Discussion Guide 3: "Have You Ever Thought of . . . ?"

Finding the Right Moment

This is a question for a quiet time, while you’re traveling, sitting on a bench at the park, taking a break from a bike ride, or laying on a hillside waiting for Fourth of July fireworks to start. It might also work well right after you hear the young person heave a sigh of boredom.

Questions, Probes, and Ideas

  • What’s the coolest job you’ve ever heard of?
  • I know someone who spends every workday taking care of elephants at an elephant sanctuary!
  • Do you ever wish you were an inventor? An undersea diver? A scientist making a medical breakthrough?
  • What would it be like to learn the folk dances of Sweden or the folk songs of Bali?
  • Have you ever heard of people having a life list? (Explain about it being a list of really interesting goals and things to do during one’s life, then tell one from yours, like “join a tornado chase team” or “explore a real castle” or “record a song I’ve written.”)

Follow-Through

Make an agreement to take some steps toward meeting some life-list goals! Use a search engine to search for the term “life list” and visit some of the sites that come up to see if you like the ideas there.