Bucket Lists

I know everyone has them…the dream list of things you want to do before you die.  It may evolve as you age, and the list may grow with new things to replace the ones you have done…but…there is something compelling about those lists….they are like a non numerical measure of your life…your dreams…you desires.

Here is a picture of my bucket list from when I was graduating high school–it was an assignment (which, for the record, I got 18/20 on) we had to complete for actual credit.  Clearly I was a big fan of print shop/clip art at the time. lol.  I am pleased to say that I have succeeded in accomplishing a decent number of these things on the list (including swimming with sharks, graduating university, going to Paris and seeing the Eiffel Tower…and puking on top of it, too lol; running a marathon, white water rafting and meeting my favourite Canadian band, The Tragically Hip).

Circa 1998.

Several months ago I had blogged about the idea of these lists…but it was in reference to the reason I began my blog–essentially using a to do list style format to try and figure things out and give me a sense of accomplishment after going through an emotional rough patch in my life.…but I didn’t call them bucket lists…I called them life lists…somehow the idea of things to do before i kick the bucket lists sounded a smidge to morbid for me.   Ironically, the life list idea isn’t all that new as I only now, after uploading the above photo, realize that this assignment is titled “My Life List.”

I decided that it was about time that I posted these crazy lists because they are not doing me any good sitting in the draft folder of my “Pages” section of my blog for another six months (I originally wrote them in June…so a few things have already been achieved on these lists).  Plus I mentioned them in my Resolutions post from this morning and it re-energized my urge  to share them….and, truthfully, what better time to pop them up for the world to see than the eve of a new year-what I hope will be my lucky 2013.

So without further ado.  Here are my lists and the links to them.

Life List: General

Life List: Fitness

Life List: Baking

Life List: Cooking

Life List: Running

Life List: Travel

Much luv,

Leesah

Resolutions-yay or nay?

Happy New Year y’all!

I can’t believe that it is over.  It feels like yesterday I was gladly kissing 2011 good bye…but I digress.  This post is not a “my how quickly time flies,” post.  Rather, it is one about the idea of resolutions.

I have mixed opinions on the idea of resolutions.  While I love the idea of having a fresh start and trying to make positive changes in one’s life, I also hate the pressure involved and the opportunity to feel like a failure if you don’t lose those 10 lbs or make your bed every day.  And, yes, I have had those two things as resolutions…neither resolution was a success in the years I made them.

Maybe it is because there is an all or nothing attitude with resolutions that turns many people, including myself, off from them.  I know that I have been victim of that myself on many occasions–especially with weight loss, in the past…despite knowing better instinctively–which is stupid.

Maybe the resolutions being made are far too large to really adopt overnight?  For instance, if your resolution is ‘get organized,’ don’t expect a miracle organizational plan to magically develop itself overnight and wake up January 1, with said habits and perfectly labeled Rubbermaid containers.  It’s all about the small improvements (remember that how SMART acronym for goal setting–Specific; Measurable; Attainable; Realistic and Time sensitive), you can make and adopt as habit over time that makes for successful resolutions.

Given the 50-50 split on success of one’s resolutions, perhaps it is best to begin and end with the idea of just being kinder to yourself.  If you can do that, regardless of losing 10 lbs, becoming a Martha Stewart-esque organizer or getting all Suze Orman with your finances, you are way, way, way ahead of a number of people for 2013.

Now that you know what I don’t like about resolutions, I can tell you what I do like doing for every year.  Some people may say it is the same thing, but I don’t see it as that.  When I started this blog, I made “the List.”  It encompassed the 31 things I wanted to learn when in my 31st year.  Perhaps that was too many as I hadn’t accomplished them all.  But, truthfully, I think the idea of learning goals for a year is a great way to fill the resolution void in a more productive and less emotionally detrimental way.  Learning is all about improving and not an all or nothing  approach.

Without further ado, here are the things that I want to learn this year:

1. I want to learn to use my DSLR, the photo editing software called Lightroom, and become a better photographer

2. I want to learn to make chocolate croissants

3. I want to learn about different career options in the hope that it will help me figure out my own career path

4. I want to learn how I approaching strangers and making interesting small talk with ease.

5. I want to learn some motivational tools to help me adopt a more consistent approach to fitness so that I can check off a few items on my fitness bucket list, like another full marathon, a sub 1:50 half marathon and a triathlon.

So…what are you resolving to do this year?  Are you pro resolutions?  Why?  Do you like my learning goal approach?  I wanna know your thoughts?

Much luv and all the best to everyone in 2013!

Leesah