I’m not a bucket list person. I’ve stated that before. I always feel like if it’s on a “bucket list,” it’s not ever going to happen. I know, I know…pessimistic.
It’s just that when I sit and think about all I haven’t done yet and then look at my age (very close to being 36), I cringe. I find it’s easy to get down on myself when I think like that.
I do love the idea of a Reverse Bucket List though. Angela of Happy Fit Mama posted hers recently and I found myself nodding along. I love the idea of celebrating what we have already accomplished instead of dwelling on a list of yet-to-do’s (or never-will-do).
Because Angela inspired me, here is my Reverse Bucket List (in no particular order other than the stream of conscious spilling from my brain and seeping out of my fingers):
- earned two degrees: Bachelor’s and Master’s
- had four pregnancies
- gave birth via C-Section twice
Eddie’s Birth
Charlie’s Birth
- survived postpartum depression and anxiety
- trained for and did a 5K
- flew on a plane alone to California despite my fear of flying alone.
- had my heart broken by someone who wasn’t worth it.
- was published in PRINT
- is set to be published in print again
- have been in the same school district teaching for 13+ years…even through SEVERAL close calls with layoffs due to budget cuts.
- learned to admit when I am wrong, and apologize sincerely for it.
- did mission work to help rebuild after hurricane Andrew in the early 90’s.
- questioned the faith I was handed as a child, and came back to it on my own terms.
- helped my husband through abdominal surgery and the loss of his father…on the same day.
- miscarried without intrusive medical “help”
- sought help when things were not Ok.
- learned to say “no”
- got a job teaching at the college level
- got AP credits by taking the test, but not taking an AP class
- went to BlogHer…twice
BlogHer14, yo.
- began calling myself a writer…and meaning it.
- was honored as Teacher of the Year in 2004.
- was honored as Elective Teacher of the Year by the class of 2011.
- quite literally married my best friend.
- started (and kept up with) a blog {over 6.5 years, yo!)
- been a part of over a dozen weddings (including my own, of course)
- got a tattoo
- attended around 100 concerts
- saw Pearl Jam play Wrigley
Pearl Jam at Wrigley 2013
- saw both the Atlantic (honeymoon) and the Pacific in the span of a year
- took pictures of some of the dives that Pearl Jam played in Seattle before they were famous
- visited the John Lennon exhibit at the Rock n Roll hall of fame
- watched the fish get thrown at Pike’s Place in Seattle
Pike’s Place Market, Seattle
- drove through the Badlands
- went on “spring break” to Florida in college
- did a road trip with friends to NYC to see Dave Matthew’s play at Giant’s stadium (with Beck and Ben Folds Five) and stayed in the basement of the house of a family a friend nanny-ed for.
- saw The Phantom of the Opera on stage in Toronto
- watched fireworks from a boat many times
sunset over Lake Michigan just before fireworks
- went skinny dipping
- sang Snoop Dogg songs karaoke
- made a house a home
- never accidentally hit “reply all”
- participated in Habit for Humanity
- lead a staff Professional Development…that seemed successful
- picked myself back up when I didn’t want to.
Whew. That is all I can think of right now, which is pretty good, yes?
It’s so much more uplifting to think about your accomplishments than your “haven’t done yet’s”. I have a bad habit of DAILY going over the things I didn’t get to instead of celebrating the things I did. Even if the only thing I did was get out of bed. Some days that is an accomplishment on its own, am I right?
I’ve noticed this bad habit in Eddie too.
He is a worrier like me. He frets about the things he doesn’t know how to do yet, or didn’t get to do.
I think I need to help him develop a new habit: listing his accomplishments. I know making this list made me stand a little taller and smile a little wider.
How about you? What is your “reverse bucket list”? What have you accomplished?