It’s not often that I’m inspired by a t.v. show.  Shows like Glee or American Idol make me wish I could sing, act, and dance professionally, but they don’t necessarily inspire me to put forth the effort to travel a different career path.

However, there’s one show that inspires me to the core: MTV’s The Buried Life.  If you’ve never seen or heard of this show, it’s about four guys who compiled a list of 100 things they want to do before they die and then set out to cross stuff off that list.  All they’re given to accomplish their tasks are a handheld camera, a bus to travel in (usually), and the guts to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Every item is a challenge and requires a certain amount of risk, determination, and at times, humiliation.  Sometimes overcoming fear is their biggest obstacle – but giving up is not an option because not trying at all would be a worse fate.

What really makes this show unique is that it’s not all about these guys living out their own dreams.  To quote the show’s opening credits, “For every item we cross off our list, we help someone else cross something off theirs.”  It seems they understand that the best way to live life to the fullest is to not just live it for yourself.

Along their travels they’ve reunited families, launched careers, and helped others overcome fear.  People are randomly selected and their dream comes to fruition by answering one simple question: “What do you want to do before you die?”  Their answer then becomes the guys’ mission to accomplish.

Watching this show inspired me to create my own list.  So far I’ve only come up with 60 items, but have already accomplished three.  Not too bad.  However, The Buried Life reminds me that the only way to really live is to not just live for myself.

What’s funny, or amusing I should say, is that this same concept has been drilled into me all my life from my family and at church.  But for whatever reason, it’s taken this show to remind me that fulfilling my own ambitions will only take me so far.  Maybe it’s because four good-looking guys are sending the message; maybe it’s because I’ve spent more time hearing about what I should do rather than seeing it done.

Regardless of the reason, I can say with 100% certainty that I haven’t done nearly enough to help others.  It’s not that I’ve done nothing to serve others or that I’m carrying a burden of guilt on my shoulders; it’s just that I know I’ve spent more energy focusing on where my life is going, rather than dreaming up ways or actually doing something to help someone else along in their journey.

Instead of just asking yourself what you want to do before you die, start asking what you can do to help someone else accomplish what he or she wants to do before they die.  You’ll find life to be considerably more fulfilling when you allow your self-ambition to die in order to help someone else’s dream live.

Jonnie, Duncan, Ben, and Dave – thanks for reminding me that living the buried life is not about beating the clock or doing great things for myself; it’s about using my life to help others live.  And here’s my answer the question you’ve asked many others: I want to help make someone else’s dream come true.  And if there’s time, I’d like to be serenaded by and/or sing a duet with a famous musician. Hey, everyone’s got a dream – and that one’s mine =).