When’s the last time you sang? I hope it was today or just now. I can always tell something is amiss in my life when I don’t sing. Singing makes me incandescently happy. I haven’t been singing lately.

Weeks of travel coupled with many “to do’s” have left me serious and soul searching. As I’ve been reminded by friends, family, and society, I’m 28 going on 30. I figured out why turning 30 freaks me out. An unwritten rule in our society is as follows: your 20′s are for trying new things, figuring it out, exploring, challenging, questioning, resolving, etc. Your 30′s are for being focused on a career, on a family, on a relationship, on something.

Taking it all in

When I was 16, I was an honor roll student at one of the top high schools in Atlanta, a Varsity athlete, a National Honor Society member, a peer support facilitator (along with several other extra curriculars), a part-time hostess at our local brunch place, and a babysitter. It has always been in my nature to stretch myself, to achieve, and to immerse myself with several activities. Honestly speaking, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be at 16. I knew I loved writing, and I knew that whatever I chose to do, I would have high expectations and standards for myself, and I always have. But, I thought I would figure it out at some point–my purpose.

On a side note, I’m listening to the main theme song from Schindler’s List right now on my Thomas Newman Pandora station. If you haven’t listened to that song, stop reading this moment, and listen. The violin is otherworldly.

I believe in serendipity. As I’m listening to this song, I realize I have always known my purpose. 9-years-old watching A River Runs Through It, I knew I wanted to be a writer. I went home that day and got my parents to buy me journals, so I could begin writing. Through every period in my life, I’ve always gone back to writing. It’s like breathing.

Being a writer is not always easy or glamorous. Knowing the right words to say, worrying that words might be misconstrued or rejected, or that what you wrote at one period in time (which may or may not reflect who you are later in life) is in print somewhere, forever tattooed. It takes incredible courage to expose yourself in every piece of writing, even if its an email or a Tweet.

Life Takes Courage

In the words of Ernest Hemingway, “In order to write about life, first you must live it.” I’ve been upset with myself lately for not knowing my 5-year-plan or what’s next in the big sense. The type-A in me and my brain clamor for it desperately. When my mind settles down, my heart speaks softly. I have dreams. I want to create. I want to explore. I want peace. I want to live a life I’m proud of, and I want to be around those that also choose life.

Avital in her own words:

From the moment I met Avital Ungar, founder of Avital Food Tours, I knew I had met a kindred spirit. Full of energy and beaming, she walked into the room with the perfect mix of confidence, elegance, and down-to-earth charm. Her curiosity and desire to experience the world led her to France and later to China where she sampled all the countries had to offer and savored in their culinary delights. When she returned to her San Francisco home, she followed her passion for food and bringing people together by starting her own company at the age of 25.

Meet Avital!

I have a special place in my heart for all expats and global citizens but what makes Avital unique is her ability to redefine and transform every day experiences. Her 2-3 hour food tours on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings are distinctive. They’re not just a food crawl–they’re a memory.  Avital has arranged her tours so that visitors see some of the best San Francisco has to offer and to those of us who live here, we get to experience our home through fresh eyes and taste buds.

Unroasted Coffee Beans at Four Barrel

The Mission District is considered one of San Francisco’s coolest neighborhoods. Perhaps it’s because I’m just not hip enough, but before I went on Avital’s tour, I only visited the Mission for 2 reasons: the food and going out. I’ve occasionally noticed the bright multi-colored murals as I whizzed by on my bike, but I never stopped to look or to understand what they represented. I knew about popular places like Mission Cheese, but I didn’t know the founder, Sarah, and her story. She told us she went on a “Cheese Mission” and journeyed to 13 states in 3 months to find America’s best cheese.

Murals in Clarion Alley

Avital’s food tour begins at the Women’s Building, one of San Francisco’s most noted structures. Maestrapeace, the mural illuminating the walls, depict women’s wisdom over time and “maestra” in Spanish means “teacher,” a female one.  In other words, the mural illustrates for all passerby’s (even those that whiz by) what it means to teach peace in a feminine way. It’s absolutely stunning, and I can’t believe it’s been 2 miles away my entire time in San Francisco, and I never made time to see.

