Day 31: Old, Boring 50: A New #Bucket List

1. Travel – when I was eighteen, I wrote a bucket list of places I wanted to go in the world - that seemed like a totally unattainable goal. But less than ten years later, had gone almost everywhere on that list (and a lot of places that were not on the list). Here are a few places I still hope to see in my lifetime: New York City, Washington, DC, The Great Wall of China, Japan, Jerusalem, and Mexico.
2. Publish – get a book published.
3. Learn – to cook new dishes, dance new dances, paint beautiful pictures, and make quilts. I have a lot of academic knowledge; I’m ready to learn some fun stuff.

Wow – my list is short (but dense!). Any suggestions?

Day 30. A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.

August 30, 2013

Dear Suzi,

You’re a good mom. You always put your kids’ needs before your own. You’re a good friend and willing to give more than you get (or expect) in return. You love your parents and siblings. You adore and respect your husband. You spend your days helping young adults improve their lives.

You stand up for what’s right. You’re brave.

Sincerely,

Suzi

PS It was difficult to write such a conceited blog post. Please leave a comment about something (or everything) you love about yourself so I don’t feel like such a narcissist!

Day 29. Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.

I hope to get more organized (see day #1) so I can live more peacefully and find things when I need them. This was an easy day.

What’s something you want to change about yourself? 

or...

Do you have a handy tip or helpful hint on getting more organized?

Please share…

Day 28. What if you were #pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?

I would be thrilled if I were pregnant. I’m not expecting to have more children at the ripe old age of 40, but I would welcome one if God blessed our family this way.

I love babies. I love being pregnant. I love nursing and cuddling my babies. I miss those days. So, while it’s nice that my children are all school aged, another one would be fabulous.

Day 27. What’s the best thing going for you right now? #blessings

I’m gonna blow this by having more than one “best” thing. I can’t help it. Life is good!

I’m very blessed with an amazing family: a loving husband, awesome kids, supportive parents – and that’s just my immediate family! I also appreciate my siblings, nieces, nephews, and grandnephews. So much love!

I’m also very grateful for the new job I started this week as a school reading specialist.  I spent the past two years as an adjunct writing professor – a job I absolutely loved. But the new job brings full time income and health insurance – wow, what a luxury. But the best benefit is that my children attend the same school, so I can help provide for my family without being away from them.

Your turn: life can be full of disappointments and stress – but what is the best thing you’ve got going for you right now?

Day 26. Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why? #suicide

Never seriously. I have had some dark days – the most pronounced when I experienced two miscarriages in just a few months’ time (I wrote about that experience in May in the blog post titled “Lost Babies”).

I could never consider ending my own life primarily because my children need their mother and I wouldn’t / couldn’t abandon them. Secondarily, and not incidentally, I have a serious and sometimes debilitating fear of Hell, and would expect an expedient and irreversible one-way pass to H-E-Double Hockey Sticks if I were to make that choice. Please understand that I’m not judging others or stating what I think anyone else’s final fates / destination to be. I also wrote about this subject in January in the blog post title “Thou Shalt Not Kill Thyself”.

Have YOU ever considered giving up?

Day 25. The reason you believe you’re still alive today.

I’m often shocked that I AM alive. I’ve taken enough chances to not be. I bungeed jumped at age nineteen – what was I thinking? That was terrifying. I’ve travelled all over four continents ignoring the advice to get inoculated against serious diseases. Twice, I’ve survived an unwanted game of Russian Roulette at a range of about four feet. I’ve ridden on broken-down rickety airplanes and as a passenger with irresponsible drivers. I’ve been in a few serious car crashes (cars were totaled). I’ve nearly been hit by numerous semi-trucks, pickups, etc.  

I believe I’m alive because I have unfinished business. The most pressing of which is raising my children to be successful, god-fearing, productive members of society.

While I’m alive I hope that God will entrust me with meaningful tasks of service, encouragement, etc.

Readers: why do you believe you’re still alive?