What’s One Thing You Need to Do Before You Die?

It might be morbid, but death is a great motivator.

Everyone has a list of places they want to visit, events they want to attend, or things they want to do before they die. But some of them are vague desires — even though they look fun, you’d actually be okay if you never did it.

Each person on Earth has one thing they believe they must do before they die. It’s not just another item on the bucket list. It’s a deep desire, a flame waiting not to be tamed but for space to burn.

Sadly, even though they ache to do this, most people never do. It might be out of fear of failure, judgment, embarrassment. They die with the weight of this regret.

You know how terrible regret can make you feel. You know what it feels like to have the question “What if?” playing in your head like a wicked chant.

Now imagine feeling that when you know your life is about to end, and there’s nothing you can do about it

The Truth We Must All Accept

It’s morbid. I hate thinking about death because I’m afraid of it — or rather, I’m afraid of not living before death. But there’s power in remembering that you’re going to die.

According to The Daily Stoic, the Stoics called it Memento Mori, “the ancient practice of reflection on mortality.” No, it’s not fun, and yes, it’s terrifying. Why would anyone think about death?

Death makes for a great motivator and serves as a reminder to live your life as you want. To do that one thing you want to do before it’s too late.

Ryan Holiday reminds us:

Don’t live each day as if the world is ending. That would be a disaster. Live your life as if you’re not sure whether your time on this earth is ending or not.

I’m not telling you to go out into the world and create chaos or to make dumb mistakes. There’s something in your head right now — one dream or goal — that you desperately want to reach, but you’re not doing anything about it.

You’re acting like you have time. Like you’re 100% sure you’re going to live to 100, but we don’t know that. And in order to truly live, we must accept that fact.

How to Live With No Regrets

I’ll tell you the one thing I know I want to do before I die: write a book. If I were to find out that I was going to die in six months, I would type like never before. I lied earlier, I don’t want to do it — I need to do it.

Writing a book hard. Sometimes I just want to throw my notebook out a window, call it quits, and forget I ever tried. I think I suck. I don’t know if I’ll ever be published. As usual, there are so many thoughts and feelings involved when it comes to dreams.

I don’t listen to any of them because I remember: This is the one thing I need to do before I die. So I do it, no questions asked.

What do you need to do right now?

Your answer will change later. Once I write a book, I might want to write a series. That’s how life is supposed to work: You do the one thing that scares you the most, and then you move on to the next one.

The Only Thing Holding You Back

You’re not supposed to have this one thing hanging over your head for the rest of your life. But most people do. They question and ponder and debate until it’s too late.

And for what?

What’s your valid reason? The excuse you’re using? Say it out loud to yourself. I bet you it sounds something like this:

• “I don’t have time.”
• “I don’t have money.”
• “I’m scared.”
• “What if people make fun of me?”
• “I don’t know how.”
• “I can’t.”

When you say it out loud, doesn’t it sound weak? A little ridiculous? Whatever reason you’re using to stop yourself from doing this one thing, it’s not worth the regret you’re going to feel later. Even if you don’t know how to do it or it’s intimidating and terrifying, you don’t have a choice.

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!” — Hunter S. Thompson

Write your book. Start your business. Build your app. Get your degree in psychology. Start making music. Build a home.

The person holding you back is you. What are you going to do about it?

The Greatest Step You Can Take

I understand it’s scary. Do you think I wasn’t utterly terrified to start writing my book? I pushed it off for months before finally sitting down and doing it.

How did I start? I decided to break it down to steps so small they didn’t seem so scary anymore. I write 200 words every day. I take notes. I write down my ideas. Everything, in the end, will add up to a whole book.

Death is scary, so most people avoid thinking about it. But for just a second think, “What’s the one thing I need to do before I die?”

Whatever your answer is, do it no matter what. Even if you don’t reach your goal, the journey will be worth it. The growth will be beautiful.

Maybe this piece has brought up a fear of death. I know anytime I read about it, I become afraid. I hope this quote eases your fears a little bit, just as it did mine:

Why should I fear death? If I am, death is not. If death is, I am not. Why should I fear that which cannot exist when I do? — Epicurus