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The Bucket List

Believe • April 21, 2023

Do you have a bucket list? There are so many wonders in the world to read about and explore. I would say most, if not all of us desire experiences that enrich us and bring learning and joy. So, what is stopping you from doing some of these things?

If you are like me, you may simply need to start writing these things down. I have thought of several things, but I have never actually made a list. It’s hard to accomplish a task or a goal if we never write it down. Writing it down reminds us of what we are working towards.

A bucket list could include going on an airplane for the first time and traveling to a long-desired destination to explore, publishing a book, having a child, going whale watching, running a marathon, starting a business, overcoming a fear, and the potential list goes on. Some things can be quite simple, while others may take much planning.

I love these lines from Dr Seuss, “ You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!”

‘Brains in my head and feet in my shoes,’ let’s follow this thought for a minute. Last year this thought took me to visit my son and daughter-in-law, a trip which requires a bit of travel. It had been a cold winter and I had always wanted to walk on a frozen lake. Well, the conditions were just right and a lake close to them had frozen over. I knew this was my chance! My kids laughed at me, thinking this was quite a funny item to have on a bucket list (even if the list was still in my head).

Gratefully they were willing to go on this adventure with me. The drive through the mountains was breathtaking as we made our way to the frozen lake. I had always wanted to see this area in the winter, and it did not disappoint! The snow lay on the treetops and branches, everything was covered in this sparkling blanket of white. We spotted deer several times with excitement from all, both adults and younger kids alike.

As we came to the summit of the canyon, we were all struck by the beauty of the lake and its surroundings. As we arrived at the lake, we couldn’t get out of the car fast enough. The walk to the lake was a fun adventure through deep snow. We all stood at the edge of the lake with anticipation, one of the things on my bucket list was about to be fulfilled!

At the lake, we saw breathtaking waves that were frozen in place. We could sit on them and crawl under the curl, perfect for a picture. The blue/green water was frozen in time. We skated on the ice and marveled as the sun shone on the sparkly snow that still covered much of the ice.

My kids and I were intrigued to see if we could discover how thick the ice had frozen over. To our delight, there were a few holes in the ice that we were able to dig at with little effort to see that it was about 8-10 inches thick. It was a fun discovery and to see everyone be excited and experience things we didn’t expect was very memorable.

Here’s the thing, the journey was great, the lake was phenomenal, but it was the people I was with that made that bucket list item better than I imagined! This funny idea of walking on a frozen lake became something they too thought was bucket list worthy. Lists are great to have, they keep us moving forward, taking care of business, and hopefully having fun along the way. What is on your bucket list?

Be with the people who you love, who inspire you, who bring out the good in you. In these realms is where we can discover more of who we are and more of what our purpose in life is. Do the things that uplift, encourage, and help others do the same along the way.

At Believe, we are always looking for others who desire good and want to build good in the world. If you have ideas, ambitions, and lists, we would love for you to join us as we too are welcoming the opportunities all around us!