do you LIVE or simply EXIST

“Every man dies. Not every man truly lives.” - William Wallace (Mel Gibson) from the movie, Braveheart.

I read Wallace’s words recently and thought what a true statement that is. Not only did I read them, but they stung because I knew I was one of those men.

And I hated it.

I planned to do just what every self-improvement book/blog says to do: Plan your future, TAKE ACTION, then review and change as needed. I put that on my list of “important things to do.”

It’s been weeks since I planed that. It somehow turned into my “someday” list.

Again, I was stung, like a slap on the face, when I read Starting a New Year with Death over at Pick the Brain.

I had fallen right into the Myth of Someday. I’ll do that ‘Someday.’ I really want to go there ‘Someday.’ ‘Someday’ I tell them how I really feel about them.

But sometimes ‘Someday’ never comes. In the last two years I lost my father and a grandmother (in law). The insurance commercial says, “Life comes at you fast.” So does death.

I’m not going to be one of those people that looks back and sees a mountain of regrets and unfulfilled desires. So after weeks of delay, I have my plan.

Step one: Decide what I want.
That is both the easiest and the hardest step. It’s easy when you finally decide to sit down and evaluate what you want. It’s hard to push everything else out of your mind so it doesn’t get in the way of what you want.

For example, it’s easy for a mountain of bills to affect your decision of what you want. You just want a way to earn more money to pay the bills.

So here’s what I have come up with: I want to go where I want, when I want, and for as long as I want. When I come home, I want a secure home to return to.

Step two: Find out how to become a location independent professional.
I will do research to find jobs I can do from anywhere. By April 1, 2008 I will have decided what method or methods I will use and will have begun putting them into action. Whether it’s working online, freelance writing, whatever. By January 1, 2009, A majority of my income will be online.

Step three: Decide where to travel or live.
I already know my wife wants to live in France. And why not? We spent 10 days there on vacation in 2007. It was a great time. Once we are established there, the rest of Europe will be close at hand.

Step four: Take Action
This is the most important step. Plans without actions are just daydreams. I will begin this plan immediately. I don’t have forever.

From the book, Wanderer, By Sterling Hayden.

“What does a man need - really need? A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in - and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment. That’s all - in the material sense, and we know it. But we are brainwashed by our economic system until we end up in a tomb beneath a pyramid of time payments, mortgages, preposterous gadgetry, playthings that divert our attention for the sheer idiocy of the charade

The years thunder by, The dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed.

Where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life?”

This post begins the series: Journey to Independence. I will add to this series over the coming months to track my progress in becoming location independent.

Leave your comments. What does it means to you to truly live? What advice would you give others on this subject?