Buckets and Steppingstones

I completed a couple of fascinating assignments this week.  Firstly, my bucket list.  50 things I want to do before I die.  I started my list by thinking of places that I want to visit or re-visit, and as I progressed through my list it became harder and harder to think of things that I want to do.  That's when something interesting happened.  My list suddenly became less about "things", and more about "experiences".

"Visiting the Holy Land" is something to do. "Enhancing my testimony of the Saviour by walking where he walked" can be life changing, but is essentially the same.  I didn't re-write my bucket list, but my list became more experiential, eg "holding a baby in its first day of life", is magical, spiritual and free.  The discussion board also gave me some additional ideas.  Here is my list:

1. Great Wall of China
2. Pyramids
3. Holy Land
4. Taj Mahal
5. Mediterranean Cruise
6. Set up my own business
7. Complete an on-line degree
8. See those big rocks in Southern Utah
9. Christmas Devotional
10. Drive West Coast Highway 1 (California)
11. Take a photography class
12. Movement of the sun, photo project
13. Borough Market, London
14. Watch the Calgary Flames in an NHL playoff game
15. Go on one more proper date
16. Pay off my mortgage – completely
17. Go to 40 temples (26 done already)
18. Play one hymn in a church meeting (piano or organ)
19. Zip line at COP
20. Grow something that I can eat
21. 365 day photo blog
22. Eat a meal at Dukes in Honolulu
23. Put $100 behind the counter at Tim Horton’s and watch the reaction
24. Run a 5K
25. Walk another marathon
26. Complete a Sprint Triathlon
27. Watch the Star Wars movies on opening night
28. Be an extra in a movie
29. Volunteer at ICU
30. Complete 4 generations
31. Luge at COP
32. General Conference at Conference Centre
33. Go to the Opera
34. Watch a musical in the West End
35. Walk up Sulphur Mountain in Banff
36. Photograph a black bear
37. Have a professional portrait photo taken
38. Laugh till I cry
39. Drink a Perrier on the Champs Elysees
40. Eat a Yorkshire Pudding in Yorkshire
41. Make a perfect Yorkshire pudding that my grandma would be proud of
42. Have dinner in the Inn that my great granddad managed in 1900 (Yes, it still exists!)
43. Achieve goal weight and stay there for at least a month!
44. Shoot a gun in a firing range
45. Hold a baby on it’s first day of life
46. Have a pedicure with my step daughter and granddaughters
47. Invite my neighbor to dinner
48. Read a Charles Dickens novel
49. Read the Harry Potter books
50. Go to a formal dress event

Some of these things are super-easy, and some are not - so I think it makes for a good balance!

This experience also helped to form my "stepping stones" thoughts.  "What do I want to do when I grow up"?  At 55 years old, I'm a little late into this game, but my stepping stone became a little more experiential, but still remained professional and realistic!

Finally, I was inspired by Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture".  What a wonderful man.  I am not sure I would have his courage and tenacity. 

To specifically answer the questions about Randy:

• Why do you think Randy Pausch was able to achieve so many of his childhood dreams?

Randy was an independent thinker, it started with the support his parents provided, but he focused on achieving his goals, NOTHING was going to stop him.  This week we learned about Edison and Tyson and their willingness to fail in order to achieve success. Randy had a similar perspective.  There is no such thing as failure!

• Do you feel that dreaming is important? Why or why not?

I do think that dreaming is important.  There are enough inspirational leaders that dream big - so I know it is important.  However, it is absolutely something that I struggle with.  I feel that planning is far more valuable than dreaming.  I still have a lot to learn!

• Discuss at least one of your childhood dreams. Explain why you believe you can or cannot achieve this dream.

I actually don't recall having childhood dreams. I am not sure whether that is because I'm too old to remember them or whether it is because I have never been a dreamer.  However.  later in life I dreamed of becoming a lawyer.  I have left it too late to achieve that.  The schooling alone would take too long, and I would need to financially support myself while studying.  However, my steppingstone goals give me exposure to this field which will satisfy that dream!