NEW YEAR’S TASK

So a New Year dawns and it seems that there are many things from 2016 that have not been completed yet. January 2, 2017 and I finally feel like cleaning up my office and setting some new intentions for the year and in so doing, I have run across a few things that I have found interesting.

SOME QUOTES TO THINK ABOUT:

Everyone has an answer but what’s the question?

When we let go of doing and embrace being, we open a direct channel to inspiration.

A “writer” is a technical expert and an “author” is a creative force.

Put your mouth where your money is.

Why take one step in the direction of our dreams when we can become what we dream of right now?

Inspiration is that deep part of ourselves that emerges when we give ourselves permission to live our dreams.

Good intentions are not a substitute for good actions.

Change your mind – change your reality.

SOME QUESTIONS TO PONDER:

Is losing weight a negative intention?

What the hell is a “GIF” and a “meme?”

Do process and organization stifle creativity?

Is it possible to make someone else happy if you are not happy yourself?

How do I define “retirement?”

Why are some people so incredibly and constantly generous while others have no concept of generosity?

I have partial answers to some of these questions while others remain a mystery.

ONE OF MY DUMBER MOMENTS:

I could not, for the life of me, figure out the GPS system in our new vehicle – the least intuitive process I have ever encountered. I had hands-on advice from 3 of my favourite people who, me included, had lots of experience with GPS – all to no avail.

ONE OF MY SMARTER MOMENTS:

I threw 3 of my favourite people out of the vehicle in a small BC town on the Trans Canada Highway while I read the instruction manual (again) and figured out how to program the GPS. Sheesh – instruction manuals – who knew?

Well, I’ve cleaned up, thrown out and actually used some of the sticky notes that have been hanging around my desk and yes, there are still more. I’ve begun my New Year’s intentions by starting a Word document with them. I’m prepared for work tomorrow and complained about the additional snow and cold temperatures (OK, Christmas has come and gone – bring on the beach).

AN INTENTION OR TWO:

Write and think more about what it means to be a Baby Boomer

Put into print my Legacy Bio series – title to be confirmed.

Spend more time contemplating my navel – OK, so I need to lose (there’s that negative word) a few pounds in order to see it.

And yes, that’s navel not novel.

Laugh more

Write more

Listen more

Connect more

To each and everyone of you, I wish good health, joy and many new adventures for the year 2017.

CREATING A LEGACY BIO part 20

http://https://youtu.be/BtQQ5KyRx8k

If you could be reborn as absolutely anyone, any historical figure, any famous personality, any one at all, who would it be?

What is it about that person that you want to be known for?

Alright, let’s suppose you are reading this from the hereafter. You have the opportunity to revisit this little corner of the universe and say anything you want to anyone you want.

Who do you want to say something to?

Why do you want to say it to them?

What is it that you want to say?

Can you distill your personal life philosophy or essence down to 3 sentences – try it here.

FINALLY:

We all have various things that we are grateful for in our lives. Name 10 things that you are most grateful for:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Today, there are many many ways to physically or digitally create a personal memoir and we will discuss a few ideas and some cautions.

You could simply print off the templates found here and using a pen, fill in the blanks as best you can and maybe add a few pieces of paper where necessary to expand some areas. Messy, not very professional and hard to read would be the words that first come to mind with this approach.

You might take a different step and create a Word document on your computer, retype the questions presented in the templates and enter your answers, creating additional space where necessary. This would allow you to import other documents, photos, drawings and anything else that adds to your story. You could save the document on your computer and additionally, save it on the cloud.

You might be more comfortable creating a video and using the templates as a guideline to speak your answers and also add photos, song downloads and other videos. You could make it as involved or simple as you like. There is lots of software available through Microsoft, Google and many others to help you create this work. Once again, save it onto a memory stick, your hard drive or the cloud.

There are lots of book creation websites available where you could create one copy or a hundred copies, as you see fit. They have the capability of adding photos, etc. and are a “hard copy” of your Legacy Bio to share as you see fit.

You might prefer to create a scrapbook that incorporates your answers to the template questions along with hard copies of photos, documents, awards, newspaper clippings and so much more. This would entail a lot more work than simply “filling in the blanks” but it would be an incredible treasure for your family.

You could keep it very simple by using a 3 ring binder to capture your Word document and any additional information you care to add and put it in a cardboard file box along with any other mementos you wish to share for future generations.

Here’s the important caution: remember 8 tracks, vinyl records, home movie cameras, MySpace, daisy wheel printers, and the Jetsons? None of us has any idea what the communications landscape will look like 50 years from now. Consequently, I would strongly recommend that whatever you decide to do, make a hard copy of what you want to share. Writings have survived for thousands of years on everything from cave walls to dead sea scrolls. Even though language is a constantly evolving art form, it will always be able to be understood. Cloud saving, memory sticks and the like may not be usable a generation from now. After all, how would you play your original Elvis 45’s today? “Ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog” indeed.

CREATING A LEGACY BIO part 19

The story of your life is your opportunity to set the record straight. It is a legacy that will be cherished by its readers, an invaluable addition to your family tree and a personal history that clarifies your place in time and space. These 20 templates may seem daunting to some and incredibly skimpy to others when it comes to presenting your autobiography but you can choose how you approach the subject of YOU. Fill in all of the blanks, some of the blanks, or expand to capture the other details of your life not covered here. We will spend some time in the final segment looking at various options for creating the physical Legacy Bio and how and when to share it with others.

Life is full of moments, some good, some bad, some embarrassing, and a few that are inexplicable. There are moments of strength and courage and a few that we would take back if we could. Following is a list of prompts to show some of those moments in your life. You may want to use one word answers but it is far more fun if you include an explanation:

Did you ever:

steal something

appear nude – on purpose

have to go to the emergency room

tell off an authority figure (teacher, boss, policeman, customs agent, etc.)

fail a grade

skip a grade

find yourself giggling uncontrollably at a funeral or wedding

appear on TV

pick something up from the floor and eat it

pretend you were someone else

hitchhike

skinny dip (who with)

pray for a miracle

witness a miracle

break a bone

bungee jump

swim with sharks

pet a dangerous animal

shoot a gun

risk your life to save someone else

join any cults or weird organizations

meet someone really famous

hit on someone you shouldn’t have

run away from home

Have you ever been told that you have an exact “double”? Is there someone out there travelling the world who is a duplicate of you?

Let’s suppose that you could clone yourself – would you?

If you created a clone, what characteristics would they have, what strengths, life goals, successes, or challenges would they have?

If you had an “evil twin,” describe who they would be, what they would do and what their life would be like. Have you ever been tempted to live that “evil twin” life yourself?

If you could see 5 years into the future – would you do it?

What would you want to know?

What would you NOT want to know?

We are rapidly coming to the end of our personal memoir templates – one more next week. If you were to set aside one hour per week to complete this project, you would be creating a valuable, interesting and story of your life to be shared with the many people who are interested in your life and times. What an unselfish act of love that your are creating. If you decide to share and assist someone else in creating their own Legacy Bio, not only will they be forever grateful, so will their family and friends. What a wonderful thing you would be doing for someone else. As you position your own life within the context of the history that has happened around you, you bring a personal connection for the reader that cannot be found in any other way. Just do it!