My Brimming Bucket List

My Bucket List

The pail is getting full! The longer you live the shorter the list should be getting but instead I find the contrary to be true as the more places that I've traveled to, the interactions with interesting people and the strange and exciting experiences I've had, the more lengthy my list gets!

So, I decided to write down my new bucket list. Shortening some of the places that I want to travel to and experiences I want to have some day so that it’s not like that greedy kid’s list at Christmas time but instead full of ones that I would like to one day accomplish.

Here Goes Nothing!

1)      Travel to every continent and country at least once!

2)      Run a full marathon. I’m running a half marathon in March but shooting for the whole enchilada some day!

3)      Hot Air balloon ride-I’ve been skydiving but I want to try the balloon on for size

4)      Own a house, apartment, or even a dog some day. This renting thing is for the birds!

5)      Have a book/song published

Wikimedia Commons

6)      Hang Glide

7)      Fly a plane

8)   Take a leap of faith, find that special someone and have something lasting. Not necessarily marriage but commitment.

9)   Have enough money one day that I could make my parent’s never have to worry about finances again

10)   Be Healthy, Happy and Embrace Life as long as I live.

Roadrunner Beep Beep!

In the last few years I’ve really ramped up my workouts and decided that for a new year’s resolution, I wanted to eventually run a marathon. So although I already do lengthy elliptical workouts it’s back for some hardcore treadmill time.

The only way that I decided that I could stick to my resolution was to sign up for a half marathon. To my surprise I already received word that I’m part of the Habitat for Humanity NYC half marathon team When I jump, I dive in, with a splash! So on March 20^th I get ready to start my engines.

That expression, I’m every woman is ‘running’ through my head. Now for the butt kicking at the gym to intensify! The crazy part of this whole thing besides the sore legs, the night before the Big Race I'll just have returned home from St. Lucia! What the 'beep beep' was I thinking? 





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‘Born to Run’

Yes, Springsteen ‘sang’ it best, but have you ever felt that you keep running around knowing what you’re after but in search of it, you whirl around until you're dizzy and then with despair realize you’re standing  exactly in the same spot you started?

Life is such a strange epidemic, we keep telling yourselves if we only had more time, money, kids, love, adventure, security…fill in the blank, we would be happy. Instead if we just took a few minutes to examine what we have in front of us, we might realize how much we have rather than not!

It’s easy to get caught up in the ‘I Want’ factor; I am guilty of this myself but in realizing what we have is the true testament to our lives. Those who have children and husbands, have family always around them, those who are single, have time to go out and strive for new possibilities, those with money, give some away, if you don’t want it, those who don’t, find someone who does (just kidding) and those who crave more time, examine your life and cut out the crap that binds you down. Only keep in your life what is important and let the rest drift away!

Pictures from Wikimedia Commons

Bid Farewell to Fair-Weather Friends

As we usher in 2011, besides making those fair-weather resolutions let’s make a real one to get rid of those fair-weather friendships.

Too many times we allow "well-meaning" individuals to cause us unnecessary heartache or frustration when the ones we really need to concentrate on are those forever friends who make us feel good about ourselves. Bid a fond or fierce farewell to those who hinder your happiness.

The true test of a friend is that after spending time together you walk away feeling good about yourself and look forward to the next time. Now, I'm not being harsh, everyone has times of turmoil in which you need to rely on your friend to be a sounding board but overall a friendship should be friendly rather than toxic.

Make 2011 a year where you'll be true to yourself, kick those killer friendships to the curb and keep those forever friends close!

Images from Wikimedia

Far From Home—Big Apple Baby!

During this time of year everyone takes a moment to reflect on their past and the future. By standing at life’s preverbal bridge it requires reflection on the decisions that have impacted your life. What might have or what will happen in the future is anyone guess but the excitement I find in life is that anything can happen if you take a leap of faith!

Looking back, I can’t believe it’s been ten years since I moved to New York City and it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made. It’s hard to be away from friends and family but the course life has taken since then has been such a drastic change that it’s comical to consider how my life would have been had I not gone.

Confidence is born when you have to strike out on your own, perilously walking along that tightrope, without having a safety net in case you falter while cautiously putting one foot ahead of the other, not knowing if you can make it but having the endurance to keep on going.

Adventure is the spice of life and without its addition; it can prove bland or tasteless. Why be safe or cookie cutter as you only live once so what if you get a little burnt along the way, it just adds to the flavor!  

New York City at Night-Pictures from Wikimedia Commons

‘Happy Talk---Talk About the Things You Like to Do?’ From your own Little Miss Chatterbox

Do you remember the Mr. Men and Little Miss children’s books? Some of the characters from the show and books were Little Miss Chatterbox, Mr. Happy, Little Miss Sunshine, Mr. Grumble, Little Miss Naughty, and Mr. Perfect.

I always loved the cartoon characters and the zany way they were portrayed. Everyone had a distinct personality and the neighbors knew how to curtail their involvement and side-step situations. Maybe we could take a ‘page’ from the past!

Images from Wikimedia Commons

Has this been engrained in our psyche since we were little children that our personality is one-note? What about having a card that we can hang around our neck depending on our moods? Black dot, stay away, yellow, come near but cautiously, green, jealously rearing its prideful head or blue, sad and I need a hug.

We have to wear nametags why not mood icons, wouldn’t that be more effective?

Things to make you go hmm? Game of Life



Game of Life-WikiMedia



How do you know if a decision is the right one for you? By straddling that line between what’s to come and what’s familiar, you’re teetering on both levels trying to figure out what’s the best jumping off point.

Everyone always says you can go home again, but what if you change home? By altering your home base, you’re either stepping up to the plate hoping for a homerun or ducking the three strikes ‘route.’

Right now I feel like a roulette wheel that’s still spinning in determination of what number will come up and where I’ll land.