Coffee Tastings at Foul Barrel

I admire Avital for many reasons: she’s traveled, she speaks Mandarin and French, she’s following her passion, she started her own company, she’s living a truly meaningful life.  What makes Avital special, however, and her tours so powerful is her ability to create an environment where each person has an opportunity to walk away knowing an essential truth: you don’t have to buy a plane ticket to taste life.

What first prompted your love of food?

My love of food began after I saw the movie Chocolat.  Inspired by the story and the chocolate, at the age of 20, I picked up and moved to a quaint French town in search of my own Johnny Depp.  It was there in the land of Michelin stars and Burgundy wine that I had my culinary awakening like many people who work in the food world professionally.  I would wander the cobblestone streets, smell a freshly baked baguette, enter the boulangerie and indulge.  I eventually found my favorite bakery and decided I was going to try every single thing in it. I simply followed my nose and my taste buds.

Can you tell us more about your experiences abroad and how they influenced you?

After France, I ended up living and working in China.  I loved being abroad because I approached every day as a new day, and loved it! Even though I’d often be frustrated by language barriers, there was always something new and exciting to try! Now I joke, living back in my hometown of San Francisco, I still act as a tourist living abroad because I’ve taken the ideas of daily adventure and brought that spirit back with me.  I ride the cable car home and am constantly discovering new and exciting places right in my own backyard.

Venga Empanadas

Why did you decide to create a food tour company?

Our culinary walking tours stemmed from my passion for sharing the hidden gems I had discovered in San Francisco.  I’ve always loved telling stories and I wanted to create a fun experience that helped tell the story of the food, where it comes from and the people behind it.

What’s most rewarding about running your own company?

The excitement that everyday is something new and watching it grow.  I get excited about every new twitter follower and facebook like on my fan page. If you want to bring me enjoyment, please like it too! (www.facebook.com/AvitalTours and https://twitter.com/#!/AvitalTours)

What’s one of your most unique stories from something that happened on a tour?

To me, my favorite moments on the tour are when my guests try something they may never have tried before. When we visit San Francisco’s first Ham and Oyster bar, Hog and Rocks, many people have never tried oysters.  Scott Youkilis, the owner, speaks to our group about the five types of oysters, how terroir influences their flavor and tells stories of restaurant patrons.  Once, one guy came in and ate 6 dozen oysters by himself! If he had been able to eat one more dozen, Scott told the guy the restaurant would have paid for all the oysters he ate!

Hog and Rocks: SF's First Ham & Oyster Bar

What the craziest food you’ve ever eaten?

Donkey. I lived and worked in Shanghai before moving back to my hometown of San Francisco.  While living in China, I encountered lots of crazy foods.  Though I grew up eating kosher-style, I love trying new things, adventurous eating included!

What do you do in your daily life to live it meaningfully?

Eat. Someone once asked me if I could live to 90 years old by eating healthy or live to 75 and eat whatever I want, my choice would definitely be the latter.  On another more sentimental note, I talk to my family frequently, which keeps me grounded.

Who is someone in your life that’s been your biggest champion and how has that made a difference in your life?

My family has been my biggest champion.  My dad, mom and brother all own their own businesses and continue to give me invaluable advice.  They are my own personal PR firm and cheerleading squad.

Enjoy!

What’s your favorite part about your job?

There are a lot of amazing things about my job.   A friend once asked me how many hours a week I work.  My answer: I’m always working and I’m always playing. There are no boundaries between the two, since my work is my play and my play is my work.  It is my job to eat at the hot new restaurant.  It is my job to try a new bottle of wine. I simply call it “research.”

What would be your last meal?

• Appetizer: Arugula salad with goat cheese and beets
• Entrée: Filet Mignon with side of mashed potatoes
• Dessert: Chocolate truffles

What would you do if you had 6 months to live?

I’d be doing what I’m doing now!

