The Bucket List

A "bucket list" is a list of things that a person desires to do before they die. I imagine some people have a bucket list that has about 5 things on it, some probably have 50 things on it.

Right now, my bucket list has 26 "things" on it. About a year and a half ago I went to see the popular movie that came out called The Bucket List. It was a good movie. It was about two old men, who were about to die, and it showed their journey as they went through the last days of their life. The two old men enjoyed "living" because they knew they were going to die. They did crazy stuff, emotional stuff, and didn't let their pride get in the way of doing things they needed to do.

After I saw the movie, in January of 2008, I went straight home and made a bucket list. The whole night I wondered why so many people wait until they are old, or dying to do the things that they truly desire to do. I am the kind of person that fully understands we are not promised tomorrow. I understand that we only get to do this life once. And because of that, I don't hold back my feelings. I don't hide my emotions because I am scared of what someone will say. I cry if I am sad. I tell people that I love them, even if they may think it is weird. And I try very hard to do the crazy things and pursue my difficult dreams as often as I can.

I understand that I only get to do this life once, and I don't take that for granted. Of course I have my "areas." The areas in my life where I hold on when I should let go. And when I hold on...I try to remember that it is not worth it. I only get to do this once.

So anyway, back to my bucket list. It has 26 things on it. I figured I was only 27 when I wrote it, so I could add to it. But I didn't want to wait until I was old to make it. I wanted to make it that night so I could start marking things off. I am the kind of person who LOVES to cross things out on a list, so this was perfect for me. I decided I would put the date next to the "thing" on my list when I did it, and I would check it off.

So far I have 5 checks. I think that is pretty good for a year and a half. The things on my list are not easy to do, at least not most of them. Some of them take time, some take a lot of money, some take patience, some take prayer, some take courage, some take sacrifice, and some are "far out dreams" that may never happen. But I look at it this way..,.If I put it on the list then I am reminded that it is a desire of my heart. And maybe one day I will do it.

I don't want to put my whole list on here, I gotta keep some things personal :) But here are some of the things on my list....some have been checked off, some not.

*Race in a triathlon
*Be a mom
*Sing karoke in front of a crowd
*Go on a mission trip overseas
*Change someones life for the better
*Kiss Brandon in a extraordinary place in the world
*Bring someone to Christ
*Go to nursing school
*Go to China to visit my best friend Tara
*Attend a wedding of a student I have taught
*Jump off a waterfall cliff in Maui
*Grow long finger nails
*Wear my wedding dress again
*Take a morning jog on a beach (like they do in the movies!)
*Slow dance in the rain

Those are some of the things on my list. As you can see, some are simple....some are not. I think it is very important to know your own heart. I think it is important to recognize your desires, so that you can jump at any opportunity to make them happen. If you have them written down, then you will be ready when the opportunity arises...because you know what you want. I hope that as the years go by I am able to blog some of the things on my list, because I know that many of them will be life-changing.

Many people wait until it is too late to start living. They wait until they are old, or they wait until they are sick. By then it is much harder to enjoy these things.

So today I want to encourage you to make YOUR list. Fill it up with your hearts desires, and let it be ok if some of them may never happen. It is ok if you don't get to cross everything off....but just think "What if you get to cross a lot of things off?!"

It is worth making. I keep mine beside my bed, and I look at it often. I don't want to forget any of them.

Beauties, this is for you today. I think that many of you are finally in a "good" part of this weight loss journey. You are seeing results and you are ecstatic. Feeling good about yourself IS a desire of your heart. And when you start making that happen, it feels good. Really good. So include this on your bucket list...if you make one. Because VERY SOON, you will get to check it off if you keep it up.

Don't wait until it is too late to start living. Start today, because we are not promised tomorrow.

One of the most important things on my list was "be a mom" and I am so glad I was able to check it off. Here is Miss Brylee. She was SO excited when I took these pictures. (especially the last one) Babies love life, they live for today, and they don't worry. We should learn from them. Enjoy...and go make your list!