"Rocking Chair" Life Vision

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Do you ever wonder what your life dream is? This exercise helps you see the vision you already have within you for your life.
• Allow yourself 20 minutes of quiet time to ponder and write your answer in the space below!
• This is about YOU, so let your imagination go, write a story and paint a picture of your life with words.

 Now, take a moment to REALLY imagine you are blissfully happy and healthy AND 90 years old. You’re sitting in your rocking chair and looking back over your IDEAL life.

1. Who are you as a person? What is it about you that people value?
2. What have you achieved? What are you proud of? What added meaning to your life and gives you a sense of fulfillment?
3. Perhaps consider how your life unfolded in the following areas; Family, Friends, Significant Other, Career, Health (emotional, spiritual and physical), your Home, what you did for Fun and Leisure, what you Learned about, what you did in Service, Leadership or in your Community.
4. Finally I wonder what you can see around you? What are you feeling? What can you hear? What SHOWS you’re truly happy?

Retirement - or Big Birthday - Party Visioning Exercise

BACKGROUND:

·      This visioning exercise involves you imagining some point in the future when you're going to retire. If you don't work (or can't imagine retiring) it could also be a "Big" Birthday party, perhaps your 60^th, 65^th or 70^th Birthday.

·      This party has been organized to celebrate you and a substantial change you're making in your life. Are you  retiring - or maybe you're moving somewhere new? Perhaps you're going travelling or embarking on a new creative career? Only you know!

·      However you got here, a big party is being held in your honour. This party is celebrating YOU.

So, take a moment to imagine that you're at a party all about you! Someone has written a speech celebrating you. What would it say? Use the question prompts below to help you write the speech that someone will read ABOUT you in the space below.

1.       How old are you? Who is at the party? Where is the party being held?

2.       What have you achieved in your family, career, business, community or in the world?

3.       What is it about you that the people at the party truly value?

4.       What would YOU want to be said about you? What would you be disappointed if it was not said?

5.       What did you do that was truly amazing? Where did you surprise yourself? Where did you surprise others? What are you MOST proud of? What mistakes did you make, that you can laugh about now?

6.       What is the essence of you that you would want to be captured in that retirement or birthday speech?

7.       Optional: Where are you going next in your life? What are you excited to spend more time doing? How do your friends and family fit into your life going forwards?

"Newspaper Article" Writing Exercise

BACKGROUND:

·       This visioning exercise involves you imagining you have achieved a great milestone in your life or career.

·       What would success look like for you?

·       It could be an award you've received, a book you've written, something you've established or created. It could be a fund-raising goal you reached, a feat of travel, charitable activities or something else.

·       Now, write an article as if written by a newspaper about the recent milestone and successes you have achieved.

Tips

1.       Write from 250-500 words in in the PAST tense.

2.       Mention yourself, anyone who helped you and any sources quoted - by name.

3.       Remember to give a little background including recent successes and other relevant highlights.

4.       What does your success MEAN for the people reading it - how do the readers benefit?

5.       OPTIONAL: What newspaper would you like to be featured in? Try (as best you can) to write in that newspaper's style.