Bucket List…part one
July 12, 2010
“She needed wide open spaces….. room to make a big mistake”
—Dixie Chicks
Last week I talked about my to do list for my home, this week, I am working on the to do list for my LIFE. I started a “bucket list” a few weeks ago, listing some of the things I wanted to accomplish before how shall we say it???? Nature takes it’s course..
Anyway, so here I am, in Detroit Lakes Minnesota, looking out over beautiful Big Detroit Lake, and soooooo enjoying the wide open spaces of my youth. Funny, how things on a bucket list don’t necessarily need to be major accomplishments, but rather the simple things in life that bring us joy. Some of mine were enjoying more sunsets, going on road trips, and revisiting some of the places I loved as a kid.
I am not a huge planner, and I’ve learned to be okay with that. But I’ve learned to write down my thoughts and ideas when I’ve stumbled across something that feels good. Suddenly, I have about twenty things that I’m excited to do, some need a little advance planning, and some can be done on a whim. And without that list, I don’t think I’d be here enjoying my sunset today. It’s a little reminder to do things just for me. So in the future, I hope to be writing about things like a visit to the county fair, kayaking around Lake Superior, my new tattoo, and how what it’s like to feel the wind in my hair while I’m riding my new Harley Davidson Softail! (note to self, it’s easy to get carried away with your bucket list)
What’s on your list today? Is it things to do around the house, at work or around the yard? Or is it things to do for your life, well being and spirit? I’d love to hear what you’d put on your bucket list….. and what you’ve already crossed off!
(sunset… check road trip…. check place of my youth…. check swimming in more lakes without being terrified of large fish, weeds, snapping turtles or leaches…. check!)
OMG KIm- A jaguar- Verona- skinny dipping!!! I LOVE IT!!!!! It sounds DELISH!
I need to watch UP again–it made me cry in the best way. And Suzi, I LOVE what you wrote. Looking back but not staring is a gem of wisdom for me. I love the image, and it makes sense, because we can always choose what we want to remember. What we want to focus on. What goes on our “bucket list”.
For me? As for grand gestures…my trip to Italy has become a trip specifically to Verona with my husband and kids to renew our vows. Otherwise I’m adding driving a Jaguar, designing and building the magical, beautiful dress in my dreams, painting on canvas, and skinny dipping at midnight. These things are all going to happen!
As the rare bird who will eventually inherit a bonified, registered farm and ranch BRAND, I think that will be the beginnings of the construct of my new tattoo… I have already been told that upon his death Ronnie O (my dad) will hunt me down if I do not continue to register his brand year after year…. So, Cisco (dad’s horse) and I will be simillarily marked by the Two-Quarter-R-brand, (not to be confused by the Two- Bit- Ranch) long after he is gone and perhaps forever. Funny, my brother Roy, who has always detested anything western, has now embraced the genesis of HIS name (Roy Rogers) by getting an amazing RR tattoo, wearing pearl snap retro Wrangler shirts and toying with the Two-Quarter-R sensation as well. Interesting how things stay with us from our childhood; I have learned to look back but not stare; meaning I choose to remember all of the wonderful and amazing things that connect me to my genuine self, without getting stuck in regrets about the past or anxiety about my future. So, thank you Becker County for the gentle roll of giant haybales, golden tips of wheat that is ready for harvest, and John Deere tractors in the field. I will be coming back soon, to fill up my cup and remember the good times….and begin to create MORE!
OOO a tatoo??? Do tell! I absouletly LOVE this Suzi- its the little things- like the movie UP- it was not the exotic waterfall destination/or capturing the RARE bird- true joy is in counting cars while you eat an ice cream
So far today – I got immense joy from a neighborhood walk with Thicht Nhat han and from coaching an AMAZING client who is discovering her own prescription for joy- and re-connecting with what makes her heart sing- fabulous!!!