That is fabulous Mary!!! And thanks again for reminding us to listen for The Universe. Sometimes, signs are so easy to dismiss. You Rock!!

Dear Lissa - the most incredible thing has happened since I wrote this obituary. All of a sudden opportunities to help End Polio Now are coming into my life. Isn't it amazing how the unconscious creates? I know you mentioned a similar experience as you wrote your obit. I knew I had a passion for bringing awareness of polio and post polio syndrome but had no idea I was being called to work with Rotary on their End Polio Now campaign. I am experiencing all sorts of inspired action and manifesting things including going to hear Itzhak Perlman play a benefit concert in NY to End Polio Now. I 'just happened' to see a Tweet about the benefit concert from @endpolionow on Twitter - how amazing is that? Just had to give you the follow up. Thanks Lissa -- hugs and blessings for all the work you do and all who are you are

Dear Lisa - this was an amazing exercise -- very powerful - a blend of what I have done and what I still hope to accomplish with a focus on myself as a Divine Child of God. Thank you!

Mary (Alper) McManus died on 12/26/2053 the day after she celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by her husband of 76 years, Tom, her twins Ruth Anne and Tom,Jr, her grandchildren, great grandchildren and adoring friends and fans of her poetry. She made her transition peacefully in her sleep. Mary will best be remembered for her gentle, loving spirit and radiant smile. She experienced the gift of grace at the early age of 5 when she contracted paralytic polio. She saw a vision of God which sustained her through endless hours of painful physical therapy and childhood abuse. Mary faced life's challenges with courage and determination. All who knew her felt blessed by her presence. Her award winning career at the Department of Veterans Affairs ended after she was diagnosed with post polio syndrome. She touched the hearts and lives of countless veterans and their families. She provided them with counseling and was a fierce advocate to ensure they received the benefits to which they were entitled. Although her body was initially immobilized by the symptoms of post polio syndrome, she found her poetic voice and her spirit soared. She healed her life and went on to run the 2009 Boston Marathon at the age of 55. “Keeping the Pace: The Mary McManus Story” about Mary's journey with post polio syndrome and her Boston Marathon run won an Academy Award. Mary helped to change the face of post polio syndrome and inspired researchers to examine the positive effects of exercise and strength training in post polio survivors. The teachings of Science of Mind became a part of the protocol for treating post polio survivors. Mary was passionate about raising funds and awareness for polio and post polio syndrome. Her work with the Rotary Club helped to eradicate polio worldwide. Mary's messages of hope, gratitude, possibility, faith, healing, and releasing thoughts of lack and limitation were expressed in her many books of inspirational poetry. Karen Campbell, freelance reporter for the Boston Globe had this to say about Mary's first book of inspirational poetry, “New World Greetings:Inspirational Poetry and Musings for a New World” :Although never formally trained in poetry, McManus' work is not the sophisticated poetry of journals. It is unashamedly sentimental and sincere with simple rhyme schemes reflecting early indoctrination in Dr. Seuss - he was the childhood favorite she would read prior to painful polio treatments. But the directness of McManus' poetry,anchored in spiritual faith and positive energy, has brought her enthusiastic fans around the world." Mary's blog “Welcome to a New World” was followed by her fans from around the world. She inspired others through her positivity, honesty and connection with her own Divinity. She brought healing, joy, love, laughter and celebration with the original poetry she created as the owner of New World Greeting Cards. Her love and light live on in her poetry and the hearts of her family and friends.

Nice post. I do a similar exercise with corporate and non profit clients when helping them write vision statements that articulates their aspirations as an organization. Instead of an obituary, we focus on the speech they will give to hand over the company to the next generation of leadership when it has become phenomenally successful. Visualizing your future is so important to making it a good one.