Many blessings to you and yours in 2012! My wish for each and every one of you:

The Chinese have a beautiful tradition for Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year. Each family cleans their house thoroughly before the end of the year. In mopping, dusting, and sweeping every nook and cranny, the old energy of the previous year is cleared away, and there is space for the new. On the first day of the new year (according to the Chinese lunar calendar), everyone wears new clothes, symbolizing a new beginning.

Hangzhou 杭州

As with many Chinese traditions and practices, I fell in love and integrated this one.   I’ve been cleaning out my phone of old voicemails, old texts, and apps I no longer use.  I’m going through clothes I no longer want or need. I’ve also done the unthinkable–my primary Gmail account is 98% full, so by necessity, I’m slowly making my way through 11,000+ emails (had the account since the dawn of gmail in 2005).  This tradition, like my numerous moves around the world, invites me to keep that which is valuable and let go of the rest.

Anything is Possible

While clearing out the physical of old receipts and trinkets, I’m also making space for the new in mind, body, and soul.  I’m waving goodbye to old ideas and ways of being.  I’m reflecting on what I accomplished this past year, in the 2 years I’ve been in SF, and in the 10 years since I graduated high school. I’m remembering those that passed this year like my Grandmother, my high school classmate, and a man in my group of China friends.  I’m letting go.

As for the New Year, I’m not a particular fan of New Year’s Resolutions because they sound so intense and ominous.  Moreover, most people don’t stick to them.  Instead, I like to think about New Year Possibilities.  What is in my heart? What do I want to see?  Where do I want to go? Who do I want to meet? What adventure is next?

What adventures lie beyond?

There are a lot of ideas about what 2012 will be and won’t. Call me a dreamer, but I believe 2012 will be one of humanity’s best.

I’ve been talking a lot about 6 Months to Live with several new people lately, and it’s always interesting to hear people’s comments and questions.  One person sarcastically asked, “Well, if you only had 6 months to live, why are you still working?”  I read him a quote from my Kickstarter Project: “Most of us have no idea when our time will come, so why wait?  We can enjoy life now.  We can pursue our dreams.  We can LIVE for the present while also planning on the future.” I wholeheartedly believe this, but living fully shows up in a variety of ways.

Me Chasing Birds in London

I have a 9-5 corporate job.  I work for a great company and have more flexibility than most people, but not every part of my day is action packed with life.  When I first started this experiment, I thought life was all about the action-packed moments, so in those first 6 months, I focused on two priorities: adventures and telling the people I loved how much I appreciated them.  These are still two incredibly important aspects of living for me, but in the second 6 months, I realized that life was also about embracing daily moments and being me.  The moments in my day that mean something have a pattern but are different every day.  Some of them include waking up to the sunrise (my bay window faces east). My hot water in the morning.  My bike ride to work. My cappuccino at Peets and talking with the barristas who are always so friendly and positive. My eggs and avocado at the family-run cafe.  Listening to my latest favorite songs on repeat throughout the day.  Laughing with my colleagues.  Closing my eyes and feeling the afternoon sun in my corner of the office.  Collaborating.  Creating.  Crafting words…

Sunsets Never Get Old

A Zen quote I have always appreciated is “Before enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water. After enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water.” It reminds me that there are certain inherent aspects of living.  I need to pay rent.  I need to eat.  I need to make money to pay for these things.  No matter what we’re doing, every moment is filled with life, and each of us reading this post is living. Maybe we’re already living a life that is meaningful, maybe some parts are and some parts aren’t, or maybe not.  The beauty of life is that it is never too late to choose again.  Sometimes that means getting a new job, a new house, a new partner, but other times everything is different–we’re the ones that have changed.

How do you approach life?

Good morning, December 1, 2011!  It is officially my favorite time of the year.  Rather than presents this holiday season, I ask that you support my Kickstarter project.  I’m creating a 6 Months to Live web TV show.  My goal in launching this web TV series is to start a movement that creates a community of people who support and inspire each other in choosing and embracing life and all it has to offer!  Each episode will feature a person who is truly living.  That person could be 6-years-old or 101, president or cashier at a grocery store, and come from any background.  No one is excluded from life!  Please visit my Kickstarter page to learn more.

