Life is too short to ...

... finish reading that critically acclaimed novel if it's boring the hell out of you.

... pass on birthday cake because you're afraid it'll go straight to your thighs.

... refer to an etiquette book instead of your gut.

... let any of your vacation days go unused.

... spend any considerable amount of time worrying: about the dishes, the bills, the laundry or what someone may or may not be thinking about you.

... hide your true self from the people you love.

... forgo the wind in your hair, the ocean under foot or the rain on your skin because you're afraid you don't have the time to waste.

... bite your tongue on issues that really matter to you. (So: I think every woman has the right to choose what is best for her own body and soul, and I don't think any single other person has the right to judge her for it.)

... lie about your love for horrible television that is marketed to an age bracket beneath yours. (I skipped out on watching some of the Democratic National Convention so I could catch the season premiere of Greek.)

... be embarrassed about how big your nose is or how small your boobs are or how short your legs are.

... distrust the people in your life. If you don't have faith in them, let them go.

... listen to music you think will make you look cooler to other people.

... never run anywhere.

... leave the really important questions unasked and unanswered (Am I happy? Do I believe in this? Who do I want my children to know me as?)

... not shout out, "I love you" to the people you truly and wholly love.

... betray confidences because of instant and fleeting gratification.

... sit out on your chance to vote.

... never learn how to independently take care of yourself. (Pay your own bills, change your own tire, schedule your own appointments.)

... be wrong and refuse to admit it.

... decline an invitation because you have nothing to wear.

... be unhappy in your own skin.

... let fear stop you from taking the job, moving, asking him out, wearing that dress you love so much that is just a little shorter than you're used to.

... start arguments because you don't know how to say what's really bothering you.

... miss the sunrises and sunsets because you have better places to be.

... sleep on cheap sheets.

... let someone else define what happiness means to you.

... stop yourself from splurging: on the good champagne, the perfect lip gloss, shoes that go with exactly one thing you own or that last extra star in your hotel rating.

... complain more than you celebrate.

... prolong dinner parties or inviting company over because the house isn't as clean as you'd like.

... never learn how to unapologetically and confidently say "no, thanks" without a single word of explanation.

... never have your soul moved: by a movie, a book, a song, a touch or a look.

... settle.

... lose touch with the people who make you endlessly laugh, recklessly love and spill with joy.

... overvalue intelligence and undervalue kindness.

... wait for the other shoe to drop.

... foolishly think that the best days of your life are all behind you.

... stop holding hands.

What is your life too short for?

Comments

[Jess]

I think you've pretty much got it covered, there!

[rebecca]

darling, you always astound me with these thoughts in your head. would you hate me if i did this as a meme on my blog?

[Janssen]

Life is too short to wait until you can can "afford" to travel.

[AshleyD]

Thank you so much. That was exactly what I needed to hear today.

[Nicole]

I got all weepy reading this because I do way too many on this brilliant list.

I would like to add that life is too short to stick to a routine just because you are comfortable.

[banana]

This is such a perfect, perfect list. So right on.

You sort of said this, but Life is too short to wait until you have everything exactly in place to move forward with your dreams.

[Elizabeth]

Oh, yes. Yes.
I was thinking of starting to watch Greek. Yes? Would I love it?
Also, I am going to steal this idea from you.

[Sarah]

Life is too short to be stubbornly independent.

"I skipped out on watching some of the Democratic National Convention so I could catch the season premiere of Greek."

Me, too, and it was worth it!

[Kristie]

You are light years ahead of me. It's taken me till my 30's to get even 1/2 of this list accomplished. But this past year has been my best year to figure it all out. Although I've had the cheep sheet thing taken care of for years.

[Dianna]

It amazes me that you can think of all these cool things to write about, I wish I could do that! Great post, I love it!

[Kate]

Life is just too short. Period.

On my blog, my tagline is "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, cocktail in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO what a ride!" ~ Unknown"

I concur. Wholeheartedly.

[Ashley]

"... distrust the people in your life. If you don't have faith in them, let them go." This one especially spoke to me. Oye don't i need to.

Excellent list!

[Rhi]

...to work at a job where you're not appreciated

[Raven]

My list is similar to yours, I am steadily working through them.

[Liz]

Amen sister, A-effing-men

[Rachel]

...to care what other people think. it is a long journey, but ultimately, it just doesn't matter.

[Someone Being Me]

I totally agree even though I am on the complete opposite end of the political spectrum from you. But I promise I am waving at you from over here on the right, no farther right, keep looking, ah yes, there I am. Just kidding. I loved your list.

[ali]

yes. can we talk about the people who listen to music that they.don't.even.like. to look cool?
RIDICULOUS.

[Emily]

I love it!!!!

[Moose]

I feel like I should print this out and tape it to my forehead.

[Cherie]

Love this list and love you!

[Betsy]

. . . to worry too much about what the back of your hair looks like.

. . . to not listen to your favorite songs or watch your favorite movies as often as your heart desires.

. . . to not indulge your inner fat kid from time to time.

. . . to not compliment a girl who has a handbag, pair of boots, hair style or outfit you admire.

. . . to close yourself off to people who aren't exactly like you.

. . . to sleep too much.

. . . too drink bad wine.

. . . to not tell the people you love that you do in fact love them.

. . . to recall all the crappy things people have said about you or to you in the past.

. . . to continue to carry that heavy chip on your shoulder.

. . . to procrastinate and put off your dreams.

. . . to spend too much time in line, in traffic or in the bathroom.

. . . to wonder what others really think about you.

. . . to be around negative people.

. . . to clip coupons.

. . . to read every novel on the list of the 101 books you should read before you start college.

. . . to fight for a hopeless cause.

. . . to argue the toilet seat up/toilet seat down issue.

. . . to clean too much.

. . . to carry cheap handbags.

. . . to not occasionally pamper yourself.

. . . to devote your heart to unrequited love.

. . . to think you are better than anyone and everyone.

. . . to apologize when you don't mean it.

. . . to not kiss your spouse every chance you get.

. . . to put off your heart's desires because of self-imposed rules.

. . . to occasionally get drunk, high or just plain silly.

. . . to never make homemade ice cream.

. . . to not try to learn something because you feel it's too late in life.

. . . to wait for someone else to do something you can do yourself.

. . . to not live as you want to.

. . . to not stay up late with your favorite people.

. . . to skip Happy Hour because it's a weeknight.

. . . to let your age hold you back.

. . . to let anyone else define you.

. . . to not occasionally reevaluate your self, your life, your goals, your hairstyle, your wardrobe or your career.

. . . to hold grudges.

. . . to not stand up for yourself and what you believe in.

. . . to keep bad friends in your life simply because they've "always" been there.

. . . to not get frisky in public places.

. . . to hate. You shouldn't waste the protein.

. . . to follow every fad.

. . . to stay in at a job you hate just for the security.

. . . to not demand the best out of everything in your life.

[Larissa]

...hold onto dead-end friendships.
...play video games.

[Seriously, Jess]

Live's too short to dwell on it.

(Whatever that "it" is for you.)

[Cheri DeLurker]

HOW EXCITED ARE YOU - OTH SEASON PREMIERE TONIGHT - WOOOOOOOHOOO OMG!!! Whoooooo did he ask to go to Vegas??????? Argghhh!!! It BETTER BE BROOKE!