Personally, though I found Roz' story nice, she doesn't have kids. I think it's much harder to answer the question about how you would live your life if you found out you were dying if your kids are still dependent on you. I know women who have faced that - both survivors and those no longer with us. It's a very different set of issues one faces, but no less important a question. For myself, I am living the life I would live if I were dying - because I am. Not with any chronic disease, just the condition of age that ends for all of us in that final sleep. I am conscious of it every single day and that consciousness helps me take risks I'd never take otherwise. I'd live the same way if I were dying in 2010 as I do now, I'd just live it a tad faster, perhaps, if the time were compressed.

BTW - "pleap"? LOL Yes, pleaps are a lot of fun. Like falling down the rabbit hole. nice to know they have such a fun name!

I love this post and the idea behind it! I think you have found a very powerful way to give us all an encouraging push toward the lives we know we could (and should) be living. Off to write my obit!

Lissa, Thanks for this post. What a great idea! I'm working on my obituary right now and may (or may not) post it but I'm already amazed at what has come up for me. Thank you.

Here we go, ladies:

If I died today: Megan Monique Harner, 22, passed away this Monday evening. She is survived by her parents Donald and Margie Harner, sister Sara and boyfriend, Brian Lewis. Megan was a loving daughter and sister.

If I had it my way:

Megan Monique Harner, age 103, passed away from natural causes on September 7, 2090. Survived by her daughter, Fiona age 65. Megan was an accomplished writer, musician, speaker and mother. Through her passion for people and travel she transformed the lives of many. Megan was a unique and joyous spirit. The world is a better place because she existed.

I am going to keep this by my bed side and keep a constant reminder that I could very well pass away in a year. I better get going! Thanks for this post, GREAT!

I am going to have to work on this one! Lissa, Alice, and Beth thanks so much for sharing these. What popped into my head when I first read the title of this is that I had done this as a creative writing assignment in high school. After I started writing my first novel I came across my "obituary." The interesting part of it was that I had a "son" named Hunter who was a best-selling novelist. In my newest version I will be the best-selling novelists!!!!!! (And, I didn't even end up having a son...2 daughters!)

Ok Here is my effort at the obit exercise...

Beth Wilson, 46 died suddenly of a heart attack. She leaves behind a daughter Kacy, a son Nicholas and husband Charlie. She was involved in Hayfield Secondary School's drama and music boosters and a substitute teacher for Fairfax County Schools. Beth also was a Reiki Master and intuitive. She also was a dj for radiobug.net doing the show Pryzms Playhouse with Beth. She leaves behind friends, a sister, 2 brothers and neices and nephews. She will be missed by many.

Now for the life i wish to lead

Beth A. Franklin Wilson, 96 was lead by spirit to the other side today, surrounded by her children, grandchildren. Beth spread her love of life, of nature and the peace within herself to many in her long life. Being a Reiki Master and energy healer, she led hundreds of people to better health, life and showing them most of all to live their lives fully, without regrets and to stay out of that box. Beth travelled extensively during her lifetime, visiting friends, spreading the life force and great energy she had to those who needed it and to those she touched. With her great smile and wit, and wicked sense of humor she could battle negativity and share in the love of others. Beth helped create a program of Yoga with Suzie Celantano for those who were stricken with Fibromyalgia, and recorded several Cd's of meditative music and guided meditations. We, her family can say that Beth lived life to its fullest, taking no prisoners and leaving no enemies. Her smile, laughter and sense of humor will be missed at all our gatherings and by her friends to whom she made laugh on a daily basis. Beth's motto always has been "If I can make somebody laugh once in a day, my job is done!" and yes Beth your job was done over and over again. The world was blessed by your presence and spirit. In the words of one of the songs that helped her change her life.."ITs time for me to fly"..fly on beth, fly on......

Something else that struck me was how easily one's dream life obituary might be parlayed into one's mission statement. Hmm ... xoxoo

Thanks Alice. I don't know about you but I found this exercise highly emotional. I guess thinking about one's own death is always a bit charged, but my weepiness was more tears of gratitude because I realize that so many of the things I want my life to be about are already in motion. Not to say I don't have tons of growth to do or a gazillion lessons yet to learn. But seriously, if I died today, no regrets. No love unspoken. Although I can't even begin to think about my daughter having to live without a mother, I somehow know she would grow up loved by women anyway. I guess I would be at peace, if the Universe decided it was my time to go.