Before I answer some of the questions you might have, I would like to extend a special thank you to my dear friend, Vanessa Hellmann, and her creative genius for making this pitch video possible and to  Jenny for the beautiful photo she took of Matt and Melissa that is featured in the pitch video.  Thank you so much to all of you, whether you be friends, family, readers, or future viewers, for your support and for sharing this with your network.   It means the world to me!

Many blessings,

Jacqueline / Jackie / 柯琳

Photo taken by Vanessa Hellmann

So, you may have a few questions…

What is Kickstarter, how does it work, and why are you using it?

1. Kickstarter is a phenominal website where people raise money for creative projects.  You or your friends may have raised money to cure breast cancer, for yoga in Africa, or some other cause.  Most likely this cause was associated with a personal website of a person raising funds.  Kickstarter is the same idea, except people are raising money for a specific creative project.  In this case, my creative project is the 6 Months to Live web TV show.
2. Kickstarter works just like a personal fundraising page would.  You visit my page, pledge an amount of money (rewards associated), and pay through Amazon payments.   I have 37 days to raise the money.  If I don’t reach my goal (even if I’m off a $1), I don’t get any of the money, so every little bit counts.  Cards are charged when the project is funded.
3. I’m using Kickstarter because it is the best website I’ve found to support raising money for a creative project.  Also, the amount of money needed to buy all the essentials to launch the 6 Months to Live web TV show is more than I can afford on my own and more importantly, a show based on the community, starts with the community.

Why are you creating a 6 Months to Live web TV show and what is it about?

1. Writing is my first love, but in this age of information videos can often reach more people faster.  The show will be featured within the blog, and the episodes will be making their debut in the spring of 2012.
2. The web TV show is about you!  Yes, you.  It’s about people like you who are embracing and living in a meaningful way.  See above description.

Sounds cool.  How can I help?

1. You can contribute any amount to the 6 Months to Live web TV show fund.  Click here.
2. If you can’t personally donate, no problem.   Any sharing you can do in your network is much appreciated!  Just use this link on your Facebook, Twitter account, or blog to link people back to the project.

Feel free to email me with any questions you might have: sixmonthstolive@gmail.com and you are also welcome to post on my Facebook or Twitter.

THANK YOU!  THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES!

Wow!  I was recently nominated by 2 fellow bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award.   Thanks so much nitabrownsugah and Sherline!  I really appreciate this honor and am humbled by the inspiration you both have gained from my blog.  It means a lot!

My first blogger award!

And the rules for the Versatile Blogger Award are:

• Nominate 15 fellow bloggers.
• Inform the bloggers of their nomination.
• Share 7 random things about yourself.
• Thank the blogger who nominated you.
• Add the Versatile Blogger Award pic on your blog post.

7 Random Things about Me: 

1.  My goal is to see all 50 States and all 7 continents.
2. Sunrises and sunsets never get old.
3. My favorite Christmas movie is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
4. I lived in China 3 years.
5. I was a wilderness counselor one summer in college.
6. Magnolias are my favorite trees to climb.
7. It’s a childhood dream of mine to star in a musical.

To inspiring people and experiences!

There are many blogs I gain inspiration from and would like to include, but here are 15 blogs  (in no particular order):

