- Write and publish my book about Santa
- Weigh 129 lbs.
- Become an ENVP with Arbonne
- Have a clean home
- Start my mornings with devotions
- Go to Paris and converse fluently in French.
- Own a home
- Run a 5k
- Complete a triathlon
- Snorkel in the Pacific Ocean (Catalina or Santa Cruz Island?)
- Write Outdoors AnyWay
- Design outdoor clothing and accessories
- Treat my family and friends to a cruise or other vacation
- Be on the Today Show
- Speak to hundreds/thousands on stage
Friday, January 31, 2014
The List
These are in no particular order, but simply numbered to know how many I have.
Having Dreams
Everyone has dreams for their lives. Sometimes they're part of a Bucket List--the list of things to accomplish before "Kicking the Bucket". Sometimes start their dreams with "If I win the lottery, I'd..." But really, part of being a human (versus any other animal) is our desire and ability to strive for more.
I'll confess: I'm a striver. I always want more. Good could be better. I think I'm good at appreciating what I have and what I've accomplished, but I'm not one to rest on my laurels.
In 50 years, I will be 81 years old.
As I turned 31, I realized I've made little to no progress on my "someday" dreams. It was incredibly depressing to feel like I wasted my 20s in the rat race without giving much thought to what I actually wanted to accomplish in my life. Life is so easily taken for granted, and I don't want to do that anymore.
The way I feel was summarized by the ancient Roman poet Horace when he reminded us to seize the day, or carpe diem. Also brought into the mix is memento mori, sometimes attributed to Tertullian, to remind us that we are not invincible--"remember that you will die". Even recent pop culture's use of YOLO, coined by rapper Drake, reminds us all that "you only live once."
My favorite, though, is from a poem I was forced to memorize in 11th grade English class. I learned it well, because that was the kind of student I have always been, but never realized that it would become so important to my life:
A Psalm of Life
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream! ?
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,--act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
Therefore, I am resolving to be up and doing, and accomplish my 50 goals in the next 50 years.
I'll confess: I'm a striver. I always want more. Good could be better. I think I'm good at appreciating what I have and what I've accomplished, but I'm not one to rest on my laurels.
In 50 years, I will be 81 years old.
As I turned 31, I realized I've made little to no progress on my "someday" dreams. It was incredibly depressing to feel like I wasted my 20s in the rat race without giving much thought to what I actually wanted to accomplish in my life. Life is so easily taken for granted, and I don't want to do that anymore.
The way I feel was summarized by the ancient Roman poet Horace when he reminded us to seize the day, or carpe diem. Also brought into the mix is memento mori, sometimes attributed to Tertullian, to remind us that we are not invincible--"remember that you will die". Even recent pop culture's use of YOLO, coined by rapper Drake, reminds us all that "you only live once."
My favorite, though, is from a poem I was forced to memorize in 11th grade English class. I learned it well, because that was the kind of student I have always been, but never realized that it would become so important to my life:
A Psalm of Life
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream! ?
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,--act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
Therefore, I am resolving to be up and doing, and accomplish my 50 goals in the next 50 years.
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