Got a "Bucket List"?

Currently I have been involved in a very intensive career/life class at my company and have gleaned much during this 8 week training course, so I want to share some of it with you. Did anyone see the movie, The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman? The movie basically deals with two older men in very different situations in life that meet during routine cancer treatments at a hospital. Freeman's character has been battling cancer for awhile, and Nicholson's character has just learned he has it and has started his first round of chemotherapy. The two men become unlikely friends and begin writing a list of things that each of them want to do before they die. They go even a step further and leave together, against some family member's wishes to experience and scratch off as many things on their bucket list that they can before their lives are spent.

In my class, we also worked on a bucket list of our own, slightly different but just as poignant. The challenge was in 10 minutes time, list 50 that answer the following questions:

1. What do I want to DO before I die?
2. What do I want to BE?
3. What do I want to HAVE?
4. What do I want to SEE?
5. What do I want to GIVE?
6. Who do I want to HELP?
7. What do I want to KNOW?
8. WHO do I want to know?

The key was to brainstorm so that no restrictions are permitted. We were not to justify, rationalize or define our ideas at this point, just write it all down as it flowed. I am confessing that it took me longer than 10 minutes, but I didn't take too long for fear I would over-analyze what I was writing and begin crossing things out. The exercise was enlightening, invigorating and insightful. I greatly recommend that everyone compile their very own bucket list. I find myself living in the "fight fire" mode alot, and by the end of the day, I have not given time to what really matters. The list gives you a peek into your innermost desires, passions and hopes. Then you can begin to design your life to help you reach your goals, your dreams and focus on what is truly important in life, whatever that may be for you. I am going to share a few of my bucket list items, and it is my hope that you will find your own bucket and start filling it. It is worth it!

Jackie's Partial Bucket List:

• Love and appreciate myself in and out.
• Learn to LOVE working out. (Ooh...this is tough!)
• Always make time to serve others.
• Travel to Finland and work on my family history.
• Have a fun and fruitful real estate career.
• Live in and appreciate the present.
• Wake up every morning with a grateful heart.
• Live in Italy for a summer.
• Help raise healthy, happy children.
• Pay for my children's college tuition.
• Explore as much of what the world has to offer as possible.
• Pray more and listen more.

So there you have it...now have fun doing your list, it's worth it. :o)

A Camping with Kiddos Update

It is official...I have survived tent camping with the kids! To many, I am sure this sounds silly. You probably have camped dozens of times with your kids and are thinking, "so what". Well, to me this was truly a feat! First of all, "tent camping" and "Jackie" don't get along, but surprisingly it was much more fun that I had expected. The 50 mile per hour wind gusts and sideways rain wasn't what I considered fun, the fact that our tent was only on the ground because we were all in it wasn't really fun, the stakes that we lost from the storm and the rain drizzling through onto our sleeping bag wasn't a joy... but somehow...it was fun. After some friends let us borrow more stakes and helped my husband and daughter secure the tent into the ground and replace the rain shield, we were able to stay and actually spend the night.

Now, lets talk kids shall we? For the most part, my almost 3 year old and 20 month old had a fantastic time. They had a great time wandering around looking for dirt to embed under their fingernails and rocks to throw. They liked checking out the tent and seeing where they would be "sleeping" (not much sleeping happened though). The homemade ice cream we made in ziploc bags, shaking for about 5 minutes or so was pretty tasty, and of course the s'mores were delectable. All in all, the overnight camping trip was a success and the kids had a blast. I actually feel like doing it again very soon...but maybe I have blocked out all the not-so-great things about the trip so I will do it again...kind of like pregnancy and labor. Not fun, but the end result is satisfying. It was an inexpensive way to have a little fun with the family and make some memories, and definitely worth the effort!