1. Currie Rose’s Based on a True Story Read more about Currie in my latest post: “Based on a True Story: Meet Curie Rose”
2. Luca Ricci’s SenzaBigliettodiRitorno One of my best friends who is an incredible human being.  His blog is in Italian, but it’s good practice for anyone wanting to learn a new language.
3. Joey Avniel’s Inspiration One of my dearest friends who has inspired me to look at life differently and to see multiple perspectives.
4. Elle’s Veni Vidi Vici A great bucket-list blog written by a girl who is seeing the world and making her life count.
5. Mark Horoszowski’s Aspen to Nepal  Fantastic blog about a guy who is traveling the world and making an incredible impact in people’s lives all over the world along the way.
6. Lesley Carter’s Travel, Adventure, & New Experiences  Wonderful blog about all life’s adventures!
7. The Magnificent Something  A man in search of magnificence!
8. Sabrina’s The Peripatetic   I met Sabrina on a plane from Sydney to Hong Kong, and we’ve been friends ever since.  She has traveled and lived the world, and she’s amazing!
9. Rantings of a Loon  Amazing blog of a photographer and journalist.  His post Silent Death–Alzheimer’s Disease Story is particularly moving.
10. John Stirling Photography  Great photography blog about adventures and sights around the world.
11. The Lookout Diary  Terrific blog about a young guy who sees life differently.
12. Anita’s Travel Destination Bucket List  Awesome blog about all sorts of travels and adventures.
13. Margie’s LateBloomerBuds An inspirational photographer and journeyer through life.
14. Cece’s Little Victories  Another great bucket-list blog about a girl who is doing wonderful things and making a difference.
15. Sillyreverie A guy in search of knowledge, experiences, and all life’s silly reveries.

Best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving to all those celebrating!  Life gives us much to be grateful for.  

One of blogging’s many beauties is that it opens doors to meet new people around the world.  Shortly after I started my blog, I began “wandering” around the internet.  I wanted to see what other people had to share.  It was a day like any other when I read “Based on a True Story” and met an extraordinarily inspirational individual, Currie Rose.

Currie and I have never met in person.  We’ve exchanged a few emails and some Facebook comments and conversations.  I don’t ‘know’ her, but I can honestly say that in the thousands of people I have met all over the world, she is the most courageous.

Meet Currie Rose, the most courageous person I know.

Currie calls herself a Professional Sunshine Spreader who is on “a quest to do as much good as I can in as many places as I can with as many people as I can as long as I am able! I’m not homeless, I am a Rolling Stone who is on tour!”  After a difficult childhood, she left home young, joined the Airforce, and got married and divorced all by the time she was 25.  She hit the road with her beloved car and journeyed to LA to share joy, gratitude, and peace with as many people as possible.  Not everyone was ready to receive or share in her passion for making a difference.  She ran into some extremely tough times.  Currie’s actions in themselves were brave (or foolhardy, depending on who you’re talking to), but that’s not what makes her the most courageous person I know.

Currie is courageous because she lives fully and deeply from her heart. She is being the change she wishes to see in the world.   Read on to hear about Currie’s life in her own words…

Professional Sunshine Spreader

What prompted you to begin this journey? 

To sum it up quickly, after seeing much “hardship” in the events of my own life and having to struggle to get help at every twist and turn (and struggle to be aware of the authentic help available), I began to see my own “problems” as a gift.  I find that I was given the opportunity to live my utopian dream and travel around creating a global family in which I unlock the love within us all and live first hand the unconditional spiritual, material and emotional support we are all in possession of in deep reserves and how we all have the power to assist one another using those tools to become our highest version of ourselves.  In a nutshell, this world doesn’t have to be such an isolated struggle; we all posses the ability to lift one another up and I want to draw awareness to how much power we all have to create a more conscious and unified world.

Was there a particular moment where you just decided to leave everything and go? 

 Yes.  One day while I was grappling with coming up short for rent money and beating myself up for being in this position again, I realized, “Oh… wait a second.  This common reoccurrence must be a gift.  Maybe this is the Divine’s way of waking me up to the path I have been trying to put myself on all along.  Maybe this is a brilliant action step toward creating this Global Family idea which dances so vividly in my heart…”  So, I let go and I trusted that everything which happened was simply a stepping stone toward my purpose and that the path would reveal itself if I stopped looking to fit it into a neat category … I decided to trust.

A Rolling Stone on Tour

 What is the difference between “homeless” and being a “Rolling Stone On Tour”?

