20 Signs That You’re Living Life to the Fullest

20 Signs That You’re Living Life to the Fullest:

photo by shashchatter

Are you living life to the fullest? If you had to name one person in your life who lives their life to the fullest, who would it be? Did anyone immediately pop into your mind?

Now, be honest… did you name yourself?

I hope so. But if not, why not?

It’s never too late to be make some changes so that your answer to that question is a confident, “ME!” Need some ideas of what changes to make? Here are 20 signs that you are living life to the fullest:

1. You have crow’s feet from smiling so much.

2. You currently have something fun on your calendar this month (and next month too).

3. The idea of writing your own eulogy brings you no thoughts of regret.

4. April Fool’s Day is highly anticipated in your household. (If not, get some awesome ideas from our upcoming LIVE April Fool’s Day Escape Adulthood Show.)

5. You use every single vacation day you’re given each year.

6. You’re working on a goal that gets you excited when you tell other people about it.

7. You refuse to answer your phone when you are having a conversation with a friend or family member.

8. You’re not afraid of a few raindrops or a little dirt.

9. When other people think of you, they instantly smile.

10. You do not hold any grudges.

11. Your favorite food is on your menu at least once a month.

12. You have a few scars that prove that you’ve lived and loved.

13. You car dance at least once a week.

14. You don’t just live for the weekends. You think weekdays are enjoyable too!

15. You are proud to say you make time for quality AND quantity time with those you love.

16. If your coworkers were asked to collectively agree on one word to describe you, the word would be something really cool like: fun, passionate, sincere, silly or loyal.

17. Even though there are countless uncertainties, you are not afraid of the future.

18. You have either Stage 1 or no Adultitis™ whatsoever. (Not sure what stage you’re in, complete the intake here.)

19. When asked what your hobby is, TV is NOT your answer.

20. You know how to “just be.” Busyness is not always your reality.

This list could go on and on. What did I miss? Share your surefire sign that you’re living life to the fullest!

Sign up to receive our free newsletter to get regular reminders and tips for stressing less and having more fun. Consider it a well-deserved jolt of happiness for your inbox.

Share and Enjoy:

Your Life’s Sexy and Exciting Grande Finale

Your Life’s Sexy and Exciting Grande Finale:

artwork by jason

The end of a fireworks display is always the most exciting. It’s loud, colorful, and frenzied with big, bold activity. That’s how we imagine our lives to look like when we answer the question: What would you do if you only had six months to live?

We’d go down swinging in a spectacular grand finale, of course.

Tour Paris. Take a cruise. Visit the pyramids of Egypt. Climb Mount Everest. Paddle down the Amazon. Run a marathon. Go skydiving.

When asked what we’d do if we only had six months to live, why do we so often resort to the grandiose, sexy, self-indulgent activities ripped from a full-color glossy brochure? Are those the things we really want to do, or are those the things we just THINK we should want to do? Do we really believe that a well-lived life must incorporate as many of these extreme adventures as possible?

The question fascinates me. I suppose the phenomenon could be interpreted as a very “American” thing. We tend to be obsessed with bigger, better, and more. More elaborate. More expensive. More exciting. More extreme. The best-selling book, 1000 Places to See Before You Die appears to set the bar at what a well-lived life should look like.

There are two problems as I see it, however.

The first is that, even as exhaustive as that book (and others like it) may be, I’m certain there are a number of things left out. Someone could theoretically do every single thing listed in that book (which would probably actually take several lifetimes to accomplish), and there’d still be a thousand other things that could be added. This world is simply too big and opportunities are too numerous for one person to experience all of it. So you get to the end of your life and inevitably feel like you missed something.

The other problem is that these grandiose books of bucket lists condition us to think that some experiences are more valuable and enriching than others. No doubt that taking in a sunset at the Grand Canyon is probably a better use of time than watching reruns of Melrose Place, but which of these experiences is more valuable: reeling in swordfish during an exciting chartered open sea expedition, or spending a sleepy afternoon on a quiet pond fishing with your granddaughter?

