8 Soul-Fueling Things You Should Experience Before It’s Too Late
Proudly & Peacefully flip off the scythe-wielding fu*ker
From the moment we spawn into the world, there is one thing that is absolutely guaranteed. We are going to die. Whether it’s already written in the stars or we get to be in charge while the ride lasts — it always ends the same.
We all have to go sometimes. We pass through this life but for a moment.
We only get one shot at the game of life. No do-overs, no repeats, no replays, no loading from the last checkpoint.
Right before the game is over, the Grim Reaper will appear to claim the soul.
You can’t beg, bribe, negotiate or plead with him. Referenced and described in many different cultures, Grim Reaper is the personification of death. Regardless of the description or interpretation, when he shows up, it means only one thing.
Time is up.
Although there are many bucket list ideas out there that focus on the quantity of the experiences, this list will be a little different. In this article, we’ll explore the quality and the intensity of soul-fueling life experiences.
So when GR shows up, you can proudly and peacefully flip off that scythe-wielding f*cker and tell him: ‘’I lived my life to the fullest. I have no regrets.’
1. Fall in Love
I have to kick off this list with the most cliche idea in our collective history.
Love is a cliche for a reason because Love is the strongest force in the universe. Being in love makes you feel liberated and exuberant at the same time, and it is a feeling hard to describe and put into words.
‘’This morning, with her, having coffee.’’ — Johnny Cash
Those who have been madly in love know the feeling of heaven on earth. That paradise is best described by the legendary Johnny Cash in an interview that nobody seems to recall when or where it happened.
2. Explore and Expand Your Horizons
“Life is an adventure of passion, risk, danger, laughter, beauty, love; a burning curiosity to go with the action to see what it is all about, to go search for a pattern of meaning, to burn one’s bridges because you’re never going to go back anyway, and to live to the end.”― Saul D. Alinsky
There are two worlds waiting for you to explore. The inner and the outer world — and they are interconnected and intertwined.
The more you travel, explore and experience the world, the more you will expand your own horizons.
The same could easily be said for the inner journey, the one that is more difficult to take but the one that starts with the first step — inwards.
Wherever you go, cultivate a curious attitude. Allow your wonderous spirit to be your north star for what you do and for who you chose to be.
Explore the outer limits of your mind as you experience life.
When it’s all said and done and when the time comes, leave with no regrets.
3. Fight the Good Fight
How can you truly know what you live for if you don’t have a clue what you’d die for?
I am not an advocate for violence. On the contrary — I would describe myself as a pacifist. Occasionally though, you have to make a stand for yourself and refuse to be a pushover.
Life is rarely all sunshine and rainbows because sometimes, you’ll meet nasty people with bad intentions. They won’t hesitate for a second, and they will hurt you or use you for their agenda — If you let them.
The question is:
What are you willing to fight for? A man, woman, a social issue, career advancement, personal ideals, or the betterment of your family. Whatever the cause is, big or small — it’s yours. Embrace it.
4. Bond With an Animal
There is something uniquely distinctive about the bond with another creature.
Whether it’s a dog, cat, hedgehog, pony, or something else entirely — Animals bring out the best of us. They bring our light out to the surface.
Although they’ve always gravitated towards me, I was never a cat person. I admit, I had many preconceived notions about cats, but I did admire their character and personality from afar.
That all changed last winter when I met Jorge the street cat.
One day I was chilling outside, minding my own business, when he decided to approach me. Right from the get-go, I was fascinated by the fearlessness of this little furry creature.
Over the next few months, we would hang out regularly. I would feed him, let him sleep in my lap, and talk to him.
I told him all about my broken dreams, failures, hopes, and aspirations. Jorge the street cat is one zen cat. Non-judgemental in his essence, he is an incredible listener, which is a quality I often find lacking in people.
Jorge the street cat helps me experience the world through his eyes. He taught me the virtue of simplicity and the power of the present moment.
Whether it’s through adoption, fostering, or just stumbling upon an animal in need, allow yourself to connect with another creature. You will enrich your life as they will show you just how much love you have to give.
5. Fulfill Your Potential
Every life form strives to the max, except human beings.
Humans are the only species that won’t fulfill their potential. As Jim Rohn famously said:
‘’How tall will a tree grow? As tall as it possibly can. You never heard of a tree growing half as high as it could. No, trees don’t grow half. A tree drives its roots deep as it can, reach as high as it can, produces every leaf it can, every fruit it possibly can to the max.’’
Why is that?
Because we are given a choice. For some, that choice is a gift, but for the majority, the choice is a curse.
6. Learn How to Roll With Punches
“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all — in which case, you fail by default.”
― J.K. Rowling
Unless you consciously chose to live your life so safe and secure, wrapped in your own little bubble — you will experience hardships in life.
Suffering is an inevitable part of our existence. However, it’s in that suffering that you realize just how resilient you are and what you are capable of.
7. Master the Craft of Storytelling
Storytelling is as old as humanity itself. As a matter of fact, humanity evolved primarily because of our ability to communicate and tell stories to each other.
If you think about it, we are nothing more than a collection of stories we tell ourselves and subsequently to those around us. Stories about our hardships, struggle, career, success, love…
A well-crafted story can bring people together as it unlocks the feeling of intimacy in others. People relate to each other through the stories they share, whether those stories are inspirational, educational, informative, or entertaining in their essence.
More than just relate, through stories, we form deep and meaningful connections with each other. These meaningful connections are one of the greatest luxuries you could have in life.
The ability to create and develop deep and meaningful social connections, nurture and grow relationships is the measure of true success in life.
8. Express Yourself Through Creation
I deeply believe there is an artist in all of us. Laying dormant, waiting to be called and brought forth. The format of your art expression can be music, writing, painting, photography, or the least intimidating artform — collage art.
The medium of expression isn’t important. What matters is to stimulate your creative juices because once you call upon your inner artist — you’ll start seeing the world differently.
Imagination is one common trait we collectively share as a species.
Imagination is a path to creativity, and creativity is a bridge to innovation.
Innovation leads to transformation; Transformation of your personal life, the lives of those around you, or the world as a whole.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. — Albert Einstein
Final Words
As Linda Elis famously wrote in her poem — life is nothing more than a dash.
Essentially, life is a dash between the year we are born and the year we die. Our job is to make that dash come to life and make that dash dance vibrantly. Our job is to give that dash meaning.
Ultimately, that dash — is the quality of the life experience. That dash is all that it matters once it’s our time to check out. To make the most out of the dash, it’s crucial to understand that life is not just the passing of time or watching the clock tick away.
Life is a collection of experiences, their frequency, and their intensity.
Wherever your journey takes you, remember:
In the game of life, you don’t beat the reaper by living long. You beat him by living profoundly and by making every moment count.
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