My List of Things to Do before I Die:|死之前我要做的事情清單

For years now I've been compiling a list of things I would like to do before I die.  I know it may seem morbid to some folks, but I loved my list.  I kept it on my palm pilot so that I could glance at it or add to it whenever an idea popped into my head.  It was a great way to daydream and become inspired.

My list consisted mostly of places I wanted to visit, traveling being my favorite hobby, but some of the things on the list are other challenges and fun things I wanted to be able to have bragging rights about.  For instance, last year my list inspired me to run a marathon.  Okay, some would argue that I gave myself the inspiration because I wrote the list, but there is something about seeing it on paper or in print that makes it that much more tangible.

Running a marathon seemed like one of the more attainable things on the list because it was something I felt I had total control over.  I could choose to run it any time and if I worked hard enough I knew it was something I could accomplish.  It also had somewhat of an expiration date in my mind since I didn’t want to wait too long for fear I may get too old and lazy to be able to finish.  When I set my mind to running a marathon I decided that if I were going to put myself through all of that pain anyway, I should also run it for charity to get even more out of finishing.  Why not kill two birds with one stone?  I found a cause that I believed in and took the first step by telling everyone, including the press, that I was committed to running a marathon for my charity.  This left me no option to back out.  A person is only as good as their word, right?  Well I had no idea of what I was getting myself into.

After the fifth month of training I suffered from shin splints and knee problems so painful that I was forced to stop running and seek medical attention.  I was ready to throw in the towel.  I could explain it to the press, if anyone ever brought it up again.  Who would have blamed me?  I could easily say, “I tried my best but my body was just not made for running” or “my new shooting schedule didn’t leave me enough time in the day to complete all the running that was required.”  How about, “My demanding travel schedule just wouldn’t allow me to continue with the running program.”  I had every legitimate excuse in the world to quit.  I would have quit for sure had it not been for the fact that I had planned a huge fundraiser the night after the marathon and the new charity, I helped set up specifically timed to coincide with this marathon, was counting on me to finish.  I could not let everybody down, including myself.  After all, it’s on my list, too.

After about a month of recovery I was able to pick up with the running again, but this time I was going to get some help and make sure I did it right so I could get through it.  It took a village, but with a lot of help from trainers, chiropractors, massage therapists, and pure will power and determination, I was finally able to cross the finish line five months later at the Honolulu Marathon on December 10, 2006 in 4 hours and 56 minutes.  With the sponsors I collected and fundraising luau the following night I was able to raise over $100,000 for Reef Check Hawaii to help them jumpstart their new organization.

I was finally able to cross the marathon off my List of Things to Do before I Die, but the much bigger satisfaction came from being able to give birth to and raise money for this new charity.

For a while now my palm pilot has ceased to work and I am forced to come up with a new list.  What’s on my list?  Well, it’s still in the works, but one thing’s for certain, when it’s all done I’ll be posting it for the world to see so that I can be sure to accomplish everything on it no matter what it takes.

我花了好多年的時間把死之前要做的事情列了個清單。可能有些人會覺得我有毛病，但是我喜歡這個單子，我把它保存在掌上電腦裏以便經常可以看看，有什麼新想法蹦出來馬上就加進去。這真是做白日夢和激勵自己的絕好辦法！

單子裏大部分都是我想去的地方，旅遊是我的最愛。一些是挑戰或好玩的事情，以後可以用來吹牛：）比如去年我的單子激勵我去跑了馬拉松。好吧，有些人會說我寫這個清單是用來激勵自己的，但是我要說，有些事情還真得寫在紙上或者打出來才能變成現實。

跑馬拉松看起來是單子裏比較容易實現的，因為我覺得我可以完全掌控。如果很努力的鍛煉，我知道自己什麼時候行，就可以隨時選擇去跑。而且我已經定了時間期限，我可不能等太久，老了懶了以後害怕去跑，那一定實現不了。當我決定去跑馬拉松的時候，我想如果一定要承受這樣的辛苦，那麼慈善跑比僅僅跑到終點收穫更多。為什麼不一石擊二鳥呢？我找到了目標，然後告訴每個人包括媒體我會為慈善跑馬拉松，沒有後路可退了。一言既出，駟馬難追，是不是？但我一點也沒預料到後面發生的事情。

