My 'Bucket List'

Welcome friends...thanks for coming by. We're seeking beauty in all of creation... in our faith and our families; our art and our music; our crafts and kitchens, and even in our own backyard. We'll share a poem or a recipe, a picture or a memory; maybe a dream of how we wish our life could be. And though we acknowledge that the world can be harsh, we're keeping it pleasant in our little corner; endeavoring to keep the words from the Book of all Books: ...Whatsoever things are lovely; think on these things.

I so enjoy hearing from you...so leave me a comment; it'll make my day!

Photo: Bee and thistle: Taken high in the Cascade Mountains where there is a bee buzzing on every thistle. by Debora Rorvig

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

My 'Bucket List'

I have been spending the past few days reflecting upon things I want to change in my life. Some are little, some are big. Chris Guillebeau's wonderful book " The Art of Non-Conformity" is inspiring me to not only make New Year's Resolutions; but to make New Life Resolutions. In the book he describes making a life plan as similar to planning a wedding; but adds that it is better to plan for a big, meaningful life than a big wedding! Part of the process involves writing down what a perfect day would be like; start to finish, and then begin to arrange your days so that your 'perfect day' elements are included. Another exercise is to create a life list of goals you wish to accomplish before you die. Some call this a 'bucket list.' I am still working on my life list; but here are some of the things I've come up with so far...

Make my yard beautiful
Lose those extra pounds and be healthy
Try cross-country skiing in Eastern Washington
Learn verbrato on my violin
Dress with flair
Be more active in my church
Write and publish book(s)
Memorize the book of Hebrews
Travel to Scotland, Holland, UK, South of France, Italy, Cape Breton, Turks & Caicos, the Deep South, Rio de Janiero, Texas, New York, Africa
Swim in the Sea of Cortez
Sleep under the stars in the desert and hear a coyote howl
Find the perfect haircut
Look up old friends and make new ones
Own a little cottage on a beach
Inspire my grandchildren
Stop hurrying
Stop being afraid of things, people, and confrontation-say what I think
Live the Word
Teach
Remodel the kitchen and bathroom
Be myself

This list is growing; and I've withheld some of my most personal items on it. It is already making a difference in my life. Though it's chilly out today; I went for 2 walks with the dog (healthy goal), and spent an hour in the garden pulling dead weeds and clearing winter debri (gardening goal).

2 comments:

Debora said...: testing comments; December 30, 2010 at 5:41 PM
Scrabblequeen said...: That's quite a list! I see a few items from my own list there, too.; December 30, 2010 at 10:39 PM

I Am From

I Am From...

by Debora Rorvig

I am from a lumber mill worker’s company house
with peeling paint and a sidewalk made of two by fours.
From faded flannel shirts that smell of pine and cedar boughs.

I am from Mason Jars of homed-canned pears,
from Dairygold milk with cream on top
in bottles on the porch.

I am from a garden plot with rows and rows of golden corn
that always wanted hoeing,
and from atop the highest branches of the Gravenstein apple tree in the Attolini’s orchard-
with apple juice dripping from my chin.

I am from saurkraut and wooden shoes-
the Millers and the Youngedykes,
and from the lively Scottish clan
who wear the McKinnon tartan.

From farmers and woodsmen
plain folk all,
who’s hands were calloused hard
but who’s hearts were tender-soft.

I am from ‘what will the neighbors think’
and ‘if you can’t say something nice,
don’t say anything at all.’

From saints and sinners who didn’t see eye to eye
but loved each other anyway,
and in their own way.

I am from the Western shores of Washington
strewn with agates, kelp and driftwood,
from Steelhead salmon, salty smoked
and chowder made from clams we dug
at Semiahmoo spit.

I am from my mother Ruby,
who taught me how to sew
on the old Singer treadle machine;
and told me all about my heritage.

And from my daddy, Raymond Claude
who took me nightcrawler hunting in the moonlight
and showed me how to bait my hook
and fish along the Nooksack River’s edge.

I am from an ancient, tattered Holy Bible kept safely on the upper shelf
with pictures of Jesus Christ
and a letter edged in black- carefully tucked inside.
There are births and deaths recorded there,
and a poem by great- great grandfather Alexander Laughlin Mckinnon
who I never met--and yet I know him
better than some I’ve met.

Precious is that Book to me.

And that is where I am from.

My Life List

*Seek first the Kingdom
*Never stop dreaming
*Make a difference in my students' lives
*Create alternate streams of income to fund my goals
*Dress with flair
*Master virbrato on my violin
*Try cross country skiing in Eastern Washington
*Lose those extra pounds and be healthy
*Be more active in my church
*Stop fearing things, people and confrontation; say what I think
*Stop Hurrying
*Inspire my grandchildren
*Own a Cottage on the Beach
*Live the Word
*Memorize the Book of Hebrews
*Find the perfect hairdo
*Be myself
*Look up old friends and make new ones
*Remodel the kitchen and bathroom
*Make my garden lovely
*Sleep under the stars in the desert and hear coyotes howl
*Write and publish a book(s)
*Travel toRio de Janiero, Cape Breton, South of France, Italy,Scotland, Wales, UK, Ireland, Norway, Turks & Caicos, New York City and the Eastern Seaboard; The Deep South, Africa

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

My 'Bucket List'

2 comments:

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