Dream Books & Bucket Lists
About two weeks ago, it hit me like a ton of bricks -- I will be 40 in two years.   I am not sure why the realization came to me in the middle of my workday.  I was not being reflective about my life, I was just going about my day, in the usual routine, in the usual way and WHAM there it was – the big 4-0 staring me in the face.  I don’t feel or look close to 40 just the opposite, I feel like I am in my twenties.  Maybe that was why I became so introspective about it.  

Stay with me, this is not going to be a lengthy discussion about how my life is over or things have never gone my way over the last 38 years.  I have a great life.  I am going to celebrate!  I just did not realize that the celebration had crept up on me so quickly.

I have lots of planning to do for this great new adventure in my life.   If you are at this point or closer to your next big life change, take this journey with me.

When I was 22, I created a dream book.  The book has traveled with me, been in every desk drawer at every job, and has been carried from pillar to post.   It is very simple.  I used a spiral bound, 50 page, 4”x6” set of note cards, a pile of old magazines, saved fortune cookie fortunes, favorite poems, newspaper clippings and stickers to compile my book.  I assigned one page per goal or dream.  Going through the magazines, I found images to represent the dreams or goals.  I pasted the pictures into the book.  Each page represented a separate dream but somehow, the book created a picture of the life I envisioned for myself.  I included material wants and emotional needs.  The images depicted how I wanted to look, a picture of a family, a picture of my dream house, and pictures representing emotions such as love, romance, fun, and peacefulness.

Most of the dreams and goals have come true over the years and some are still in the works but are more clear and attainable than ever.  One day I will have a dream house in the mountains, a cherry red convertible ’67 Ford Mustang, and will make a living exclusively as a professional writer.  Each day, I work toward those goals.

I have decided to create a “bucket list” to complete over the next two years.  Using the same method as my dream book, I will create a book with everything that I would like to do before I turn 40.   I believe my “youth” deserves a proper burial and the second half of my life a grand opening with fireworks!  A few of the things on my list are to take a ballroom dancing class, complete a competitive equine trail riding event, hike part of the Appalachian trail, take a trip to Italy, and publish a book.

What would be in your dream book?  I encourage you to create your own dream book no matter what your age or stage in life.  Dream big dreams – the worst that can happen is the small dream you had comes true.

I want to leave you with my favorite poem by Veronica A. Shaffstall:

After a while, you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning and company doesn’t mean security,
And you learn kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises,
And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open, with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child,
And you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrows ground is too uncertain for plans.
After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure…That you really are strong and you really do have worth.

Take care and dream big!

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