What do you want to do before you die?

As a child you spend hours dreaming about what you'll do when you grow up. But how many of us actually get to do those things when we are, finally, grown up? There’s no reason to stop dreaming once you reach a certain age. Creating a list of things to do before you die is a sure-fire way to gather your thoughts and order your priorities. Steve Santagati of Men’s Journal magazine was invited on “Today” to share his tips for making a to-do list for life.

Why put together a to-do list for life?
Putting together a life list is more than just an exercise. It requires you to stand back, take stock of your life and compare how you're living with how you dreamed you would live.  By identifying life's most rewarding experiences and stepping up to their challenges, you'll find your life measured in great moments rather than missed opportunities.

You hear about people who've had near-death experiences making these kinds of lists.  That's no accident, is it?
Exactly. There's a component to this that's a real celebration of life.  Life is happening right now.  The sooner you realize life is short, the sooner you start making the most of the time you have.  But of course, there's no need to almost die before getting started.

How are men and women different when they make these lists?
Women tended to be better organized with their lists, but there really shouldn't be much difference.  A lot of guys think of testing their mettle by jumping out of an airplane or scaling Mount Everest.  But women do too.  And for both men and women, facing your fears or taking a chance can mean saying “I love you,” or volunteering to help the sick.  It's really up to the person, regardless of their gender.

When did you start making your own list and what have you accomplished?
I started very young. My father moved out and I realized at an early age that if I wanted anything I had to go out and get it myself.  I've jumped out of planes, gone up the Amazon River, traveled the world.  But I've also checked off my list reading all of Herman Hesse's books, helped a friend get off drugs, building my dream home.

There's a lot of variety there.  This isn't all about adventure or needing a lot of money?
Not at all.  Sometimes life's thrills are as simple as forcing yourself to pick up the phone and renew contact with a lost love.  Sometimes you find your greatest reward is in your own backyard or with people you already know.

Three tips to help start your own list
Identify what makes you happiest.  Ask yourself, in the quieter moments of the day, “What makes me truly happy, and what goals can I set in place to reach that happiness?"  What are the things you never got around to doing? Think about before you fall asleep at night, while sitting in traffic or while out for a walk.  Try to recapture the optimism and wonder you felt as a child when you thought about what your life would be like.

Make your goals specific.  Set goals that are quantifiable so you can check them off your list.  In the June issue of Men’s Journal magazine, there's a story of a man who said he wanted to be a good father, so he put on his list "Read to my kids three times a week."

Make a contract with yourself.  If you make this list and just put it in a drawer, you might end up feeling pathetic.  Make a vow to get to items on your list and keep to your schedule. Otherwise it'll just become a list of all the things you never got around to doing in your life.