See (Insert Aweseome, Awe-Inspiring Location) Before I Die

The Taj Mahal. The Coliseum. The Pyramids of Giza. The Great Wall. Everyone is entranced by some place—or many places!—that just calls to them, that makes them want to embark on a pilgrimage—or at least the next flight—to simply say they’ve seen it.

Maybe it’s something in your roots; perhaps your family is from Ireland and you want to kiss the Blarney Stone. Perhaps your native tribe heritage makes you want to visit some sacred landmarks in the U.S.

Or maybe you’re simply a history buff interested in different things. My husband wants to see Alcatraz, for example. Or maybe you just yearn to see something majestic, like the ocean, or Stonehenge.

For me, it’s the Neuschwanstein castle. I know it’s a product of such squandered resources, but damn if I don’t wish to see its marvels every day.

What place calls to you? Where do you absolutely have to visit before you die? It could be anywhere—or many places. Maybe it’s your favorite baseball team’s stadium, or the place where your father proposed to your mother. Have you ever thought of visiting the place where you were conceived in the first place? (That might be a scary thought for many of us!)

Maybe you want to see Ground Zero and mourn those we’ve lost, or remember them at the Vietnam Wall or other memorials at our national mall. I’ve done that and can tell you that it’s definitely worth doing; and if you visit Kennedy’s grave, the changing of the guard, or any of the places, really, you’ll likely be moved to tears. For me, it was the Korean War Memorial.

If you can’t think of a place, you probably will soon. Meanwhile you could consult a book such as 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, or look up famous places on the web.

Wherever you want to go, just take one step today and jot it down in your Living To-Do List. You don’t have to take any concrete action toward it; just write it down. But make sure to take an action toward it soon. Maybe you could visit a travel company and get a few brochures, or tentatively write down a date for your trip and start putting back a few dollars here and there.

And if your destination is close to home, why not go ahead and plan a trip for next weekend, or even the weekend after that?