My Bucket List

Wow....it's kind of difficult to summarize this...I actually never really compiled a list such as this, so this is making me really do some hard thinking. I must admit I am not the most adventurous person, so bear with me if my list is not as exciting as some of the rest of our classmates' lists are! LOL!

I usually put a lot of energy around my kids, but I guess for this to be "my" bucket list, I probably need to do what I do least often, and that is focus on myself. Maybe that's why this particular post is so difficult...I seldom put that much thought into my own goals, etc. One of the things I would love to do is obtain my Master's degree. It may not be as fancy and some other folk's desires, but I really would like to continue learning and achieving. I think the would give me a sense of accomplishment. I am happy with my current degree, but obtaining something higher has been a goal of mine that I had put on the back burner. So, at some point, I would really like to get that higher degree!
My next "bucket list" item would be to learn how to swim. Yes, it's true---I never learned how! We grew up in the country, but swimming was one of those things we never learned to do! I remember going to hotels and seeing the pools, but we couldn't really enjoy them because neither my sister or myself knew how to swim. We'd just wade in the water..which was fine, but I just feel like everyone should eventually learn how to swim. I think my fear of water comes from me not knowing how to swim. So to address that fear, the best thing for me to do would be to learn to swim.

I would also one day like to have my own business. I don't know what it would be, but I would like to become an entrepreneur. I have thought about a tax business, but I don't like all the headache..I've thought about something for youth, but that takes a lot of time and patience..so I'm still trying to figure out just what it is I would want to do. I just know it would be nice to have an additional source of income from a positive business that also helps others better themselves.

My next bucket list item would probably be to overcome my hesitance to speak and become more of a public speaker. I admire those who can get up and deliver a message. I have had to do that a couple times in the past, but it was usually not by choice. I think my problem is learning to get comfortable with being up in front of people. I feel like I have a lot of helpful information to share, I just am reluctant many times because I don't like to bring that attention to myself. Maybe one day I will be brave and seize the moments when I have an opportunity to get up and speak without doubting myself. I know this is something that will have to come from within. Shaking the fear is something I have to do...

Finally...as I wrap up some of my "bucket list" items...I want to learn to be true to myself. That my sound weird, but that is something so many of us do not and do and don't realize it. We often live our lives out of "expectations" or what seems "proper", but somehow we lose our real selves while we are trying to fit into these "templates" we have let society design for us. It may be as small as limiting our goals or something as big as being miserable in a job but choosing to stay there just because you feel you need to. I think as we age, wisdom does come, and I just want to be able to live my life where I am accepting of those things I cannot change but am not afraid to be true to myself. I believe that is when life is most meaningful..when people's perceptions are no longer the driving force of how you live...when what matters most is living "your" life.

 

Class Review

I want to say how much I have really enjoyed this class! I didn't quite know what to expect initially, but I am so glad I signed up! I have learned so much. The things I learned in this class were practical and applicable to so many different areas of my life. I feel like I have a better understanding of the Internet and its capabilities. I was nervous about the PowerPoint presentation, but now I know if I need to prepare another one, I am able. I feel more confident in my skills. I was skeptical about the blog posts, but I now feel like I have an outlet to share my thoughts. The blog posts also allowed the class to get to know one another. I think we all learned so much about each other through the blog posts. Thanks to our great instructor for being patient and working with us. This has really been a great experience!