You may argue that both experiences offer equal value for different reasons, but there’s certainly no question about which one is sexier and more likely to end up on the “1,001 Things You Should Do Or Your Life Was a Complete Waste of Time” list.

Faced with only having six months left to live, we imagine going out in a breathtaking grand finale of epic proportions. That’s how we’d like things to go. That’s how it works in the movies.

But not so much in real life.

In real life, a heart attack gets you before you even knew what hit you. In real life, by the time you get the real “you’ve got six months left to live” speech, you’re too weak and sick to muster much more than getting down the hall to the bathroom. In real life, you wake up one day when you’re ninety and wonder where the hell the time went.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a sucker for the genre of books I’ve been talking about. I love how they encourage us to awaken from our microwaved, air-conditioned, cruise-controlled lifestyle and DO something with our lives. I appreciate how they offer ideas we may have never considered.

But rather than focus on making sure my last days resemble a nighttime Disney World extravaganza, I’m more interested in focusing on what my regular days look like. Am I happy to get out of bed, excited about what the day holds? Does my work make a difference in the world? Does it make a difference to me? Do I get to spend a little of each day with the people I love, even if it’s just a simple meal together, or a walk around the neighborhood, or a dance party in my living room? Did I make time for a short prayer with my God, a slice of a good book, or a meaningful conversation with my wife?

Days like that might seem too pedestrian — boring even — to our bigger, better, and more sensibilities. The “Bucket List” books would have me believe that I didn’t do enough. But the truth is, happiness is a lifetime filled with days that look like that, days consistently marked by deep, happy contentment and sprinkled with simple bits of joy on top.

The best way to die with no regrets — be it six months or sixty years from now — is to make sure that most of your days are infused with those simple measures of happiness and fulfillment. By my estimation, it’s better to create a life that’s filled with days that look like that than to hope for a brilliant grand finale that makes up for the thousands of days spent in quiet desperation, toiling in a job you didn’t like, spending time with people you didn’t care about, and caring about things that didn’t matter.

Life is too precious to gamble on the chance that you’ll get one last shot to squeeze in the living you missed out on. The reality is, the brilliant fireworks grande finale is probably not in the cards for you. Or me.

That’s okay. Just make sure you’re intentionally creating a life that is consistently breathtaking, even if in small ways. Because jumping out of a plane or scaling Mount Everest during your last days won’t make up for a lifetime of settling.

Like this article? Cool. Make sure you’re subscribing to our RSS feed so you won’t miss out on any future installments of similarly inspiring prose. And stuff.

Share and Enjoy:

KLM Economy Comfort Product with Ramana at Manchester Airport T2

KLM Economy Comfort Product with Ramana at Manchester Airport T2:

KLM Launch their new Economy Comfort product at Manchester Airport T2 with Ramana on the 16th February

Hidden Room Love: Through the Armoire

Hidden Room Love: Through the Armoire: Who doesn't love a hidden room? The adult in us, even, is still drawn to this children's play room that's just a short step through an unassuming armoire: Read Full Post

Grab the Airplane and Go

Grab the Airplane and Go:

“What year did we snatch the president of the Congo's airplane?” Nick Popovich asks. Outside, chilly rain soaks the pastures of his rolling Indiana country estate. From a pond with a gushing fountain, waterfowl honk faintly. An assistant rifles through records as Popovich assures me cheerfully, “We're not going back to central Africa soon. There's still a death warrant out for me.” Driving to Valparaiso on a two-lane blacktop, ...

Why every chick flick is exactly the same

Why every chick flick is exactly the same: If you've been dragged to a Nicholas Sparks movie by a significant other, or just went because you're a fan of true love, you’ve noticed that they all a fair amount of common threads running through them. So much so sometimes that it’s almost uncanny. Well the observant folks at Cracked picked up on this as well, and came up with this graphic that illustrates just how true this is.... Read More...