But damn, I want to stick around and live some more!

Yikes. I don't know about you Pinkies but I wept through this experience. You know me- my life is a pretty much an open book, but even so, this feels vulnerable. Anyway, here goes nothing!

If I died today:

Lissa Rankin, age 40, died unexpectedly today, survived by her beloved husband Matt, her daughter Siena, her mother Trish, her brother Chris, her sister Keli, and hundreds of grieving Pinkies. But rest assured. Lissa left this world with no regrets. Her work touched many through Owning Pink, her holistic women’s health practice, her art, and her forthcoming books. The first book about art will be published Summer 2010 by Random House and her book about women’s health will be out Fall 2010 by St. Martin’s Press. In light of her death, her written but still unpublished memoir was taken to auction and will now be published posthumously by St. Martin’s Press. Although we mourn her living presence, Lissa’s legacy lives on through the community she founded, the ideas she propagated, and the courage she inspired in Pinkies internationally to OWN who they are and live their bliss. Millions will be Owning Pink, even in her absence, because she lit the spark that is now a burning flame of unconditional love, acceptance, and hope for the future.

If I live the life I dream but don’t wish in any way to control:

Lissa Rankin, age 86, left this world in the embrace of dozens of dear family, friends, and Pinkies, with angels attending her transition into the next life. Although she is a doctor, noted author, acclaimed artist, motivational speaker, workshop leader, song-writer, mother, grandmother, and wife, she once said that her greatest accomplishment in this life lies in Owning Pink, which she created to help Pinkies get their mojo back. Since its inception, Owning Pink grew to include millions of people across the globe, who joined together in a community based on putting aside judgment, gathering in a sacred place of unconditional love, and learning to see the beauty within each person. Those who found their mojo in Owning Pink went on to spread the Pink message worldwide, by founding the nonprofit Owning Pink foundation which supports women's health causes and offers grants to gifted healers who need help starting their small businesses, hosting Pink Posse gatherings, facilitating their own Pink workshops, joining together in international Pink Posse conferences, and spreading the message far and wide. Although Lissa will be deeply missed by the community she helped build, her Pink light will live on, if only the rest of us carry the torch by being authentic, living in love, surrendering to the Universe, and opening our hearts.

What warms my heart is that the two obituaries aren't that different. If I had done this exercise four years ago, we'd be talking about a WHOLE different story! I guess it makes me proud to have had the courage to take the pleap (Pink leap of faith) that started me on this path almost four years ago...

Okay, Lissa, I'll take the plunge. It's a powerful exercise and leaves me with some hope that it could happen. Why not?

If I died today: Alice Green Langholt, age 39, passed away this morning. Missing her are her four children, husband, parents, two sisters, grandmother, mother-in-law, and a few friends. Alice was a teacher, freelance writer, game content developer, playwright and aspiring author, as well as a Reiki Master Teacher. Alice was a loving person and a seeker of spiritual truth, generous and outgoing, returning affection and giving of herself. She will be remembered for her energy and enthusiasm, and passion for sharing her knowledge.

If I lived the life I aspire to: Alice Green Langholt, age 99, passed away peacefully this morning. She will be remembered with love by her husband, children, sisters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews and friends. Alice lived a full, rich and rewarding life. She gave thousands of people the opportunity to find their inner power through teaching Reiki and energy healing. Alice wrote several books, including two best sellers. Her work in teaching energy healing to families brought her methods mainstream, and many have continued to teach Alice's methods in wellness centers across the globe. Alice traveled around the world teaching energy healing and teaching others to teach and utilize the methods she developed. She is remembered as a loving, generous person with a kind spirit, passionate, energetic and enthusiastic about life to her last breath.