The Buried Life’s millions of fans share inspirations, aspirations, and jokes without fear of being judged. When it came time to address #19 on their own list―write a bestselling book―The Buried Life turned to its community, asking the world the same question they first asked one another: “What do you want to do before you die?”
Thousands of fans responded to the challenge, revealing that everywhere, people of all ages are seeking ways to live unburied lives. We chose 150 of these real people’s dreams and commissioned original illustrations of them, one of which is featured above. As Jonnie says, “We are part of a digital generation that expresses emotion through the immediacy of images.” The illustrations are meant to speak to that.
We will be sharing many of these illustrations from “What Do You Want to Do Before You Die” here on Positively Positive. It is an invitation to reach further and a moving portrait of what unites us, what frightens us, and what we seek for ourselves. What is it that you want most? What is it that you fear most? What do you want to do before you die?
I would love to hear from YOU. What’s one thing YOU want to do before you die?
Ben Nemtin is an actor, producer, and writer. He is a member of The Buried Life and the #1 New York Times Best Seller What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? He can be found at theburiedlife.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
The Buried Life has been spreading its message of hope and will power for over six years and counting. The Buried Life was created by Ben Nemtin, Duncan and Jonnie Penn, and Dave Lingwood during their college years in Victoria, British Columbia, at a time when each gentleman was facing life’s most testing obstacles. What began as a list of 100 items they wanted to do before they died soon became the foundation for a documentary that they would begin filming themselves. Deciding that they had the power to accomplish all of their list items with enough hard work, they set out in an old RV to follow their wildest dreams. In the process, they also made a pact to help a stranger cross off one of his/her list items for every list item of theirs they were able to do.
After capturing enough footage to put together a pilot, the guys set out to cross off #53 on their list: “Start a Television Show.” Their pilot was soon picked up by MTV, and The Buried Life was brought to the network for a complete two seasons in 2010.
One week after the release of their debut book What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?, they were able to cross off #19 on their list, “Write a Best Selling Book,” as the book went to #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers List.
*Illustration by Matthew Dorfman.
