One of my favourite podcasts is the "Tim Ferriss Show". Tim interviews people who are considered to be world class at what they do. Whether successful in playing chess, investment banking or body building, he attempts to deconstruct his guests to extract their habits, routines, time management tricks and more. During one of his interviews, Debbie Millman mentioned her 10-year-plan-for-a-remarkable-life. The goal is to write down as much detail about your life, ten years from now. Dig deep and write down everything you want it to be. With one simple rule: you cannot fail.
"Dream big, dreams without any fear. Write it all down. Put your whole heart into it. And write like there is no tomorrow; write like your life depends on it.. because it does."
It is July 7th 2027, a beautiful summer day in a little beach town I moved to a few years ago. A gentle song wakes me up at 6am. I’ve always wanted to get up early. Days are so much more productive when you do. Yet, I had never developed the habit of going to bed early. Now I have.
I roll over to the other side of the bed, to give the woman that I love a big kiss. She is very sweet, inspiring, loving, funny and I get lost in her eyes. We live in a small and safe town. I had left the door open last night, so the scent of jasmin filled our space. The living room is bright. White walls with big windows and high ceilings. Sun rays are coming through the windows and the glass sliding doors. I look at a painting hanging above the fireplace. It reminds me of one of my favorite places in the world: New Orleans. To this day, the thought of New Orleans makes me smile. Even though it is already 13 years ago I lived there. Now I visit the Crescent City as often as I can.
There are a few books on the shelf. The couch has a light grey color and is very comfy. But nothing beats my chair. I stumbled upon this chair a while back. It has been by my side, despite the many moves I made. I love to sit in it, to read (mostly non-fiction) and to meditate. The kitchen table is long and made of wood. It is great for a dinner party or board games. There is no TV. We don't need one. Evenings on the couch are spent having conversations, reading and learning. About ten years ago I found these to be much more gratifying activities, than watching movies or TV-shows. I don’t own much, but everything I do own, either adds value to my life or brings me joy.
The half empty rack with bottles of wine, reminds me of an evening spent with friends last week. Meaningful conversations over wine and cheese, talking about life, surrounded by a bunch of candles. I love those moments.
Peaceful piano music plays through the speakers, while I walk to the bathroom to brush my teeth and take a shower. The smell of freshly brewed coffee blends with the smell of jasmin. I know it’s going to be a great day, when my two kids are running towards me to get a big hug and get ready for the day. We sit outside on the porch to enjoy our coffee and breakfast, while breathing in the fresh ocean air and setting our intention for the day.
Our dog Mela, a golden retriever, is happy to see that we are finally awake, so she can get some attention as well. I'll walk the kids to school and take Mela for a stroll on the boardwalk, listening to my favourite podcasts. My partner will go on with her day. Around 10.30am I get back to our place and open my laptop. I decided to get rid of my desk and desk chair as I found myself working on the porch for the majority of the time. I typically work from 10.30am until 6.30pm.
I've always loved to create. Whether it was software related, writing or creating social events. To have nothing today and something tomorrow, excites me. A few years ago I started my own company, making just enough money to live the life I want. My work meets the criteria that have been in the center of my career in the last fifteen years: work remote, add value to others and create.
Time flies by as usual and my partner comes home with the kids around 6pm. She brought fresh vegetables from the farmers market, located a few blocks from our house. We lead a healthy lifestyle. Eating lots of vegetables and working out for at least 15 minutes a day from Monday thru Friday. On Saturdays I typically join a pick-up game of soccer, while on Sundays we love to go for hikes in nature.
Fish, vegetables and a glass of rose is on the table tonight. We talk about our day, clean up and take our boat out on the water. Our kids love to be on the water. So do I! We taught them surfing and water skiing. I’ve always wanted a boat, but realised at one point that I would never own one, until I’d buy one. We enjoy the evening on the water, listening to music and reading books. I never used to read much when I was younger, but I started to enjoy it. Books inspire me with new ideas and concepts, which I love to try out in my day to day life.
Around 9.30pm we get back to our place, close the doors, say goodnight to Mela, put the kids to bed, dim the lights, cuddle and express our gratitude for another great day.
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