Life List Additions: Travel to Kenya

In the spirit of yesterday's "Thankful" post #6, I have another addition to the Life List.

I want to take a trip to Kenya. I'd like to meet the little girl that I'm sponsoring, as well as her family. I'd like to lend a hand where possible during the visit and get to know them on a level deeper than financial contributions and monthly letters.

Kenya also happens to be a place full of new experiences and adventures. I'd love to go on a wildlife safari, lay out on the beaches of Mombasa, climb Mount Kilimanjaro, and see how most of the world lives. 

I can't wait to start planning this journey!

Life List Additions: Koala

A new addition to the bucket list... to hold a koala.

I tried to pet a baby tiger once and it bit me in the boob. I literally had to shake him off. Talk about jaws of steel. Hopefully koalas are a little friendlier ...and better monitored by trained professionals.

You can even see the tiger going in for the kill in this before pic. Notice the bite mark/ saliva in the after. I may be trying to laugh it off, but behind my sunglasses were tears of pain. Ouch.

The Bucket List

Here is my original "Life List" created and edited throughout middle school.

Some of these crack me up. Others? Still goals.

1. Get my pilot's license
2. Learn to fence
3. Write and publish a book (I can't believe some of these goals from 6th grade are still dreams of mine. Impressive that I was forward thinking enough to want to "publish" as well.)
4. Run a marathon
5. Get a tattoo (or two or three)
6. Teach a college course
7. Go skydiving
8. Read the Bible cover to cover
9. Attend a fashion show (I'd like to update this to NY Fashion week)
10. Volunteer as a firefighter
11. Move to LA (Apparently I always loved the place)
12. Win a contest
13. Build a house
14. Get arrested (Oops)
15. Swim in all the oceans
16. Earn an honorary degree
17. Go scuba diving
18. Get married
19. Go on an African safari
20. Learn to play the guitar (this was accurate for about 12 months)
21. Be on the cover of a magazine (I had big dreams at 12)
22. Live in 20 different cities (actually close to this one)
23. Become a mom
24. Become fluent in sign language
25. Ride in a hot air balloon
26. Go on a mission trip
27. Act in 12 movies (yeah, that's not happening)
28. Go white water rafting
29. Go rock climbing
30. Play a varsity sport (for the unathletic, this was a lofty goal)
31. Climb Machu Picchu (fairly certain at 12, I had no idea where this was, it just sounded cool)
32. See the Great Wall

Perhaps I'll begin the updated list with some less expensive/ more attainable goals.

Hundreds of Things

I want to try and start two new on-going projects of posts this holiday season.
The first is my life goal list. (or Bucket List for you fancy pants out there)

I started this list back in middle school and came across the collection of notebook paper the other day while going through some old memory boxes. Some of the items are beyond ridiculous, though still fun to include. Others I think I'll replace with new goals.

I was also happy to see that I've accomplished a handful of the goals I set for myself. Those might be fun posts to reflect with.

Second, in the spirit of the book One Thousand Gifts (which I have not read, but now think I will put on the top of my reading list) I thought I would challenge myself to come up with 100 things I am thankful for. The book encourages readers to capture your gifts, count your blessings, and share joy as it happens.

This has been a particularly hard 18 months for me. But through the struggle, I've found strength in unexpected places. Happiness where there should have been sadness. And an overall deeper appreciation for things that I once took for granted.