Travel well

You’ll only make so many trips around the sun—could be 102. Or this one might be your last.

So don’t wait. Do the things that matter, now.

If you like climbing rocks, climb as often as you can. Thirst for thrills? Skydive or swim with sharks (yolo!). Perform or speak at a community event.

Enjoy challenging yourself? Run 100 miles. Earn a diploma. Hone a skill or learn a new one. Study the stars as you roast marshmallows over a dying fire.

Visit exotic places like Bali, Bucharest, and Zanzibar. Invite a friend or two to travel with you to the ocean, the mountains, a farmers’ market, the ballet or stage play, and your own backyard.

Invent that thing. Write that poem… or that apology letter.

Join a group. You need connection. And if you can’t find a group that fits you, start one: a jump-in-puddles club, a whistle-a-happy-tune band, or a put-up-new-decorations-each-month association.

Celebrate every day. Put on your best underwear. Eat spaghetti out of the pot—or off your best dishes. Dance by the light of a disco ball.

Take time to relax. Float on a lake, a pond, or a pool. Snuggle puppies. Really, you don’t need a puppy. A warm blanket and a cup of cocoa will do. Another human helps. Just snuggle.

Be brave. Protest peacefully. Adopt a cause. Carry signs or carry heavy bags for old people. Speak up for others who have a quieter voice.

Voice your opinions. Do your own things. But above all, always be kind—to yourself and others. Share your best recipes. Mow someone’s lawn for free. Tip your server well. Smile at strangers. Look for the good in others. Be a helper. Give freely. Pray generously.

Because in the end, you won't wish you'd worked harder as you traveled through time; only that you'd loved more.