Worth Reading Wise Woman Collection – The No-Regrets Bucket List by Marion Witte Author Interview & Book Excerpt:
1. What was your inspiration for writing this book?
I recently experienced a major health scare which resulted in my hospitalization and ensuring recuperation at home. I frequently joke about how “each of us has a big bus waiting to take us out of this life.” As I reflected on what I had faced, and the possibility of a very different outcome, I cane to fully understand the undeniable truth in my anecdote. While lying quietly in my hospital bed, I had time to contemplate my life and whether I have achieved the life goals I set out for myself. The No-Regrets Bucket list is the outcome of the process I undertook to examine my life and to determine the legacy I want to leave.
2. Tell us a little about Wise Woman Collection – The No-Regrets Bucket List
When you mention a bucket list, many people think about the movie of the same name starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. The characters they play are critically ill, and as such they create a “to do” list of things to accomplish before they kick the bucket. The idea depicted in the film generated an interest in the public in preparing their own bucket list, with an emphasis on activities to engage in or things to acquire during one’s lifetime.
The No-Regrets Bucket List suggests there is also a need to create a bucket list for living, one that establishes the criteria for who we want to be during our lifetime and how we can live a more authentic and purpose-driven life. This tool can aid the preparer in creating a more meaningful life, as opposed to winding up with regrets for the life they actually lived. The book provides a sampling of bucket list ideas and it encourages the reader to develop their personal list. Whether one chooses to create a bucket list or not, the book is filled with common-sense, realistic, and inspirational ideas for living a meaningful life.
3. What did you personally learn while writing this book – The book
inspired me to ask myself some introspective questions about my life. What type of legacy did I want to leave behind? What memories did I want others to have of me? What actions had I taken to make the world a better place? What did I want to accomplish that I had not yet begun?
4. What other things are you involved with? I am the editor in chief of
NextGenerationParenting.org and BraveNewLeaders.org and the founder of the Angel Heart Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to parenting support and youth empowerment. I enjoy painting and escaping into a good movie.
5. Please share how the readers can get in contact with you.
I can be reached at my website at www.marionwitte.com.
6. More about the Wise Woman Collection – You can read more about the Wise
Woman Collection books at www.wisewomancollection.com.
Author Bio:
Ms. Witte holds bachelors degree in business administration and accounting, and she has received several academic and professional awards, including graduating Summa Cum Laude from college and completing her education in three years. Upon passing the licensing exam while a junior in college, she became the youngest CPA in the United States that year.
While in Minneapolis she worked for an international public accounting firm and she served as president of the National Association of Accountants and the American Society of Women Accountants. She moved into general business management after leaving public accounting, and served as the executive vice president for one of the largest tour operators in the upper Midwest. Upon moving to California, she became a partner in a jewelry manufacturing company, and subsequently formed a computer consulting firm, a real estate development company, a CPA firm and a publishing company.
Here’s a Book Excerpt A life of purpose cannot be defined by a singular accomplishment. Each person has a unique combination of gifts and abilities that make up their contribution to the world. I highly encourage reaching for the stars, but you don’t have to be a Pulitzer Prize winner to leave a legacy. Leaving a legacy and living a life with no regrets is more about embracing the lessons life teaches. It is about having the wisdom to grow, learn, expand and change when needed.
So what exactly is a legacy? A legacy is what you leave behind for the world to remember. It can be the influence you had on a friend or the job you performed as a parent. It can be a charitable contribution or the impact you made on the business world. Large or small we are all leaving a legacy. Living a life with no regrets involves defining that legacy. You must create it yourself, for only you know what type of life you want to lead. It is never too late to leave a mark, even if it is as simple as a smile or a kind word for those around you. Many times we underestimate the impact of a small gesture. Kind expressions, no matter how seemingly insignificant, may be the thing that people remember about you after your time has passed.
Living a life free of regrets involves letting go. It involves letting go of the would-have, should-have, could-have mentality. Dwelling on how you could have lived differently is detrimental to your spirit. Sometimes we do the best we can with the knowledge we have at the time. Frequently the wrong choices bring us to the right places. Make the choice now to forgive yourself, as the world needs the best of you. You cannot give your best when you dwell on past hurts or perceived mistakes. Another part of leaving a legacy is living a full life that you love and which you are sharing with others. Ask yourself the following questions:
• What have I enjoyed most in my life so far?
• What am I passionate about?
• What would I like to be remembered for?
Questions like these can be powerful in defining your goals and moving you into a life that you are proud to live. To live a life with no regrets and leave behind a legacy for your family and the world, begin by simply enjoying your life on a daily basis. Forgive yourself and others, follow your own path, seek happiness in the little things, and find something you enjoy that allows you to share and give back. Be kind and gracious to those you meet and embrace the joyful life you were meant to live.
As Benjamin Disraeli said, “Man is only truly great when he acts from his passions.” Live out your passions and rest assured that you can leave this life with no regrets.
