a dazzlingly well-lived life life is always beyond the minutiae.

and yet many of the things that make it a good life comprise of small, significant things.

here are some responses from a chicago tribune suvey on what various people would do if their doctors told them they have a year, a few months, a few weeks, left to live.

- Take a leap of faith: Commit yourself utterly to a cause that is not a sure win.

- Try something you think you can't do. (Climb a mountain? Sing in the choir?)

- Letting go: Teach a child to ride a bike.

- See Venice - or see your Venice. Maybe it's a game preserve in Africa or the Amazon River.

- Buy something really expensive.

- Buy something really expensive - for someone else.

- Get to know a cop.

- Notice someone's loneliness; do something about it.

- Work as a waiter or waitress. Dealing with the American public is instructive on many levels; mostly, you learn humility and how not to abuse people in service jobs.

- Apologize. And mean it.

- Forgive your parents. Because they're not perfect.

- Forgive yourself. Because you're not perfect.


email your thoughts on a dazzlingly well-lived life to ctc-tribletter@tribune.com with "Living" in the subject. include your name and contact information.  ¶ 6/16/2005 04:01:00 PM