A long time ago I used to have a 43 Things list (also a 43 Places list). One day, while looking at it, I thought it was causing more frustration than anything; mostly because I wasn’t doing anything to make any of those things happen. So I deleted it and I’ve never thought about a life list anymore. And then today I read Daniel’s Bucket List and what I saw immediately is that it is simple, short, to the point, specific and non-overwhelming. Can I make one for myself too? Sure I can… the problem is, the second I start working on it I set up myself up for failure.

Yes, sometimes I think I can’t dream or wish for things because they simply won’t happen. Or I think they will require the effort I’m not willing to put into them. Or I’ve learned to live my life in a way where things just happen. I don’t know… sometimes it’s frustrating. And yes, there are many things I’ve wanted to do that I’ve accomplished, but like I said, I don’t allow myself to wish for specific things and I think it’s time to change that.

My bucket list may change from day to day. But if you ask me today what I want to do before I kick the bucket I would tell you that I want to (I’m going to stick to 10 things for now)…

Mother a child. Of my own or adopted, it doesn’t matter. My husband is probably cringing reading this because I tell him it’s no biggie if I don’t have kids, but I think it would be great and it would add wonderful things to our life together.

Take my mother on a trip to Spain. She’s always wanted to go and I absolutely MUST make this happen after all the things she’s done for me.

Play the piano. I know it’s hard and I’ll never be famous for it, but I’ve always wanted to learn and never did it before. Age is not important; I remember Jean Chrétien’s wife learning to play the piano well into her 60s.

Visit my best friend in Japan. I haven’t seen her in years and the older I grow, the more I realize I will never find a friend like her. So it’s time to see her and have fun learning about the Japanese culture. My husband would love it.

Lose weight and don’t gain it back. Yeah, tough one… but doable. It’s mostly about changing my life style because I’m tired of the yo-yo effect.

Learn another language. I already speak 3 and I want to add more. I think I’ll stick to romance languages and learn either Italian or Portuguese.

Go for runs. I so want to be like those people I see on the street jogging/running with no effort. I want to attain that kind of fitness.

Travel more. Ireland, Hawaii, Greece, British Columbia, Alaska. That’s my top list.

Get a place I can call my own. I say I like renting, but that’s not completely true. I want a craft room for me and I man cave for my hubby.

Go for walks with my husband when we’re old. That means staying together no matter what and doing everything I can to make it happen. Call it taking care of my health, taking care of my relationship, practicing kindness, patience and love every day.

Now it’s time to work on it. And there’s not place for failure.