經過了5個月忍受用夾板夾脛骨和膝蓋上疼痛的艱苦訓練，後來實在太痛了，我不得不停止跑步去醫院治療。我做好準備被扔到毛巾堆裏。如果有人問起來，我可以向媒體解釋，誰會苛責我呢？很容易，“我已經盡了全力但身體條件不允許”或者“我的新片拍攝太緊張，沒辦法完成當天的跑步”，又或者“我白日夢的旅行安排打斷了持續跑步的計劃”…如果沒有我策劃已久的馬拉松之後的大型慈善募捐會，沒有新的慈善計劃，我一定會裹足不前。而且我還親自參與制定了完成這場馬拉松的明確計劃。我可不能讓大家失望，包括我自己。無論如何，這個願望還在清單上看著我呢。

經過大概1個月的康覆治療，我終於可以再跑了。但是這次我要得到些幫助以確保自己準備得當，真的實現目標。有一個連的人幫我，靠著跑步訓練師，指壓治療師和按摩醫生的幫助和自己很純粹的決心和毅力，在5個月後的2006年11月10日，經過4小時又56分鐘的艱苦努力後，我終於在夏威夷的火奴魯魯跨過了馬拉松的重點線！通過這場馬拉松和第二天晚上的籌款宴會的募捐，我最終為夏威夷Reef Check（非贏利性的組織，保護全球海底珊瑚的團體）籌得了10萬美金的啟動基金。

我終於在死之前把清單裏馬拉松那項給完成了，但更多更充實的滿足感來自於為新的慈善事業募集到款項讓它順利誕生。

有一陣我的掌上電腦壞了，我不得不重新寫新的清單。現在我的清單裏有什麼？他們都在實現中。可以肯定的是，一旦全部實現，我會公之於眾。現在我正不惜一切代價完成他們。

我花了好多年的时间把死之前要做的事情列了个清单。可能有些人会觉得我有毛病，但是我喜欢这个单子，我把它保存在掌上电脑里以便经常可以看看，有什么新想法蹦出来马上就加进去。这真是做白日梦和激励自己的绝好办法！

单子里大部分都是我想去的地方，旅游是我的最爱。一些是挑战或好玩的事情，以后可以用来吹牛：）比如去年我的单子激励我去跑了马拉松。好吧，有些人会说我写这个清单是用来激励自己的，但是我要说，有些事情还真得写在纸上或者打出来才能变成现实。

跑马拉松看起来是单子里比较容易实现的，因为我觉得我可以完全掌控。如果很努力的锻炼，我知道自己什么时候行，就可以随时选择去跑。而且我已经定了时间期限，我可不能等太久，老了懒了以后害怕去跑，那一定实现不了。当我决定去跑马拉松的时候，我想如果一定要承受这样的辛苦，那么慈善跑比仅仅跑到终点收获更多。为什么不一石击二鸟呢？我找到了目标，然后告诉每个人包括媒体我会为慈善跑马拉松，没有后路可退了。一言既出，驷马难追，是不是？但我一点也没预料到后面发生的事情。

经过了5个月忍受用夹板夹胫骨和膝盖上疼痛的艰苦训练，后来实在太痛了，我不得不停止跑步去医院治疗。我做好准备被扔到毛巾堆里。如果有人问起来，我可以向媒体解释，谁会苛责我呢？很容易，“我已经尽了全力但身体条件不允许”或者“我的新片拍摄太紧张，没办法完成当天的跑步”，又或者“我白日梦的旅行安排打断了持续跑步的计划”…我有好多堂而皇之的理由告诉世界为什么不跑了。如果没有我策划已久的马拉松之后的大型慈善募捐会，没有新的慈善计划，我一定会裹足不前。而且我还亲自参与制定了完成这场马拉松的明确计划。我可不能让大家失望，包括我自己。无论如何，这个愿望还在清单上看着我呢。

经过大概1个月的康复治疗，我终于可以再跑了。但是这次我要得到些帮助以确保自己准备得当，真的实现目标。有一个连的人帮我，靠着跑步训练师，指压治疗师和按摩医生的帮助和自己很纯粹的决心和毅力，在5个月后的2006年11月10日，经过4小时又56分钟的艰苦努力后，我终于在夏威夷的火奴鲁鲁跨过了马拉松的重点线！通过这场马拉松和第二天晚上的筹款宴会的募捐，我最终为夏威夷Reef Check（非赢利性的组织，保护全球海底珊瑚的团体）筹得了10万美金的启动基金。

我终于在死之前把清单里马拉松那项给完成了，但更多更充实的满足感来自于为新的慈善事业募集到款项让它顺利诞生。

有一阵我的掌上电脑坏了，我不得不重新写新的清单。现在我的清单里有什么？他们都在实现中。可以肯定的是，一旦全部实现，我会公之于众。现在我正不惜一切代价完成他们。