I’m not much of a country fan, so I don’t know what it is with me and Tim McGraw songs lately!

A few days ago, my friends and I had a small discussion on Facebook after I posted this seemingly random question: “Let’s pretend that, as of today, we have exactly one year left to live. What will you do?”

Many friends postulated that if they had the time, the money, really only a year left, etc. they would do X,Y, Z. Some wanted to see relatives, others to pay off bills, or to see the world. But I clarified that my question is in regards to life right now, as we know it: If we could just live with the philosophy that this could very well be our last year (because, truth be told, it could; it always could), how could you create the life you want to live within your current situation and means? Or would you change your situation and means, perhaps? What would you do?

And the thing is, my question was not-so-random at all. Thankfully, I haven’t been diagnosed with anything life-threatening, and I haven’t recently encountered a friend or loved one with the situation, either. But all around me, people continue to do things that they’ve dreamed of doing—some of which I’ve even dreamed of doing. I have several friends and relatives, for example, who are living where they want to live and traveling to places they want to see when I continually make excuses for reasons why I cannot do these things. Someday, I always think, when my daughter is grown, when the bills are paid, when…

The reality, as we all know, is that someday will never come unless we seize the day we are given today. I may not have the resources to jump on a plane today, no; but I can start making plans. And so I did. I bought a new planner and planned out four road trips for the next year—three to take with my family, one with just my husband. I also went through my Living To Do List (which I call a Magnum Opus, by the way) and took 100 things I really want to do and scheduled them within it as well. I also started drinking my orange juice from a champagne glass (why not?), dropping whatever I’m doing to play with my kiddo when she asks instead of refraining the usual “Mommy’s busy,” and cuddling with my husband even when we only have a spare five minutes to do so. This weekend, I’m finally trying henna (I’ve had the kit forever, why have I put it off for so long?) and I’m going to find the nearest labyrinth to me and walk it next week.

Will you take this challenge with me? Will you, just for a year, live like you were dying and do all of the things that you can that you really want to do to make this the life of your dreams? I think we can do it, if we really try.