The Thrill of Flying the SR-71 Blackbird [Airplanes]

The Thrill of Flying the SR-71 Blackbird [Airplanes]:

I can tell you about the SR-71 Blackbird's titanium frame, its Pratt&Whitney J58-P4 engines, or its genesis. But that's not important. What really matters is the thrill of flying it in an extremely dangerous mission, as remembered by this pilot.-JD More »

Pixar Studio Stories: Wherein Steve Jobs Buys John Lasseter a Volvo [Pixar]

Pixar Studio Stories: Wherein Steve Jobs Buys John Lasseter a Volvo [Pixar]:

We love Pixar around here. Who doesn't? Which is why this Pixar Studio Stories series is such a delight: animated, behind the scenes goodies from the company's illustrious history—including when they nearly lost most of Toy Story 2. More »

Eddie Izzard – 43 Marathons in 51 Days

Eddie Izzard – 43 Marathons in 51 Days:

British comedian Eddie Izzard recently ran 43 marathons in 51 days. With no prior running experience, the 47-year-old had only 5 weeks to prepare for the challenge. When it was all said and done, Eddie covered over 1100 miles throughout the United Kingdom to raise money for the Sports Relief charity group.

Eddie ran day after day, despite poor weather, blisters on top of blisters, and even a few lost toenails. He ran at least 26 miles, six days a week. Regardless of how he felt each morning, he continued to get up, get outside, and hit the roads.

Part way through his journey, Eddie made the following statement,

“It’s been hell, 26 miles a day is a lot. Try that six times a week. At first the last six miles were pure agony. Then it changed to the first six miles. Then it was the middle chunk. But now it’s pretty much all the same. My feet are disintegrating, the small toes have lost their nails and they look like alien monsters but I’m told they will grow back. But I’ll make it; my body isn’t really determined but my brain is.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Afterward, he went on to say,

“If an idiot like me can run 43 marathons, then just think what real athletes can do.”

I agree with his statement, but I believe his story is actually more relevant to the average person. We already know what top level athletes are capable of achieving. The real message to share is the potential that exists within all of us. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t have room to improve, just as I’ve never met anyone who didn’t have the ability to improve.

Unfortunately, society often babies its adults. The message is usually one of caution. We are always warned about doing too much, but rarely is one warned about doing too little. What happened to setting high expectations? I’m not suggesting that we all run a marathon a day and throw caution to the wind, but that doesn’t mean the average Joe or Jane cannot get up and exert themselves. The body will adapt if you are consistent and diligent. It is pointless to constantly warn the masses about doing too much when the majority isn’t doing anything.

I’d rather pass on a message about human potential. There is much more than most realize. It doesn’t fall out of the sky however. You must get up and find it. The best way to get ahead is by getting started. If a 47-year-old man with no formal training can run 43 marathons in 51 days, I’m certain that we can all get up and do something. There is no reason to fear hard work. You’ll eventually learn to embrace it.

In the words of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,

“When we treat man as he is, we make him worse than he is; when we treat him as if he already were what he potentially could be, we make him what he should be.”

Why Do You Buy?

Why Do You Buy?:

What’s the single most important piece of personal finance advice you would give a person?

I’ve heard this question (or variations on it) many times. I have a very simple answer to it.

Whenever you buy anything, ask yourself why five times.

That seems really off the wall at first glance, but I firmly believe that no single piece of advice can match it in terms of getting your money under control.

I’ll show you what I mean through the lens of three purchases I considered recently.