 To me, homeless is a mentality. I do not buy into that “down and out” school of thought and find I have a choice in how I view my journey. Also, I find that the connotation of homeless invokes pity from others and that is the last thing people should feel when interacting with me. I am a Rolling Stone on Tour, living from my heart and when I do have money, I use it to pay my bills, contribute to others, eat lots of organic green foods (if I’m not dead set on self-sabotage) or partake in self care. People who believe themselves to be “homeless” do not do many of the things I do… therefore I prefer to call myself a Rock Star.

How would you describe a global family?

To me, it is conscious acknowledgment of the interconnected oneness that makes up humankind.  I feel that our world is far too “me/mine” centered and we are long over due for a paradigm shift that turns “mine” to “ours… we.”  We all have the power to help one another in a plethora of ways from basic needs and beyond. This idea of separateness and security are false and the only true reality I have experienced in this world is each other.  We are all subject to loose or gain anything in a split second.. No one has ever achieved anything great (and I believe we are ALL destined for greatness) without help and it seems to me that a lot of help is exclusive, disempowering or held behind an invisible lock and key.  I believe it’s time to wake up and release this fear of truly loving one another.  Don’t get me wrong, each individual has to help themselves as well… but I think we as a global community can step it up and consciously meet each other half way on each and every one of our journeys. Can you imagine an inspired world where we consciously help one another evolve into our highest version of ourselves?  

Global Family

What are your 3 favorite quotes from your gratitude journal? (Currie keeps a gratitude journal and writes in it almost daily)

1. Thank you for giving my heart the easy ability to smile and to give that joy generously to everyone I encounter.
2. I love that I am doing my laundry and will have exceedingly clean blankets and clothes to luxuriate in.
3. Dear God:  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! I love you and Thank you… Thank you… I LOVE YOU!!! If I thank and love you God, then I thank and love me Currie because I am you and you are me… Wow, this existence is INCREDIBLE and I love being alive! Thank you!

What are 3 of the most important “lessons” you’ve learned from your journey?

1. No matter what happens, I always have the power to choose how I feel.
2. It’s okay to let others see me- in fact if I am to survive I have to learn to allow others through my invisible force field.
3. I am completely human, I make mistakes and have growing pains, but I can choose to forgive and love every aspect of my being in the process.

How do you respond to naysayers who don’t understand the “rolling stone on tour” philosophy? 

Honestly, I’ve learned to stop responding. I find the best way to explain what I am doing is simply by living it. This is because it is so different to most people and it is human nature to want to label things and put things in a box. I find many people become uncomfortable when they cannot put things into neat categories, and since my life cannot really be summed up into one neat label, some people either try to “fix” me or explain to me what I am doing and what I will learn. I’ve learned to let that be okay. Often in these lectures, I find myself saying repeatedly in my head, “God Bless You. I love you. Namaste,” so as to deflect some of the unnecessary negativity it may trigger. Last, I remember that I am the only one who is walking my path, only I can define what I am doing and I simply choose to be the change I wish to see in the world. 

Gratitude goes a long way

What is one of the most beautiful moments you’ve experienced during your adventure and really felt the universe provided for you?

It may seem small, but every night for about the first week I chose to start sleeping in my car, I would ask God/Goddess/Source to tell me that I would be safe and that I was making the right choice. Each night as I drove to my parking area, the same exact song played on the radio. “You Are Not Alone” by Michael Jackson. That repeated coincidence usually caused goose bumps all over my body and tears to fall from my eyes, and I knew I wasn’t alone and that no matter what happened, I would be okay.

What is the hardest for you in following this journey?

Receiving/Asking for help. When I ask for help, I find that it opens the floodgates for the naysayers to judge and tell me how they are feeling. Also, when I do receive help, it brings up a plethora of unresolved issues for me to deal with…. including letting people in and allowing myself to be loved unconditionally.   

What is the easiest for you in following this journey?

Giving. The easiest part for me is giving. Sharing my meal with the homeless or giving away spare change, smiles inspiration or hope. I love that through consciously downsizing, I have found trust that I will always be okay no matter what which allows me to give to others without a whole lot of reservation for my position in life.

