About 12 years ago I made a list of 10 things that were important to me.

These are areas and activities that I wanted in my life; some because I know I’m healthier when I’m doing them, some because they’re in my wheelhouse, and some because I just enjoy them.

The 10 form an acrostic to help me remember them more easily.

Altogether they have remained a consistent part of what I have tried to maintain in my life.

Most of them have morphed a bit. For example, one is education. When I wrote this I wanted to make my way to grad school. I eventually did and have long since finished. But education and continuing to learn is still important. I am not engaged in a formal degree program though.

I came across this quote that has reaffirm the need for articulated values for my life. I want to have some guiding principles to keep me on track.

The quote is by Diane Ackerman.

“I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.”

Have you ever written down life principles?