I have about $1,000 saved up for a big personal purchase. I had been considering buying an iPad with it, even before the Apple announcement in January. I held one in my hands a couple days ago and considered it. Why do you want an iPad? It’s an impressive gadget to hold in your hands. I can see myself using it and enjoying it. Why would you use it? I can surf the web on it and read books on it and periodicals, too. Why not just use your laptop? This is more portable. Why not just use your iPod Touch? … Why not just read a paperback? …

And, boom, my argument for buying an iPad goes down the chute. Sure, I can afford it, but why? It doesn’t fulfill a need in my life that isn’t already fulfilled by something else, or at least not in a compelling enough way to pay hundreds for it. Yes, I’ll probably buy a tablet computer someday, but not yet. It doesn’t actually fiil any sort of need.

I allow myself $30 a month to spend on books. I was in the bookstore recently, considering whether to pick up a copy of a novel I’ve been looking forward to for a long while. Why do you want this novel instead of the books you already have? It offers a compelling story, but I do already have a few to read. Why not just wait until it’s on sale or in paperback? I want to read it now! Why not just ask for it on PaperBackSwap? It’ll take some time to get it there because it’s such a new release. Why not just request it at the library? I could do that… it might take a few weeks. Why not see if one of your friends has picked it up and swap with them when they finish? Even if the library doesn’t have it, one of them might.

And, boom, I’ve got several avenues for reading the book without spending the money. This keeps me from buying a lot of books because my actual need (to read) is fulfilled in other ways for much less cost.

Another example: I’m considering buying a one pound small wheel of Maytag blue cheese at the store. Why are you buying this cheese? I want to make some good blue cheese burgers and I want some to sprinkle on my salad. Why are you buying a pound for that? It’s cheaper per ounce. Why would you let the eight or so ounces you won’t use go to waste? I, uh, wont? Why not get feta for your salad because it’s cheaper and tastes more appropriate? Hmm… that seems reasonable. Why not just get a four ounce piece of the blue cheese? …

And there you have it. Instead of buying the one pound chunk, I bought a four ounce chunk and some feta.

In each example, I came up with a result that either made me realize I didn’t really need the item at all or pushed me to another purchase that met my needs for a much lower cost.

The five whys push me there every time. The simple process of thinking through a purchase almost always leads me to a better solution that my first impulse points me to. This saves me money and prevents me from making impulsive, wasteful buys. Instead, I find I have plenty of money left for the things that really do matter in my life.

The Alot is Better Than You at Everything

The Alot is Better Than You at Everything: As a grammatically conscientious person who frequents internet forums and YouTube, I have found it necessary to develop a few coping mechanisms. When someone types out "u" instead of "you," instead of getting mad, I imagine them having only one finger on each hand and then their actions seem reasonable. If I only had one finger on each hand, I'd leave out unnecessary letters too!

If I come across a person who seems to completely ignore the existence of apostrophes and capital letters and types things like "im an eagle and im typing with my talons, so dont make fun of me cuz this is hard," I like to imagine that they actually are an eagle typing with their talons. It would be a hassle if you had to hop in the air and use your feet to karate-chop two keys simultaneously every time you wanted to use the shift key to make a capital letter. Also, eagles lack manual dexterity, so I can understand why they'd want to leave out apostrophes. Eagles are all about efficiency.

But there is one grammatical mistake that I particularly enjoy encountering. It has become almost fun for me to come across people who take the phrase "a lot" and condense it down into one word, because when someone says "alot," this is what I imagine:

The Alot is an imaginary creature that I made up to help me deal with my compulsive need to correct other people's grammar. It kind of looks like a cross between a bear, a yak and a pug, and it has provided hours of entertainment for me in a situation where I'd normally be left feeling angry and disillusioned with the world.

For example, when I read the sentence "I care about this alot," this is what I imagine:

Similarly, when someone says "alot of _______", I picture an Alot made out of whatever they are talking about.

If someone says something like "I feel lonely alot" or "I'm angry alot," I'm going to imagine them standing there with an emo haircut, sharing their feelings with an Alot.

The Alot is incredibly versatile.

So the next time you are reading along and you see some guy ranting about how he is "alot better at swimming than Michael Phelps," instead of getting angry, you can be like "You're right! Alots are known for their superior swimming capabilities."