The Bucket List

Call me anal retentive (and many people do), but I like to make lists. It's my attempt at being organized -- or at least appearing to be.

Throughout my childhood, I watched my mother make her daily lists of "Things to Do." I think she must have had the day on the list, like "Things to Do Monday," because each morning she'd start a new list, carrying over the items not crossed off the day before and adding new ones. I often thought (but never dared say, of course) that in the time it took her to rewrite the list in her meticulous, school teacher-like handwriting, she could have gotten something done on the list!

I keep a list of things to do, or tasks, at work but not so often at home. I definitely do not put a day at the top because some days I'm lucky to get one thing crossed off. The longer I keep the original list, the more things I get to cross off. Then it really looks like I've accomplished something! (That's probably a bit like cheating to the truly anal retentive list masters.)

This weekend I learned about a different kind of list. Hubby and I finally got to see the movie The Bucket List, which we both thoroughly enjoyed. In the movie, the two main characters, diagnosed with terminal illnesses, develop a list of things they'd like to do before they die -- or kick the bucket. Thus, the bucket list.

Naturally, everyone walking away from the theater is thinking about their own bucket lists. Jim and I discussed ours on the way home. I realized quickly I have lots of "seeing" things on my list versus "doing" things. I want to see Norway or Sweden and a few other places. But what do I want to do?

Do I want to do things that will address my fears like they did in the movie (Skydiving? Never!)? Or do I want to do things that will prove I accomplished something, that I was successful? Do I want to help others? Or do I just want to have fun?

So far on my list I have two things: Write a book. Learn to operate the snowblower.

Judging by today's forecast, I might get to cross one of those off sooner than I think. That's a pretty good start, huh? What's on your list?