Trusting life's process

You seem to so easily open your heart in your writing, and yet sometimes you talk about the difficulty of letting people in, as with your recent post about saying “I love you.” What have you learned about vulnerability through this journey and how do you feel about letting people in now versus when you started?

It’s still a work in progress. It’s funny, through writing I can communicate from the authentic depths of my soul, but there is a disconnect in how I actually interact in tangible reality through verbally expressing myself and being with others. I have found that I have a strong fear of disappointing others and therefore, I have difficulty getting close to anyone. Through what I am doing, I do have strong philanthropic urges of awakening the world to all the love which is around us… but I am also on my personal journey which seems to be all about learning to accept and trust the love of others. The more I travel this path wanting to make the world aware, the more I grow in personal awareness.

If you had to sum up the past 2 years in one word, what would it be?

TRUST

What would you do if you had 6 months to live? (She answered a LOT so in the interest of length, I’ve edited)

I would tell everyone who has ever been a part of my journey who have lifted me up and loved me unconditionally just how much their love and support has raised my consciousness and awareness and inspired me to face life fearlessly and joyfully no matter what.

 

Honestly and truly my only intention with life as far as I can tell is simply to spread love and wake people up to the power and love we all posses… I am mostly taking steps toward doing all of this now… if I had six months to live, I would just be more bold and MUCH MUCH more vocal in making that happen quicker.

Today’s headline might have read something like this in my world.  It was a rough day.  After biking home, I took a swift walk to the park and unloaded my frustrations.  My mom patiently listened on the phone, as I told her about everything going on in my world and then she said “I love you” and goodnight.

Chocolate-dipped waffle cone goodness

On the walk back, I suddenly had a craving for a chocolate bar.  I have managed to incorporate most “no” items back into my daily food cycle, but the sea salted almond chocolate bar has still eluded me.  As I approached my neighborhood market, I noticed the Ben & Jerry’s store on the corner.  I’ve only been there once in my 2 years of living in San Francisco, but the little girl inside me really wanted a waffle cone.  The adult side of me protested momentarily and quickly relinquished saying, “Why the hell not?”

I entered and there they were, all the flavors and the huge waffle cones, which came with my choice of sprinkles, Oreos, or plain chocolate. While ordering, I jokingly mentioned to the ice cream guy that the little girl inside me needed a waffle cone.  He responded by saying, “Well, it’s good that you’re even in touch with that little girl and listening.”   After careful deliberation and sampling the pumpkin flavor, I went classic: large chocolate-covered waffle cone with sprinkles with 2 scoops of ice cream—chocolate chip cookie dough and mint chocolate chip.  $7.25 later, I had my treat, which I ate before dinner.

I write this post not to encourage everyone to go out to Ben & Jerry’s, although it is tasty, but because we all have bad days.  We all get frustrated.  We all feel angry or discouraged at times.  I’m an idealist, so I often focus on the positive in this blog and the make-it-happen attitude because I genuinely do believe that a positive mindset makes a drastic difference in life and that we are all capable of more than we ever imagined if we just give ourselves that chance.

Shine your light

We’re also human.  6 Months to Live is not just about what we would do if we had 6 months to live, it’s about life.  And life can be tricky.  It can be difficult and deeply frustrating to know that we’re all trying our very best and maybe things turn out the way we’d like, and other times they don’t.

As a child, I thought adults had it together.  I thought they knew everything.  I thought, “When I’m an adult, I’ll know…”  Now that I am one, I look around me and realize that adults of all ages are still figuring it out and that there’s no one right way or approach to life.    At first, this seemed distressing. My inner voice kept crying out, “You’re 28, and you still are figuring out what you want to do with your life.  What’s wrong with you?”

There’s nothing wrong with me or with anyone.  When I got over my initial disillusionment that no one has it all figured out, I found this thought to be incredibly freeing.  Life is what we choose to make it.  There is no one right way.  It’s okay to not know.  It’s okay to be afraid.  Moreover, it’s okay to give voice to these feelings and doubts because we all have or have had them.

