is really hard-ness’!! (your list is really ace. I want do to more bushwalks too. That’s a good idea.)

      • Reply kate August 31, 2018 at 8:46 AM

        you weren’t the only one to shed a tear,
        cheers Kate

        • Reply Pip August 31, 2018 at 1:35 PM

          I thought ‘you should know this stuff! you should be able to think of TEN things!’ but I really couldn’t! It took a while! x

          • kate August 31, 2018 at 4:06 PM

            it was the same for me, made me feel really sad to realise how i’ve neglected myself and my dreams, I don’t even know what those dreams are anymore. I can’t just keep saying to be happy, when I don’t even know what makes me happy, it’s been so long since I’ve even considered myself worthy.
            I’ve been thinking about this on and off all day, quite confronting really.
            Here’s to both of us making our way through this
            take care dear Pip
            cheers Kate

          • Pip August 31, 2018 at 4:09 PM

            We can do it! And it’s good to feel the feelings. Push through them not away from them. We both know this!! xx

  • Reply Annette August 30, 2018 at 9:33 PM

    What a great question!

    1. Since I got diagnosed with my heart shamoz I find myself wanting to have a big input on the planning of my funeral. These things usually fall to family, and mine, though quite nice, are tres conservative and I think their plan might not be as me as I’d like.

    2. Put words together about how to change your mind about yourself, how to recognise that the things we think we need to be, look like, think, achieve etc are mostly someone else’s ideas and not actually non-negotiable for every human.

    3. Maybe travel overseas. It’s never been high on my list but then I think, it would be pretty nice to shop at a French street market.

    4. Get my effing superannuation sorted. I just can’t seem to get my shiz together, and I’m 50!

    5. Do some meaningful public speaking. That doesn’t mean sitting under the oaks with Oprah, but I do feel like I have ideas and stories and courage to pass on. ??

    • Reply Pip August 31, 2018 at 8:26 AM

      I think you’d be great at public speaking. You have really good things to say. x

      • Reply Annette September 2, 2018 at 12:00 PM

        Thank you Pip! That’s very affirming and kind of you.

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