I was struck with a powerful image this past weekend.  We all have a light to shine.  There is no need to hide your light because you’re in a dark room.  Show your light and others will see that it’s okay to show theirs.

What are some of your funny tough day moments or revelations?

Thank You! 谢谢！¡Gracias!!شكرا

It’s hard to believe it’s been 2 years since I started 6 Months to Live.  November 11, 2009, I was sitting on my mom’s couch that evening carefully crafting the theme, the name, and the beginning widgets for this blog.  I knew almost nothing about blogging and even less about WordPress.  I had no idea if anyone would even read what I had to say.  I took a leap of faith and finally hit “Publish” in the wee hours. An experiment in living was born…

Of course, this experiment would not be successful at all if it weren’t for you, all of you who have continued to read, to encourage, to comment, and to support my writing and the question, “What does it mean to truly live life?”  The answer is different for everyone, and I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing your thoughts and comments.  This blog is everything it is because of you.

Photo taken by Tian Jiang

As for the next 6 Months, there are some big additions coming including:

• “I Choose Life”: That page on my blog has sat dormant long enough.  It’s time to talk to the people who are truly living and being the change they wish to see in the world.  You could be President or work as a cashier in a grocery store.  You can be from anywhere in the world.  English doesn’t need to be your first language (I speak Mandarin, Spanish, and a little Arabic).  All that matters is that you choose life.  If you or anyone you know is interested in being profiled for the blog, please email me.

Here are some people you’ll be hearing from in the near future: Ben Lack, CEO and Chief Conversationalist of The Daily Energy Report, Currie Rose, writer of Based on a True Story, Elle, writer of Veni, Vidi, Vici, CeCe, writer of Little Victories, Mark Horoszowski, writer and creator of Aspen to Nepal, and many more.

• Kickstarter project: On December 1, 2011 I will be launching a Kickstarter project to raise money to take 6 Months to Live to the next level.  This will include a web TV show, an official website, and an LLC to get out into the world and inspire as many people as possible to live a life that is authentic and deeply meaningful.  Instead of Christmas presents this year, I ask for your support.  Any contribution is deeply appreciated, whether that means spreading the word about my project to someone else or actually donating.

The way Kickstarter works is that a person has 40 days to raise a certain amount of money for their project.  If they raise the money, they receive the funding (people’s credit cards are charged when the project is funded), and if they miss their goal amount, even by a $1, they receive no money.  Vanessa Hellmann, an amazing German director and filmmaker will be helping me to make my “pitch,” so stay tuned for more information and thank you from the bottom of my heart in advance for all your help in making this happen!

I recently took a risk. I added business contacts to my Facebook page and uploaded my personal blog on LinkedIn.   I’ve always maintained a clear line between my professional life and my personal life.   This seemingly simple switch came from a recent conversation I had about modern global leadership.

I will be the first to admit I have siloed my life.  I have a “professional face” and a “personal life face.”   As most of my friends and colleagues know, there’s not a drastic difference between these sides.  I consider myself to be a genuine person, and I’m 90%-100% myself in almost all environments.

We are the change!

With that said, I can’t help but wonder:  What if we were completely ourselves in every part of our lives?  6 Months to Live has been my number one passion project for the past 2 years.  I was worried about sharing it in a professional environment because I was afraid that it would discount my “professional face” (as with the post Shit Happens!) and that my moments of vulnerability in this blog and in my writing would be seen as over-expression and ultimately weakness.

The new leaders of the world are human.  They’re collaborative, authentic, and honest.  They lead by example, and they lead with their hearts.  My favorite quote of all time has always been: “You Must Be the Change you Wish to See in the World.”   The change I wish to see is that people feel inspired and safe to be who they truly are–whoever that is.  And if I really believe in Gandhi’s words, that means I can share my passion for life, writing, the banjo, humor, art, the international community, and so much more in all environments because that is me.