My List

I was reading The Pioneer Woman this morning, and she has a list of things she's never done. And I thought "How interesting! My list would be very long! I wonder how many things I've actually 'checked off" my list.." So I sat down on OneNote, my go-to place for jotting down thoughts, lists, and organizing ideas, etc., and I started writting my list of "things I've never done." I know I've written a list of things I want to do before I die, and I was trying to think of things that were on that list. Now I'm not sure if my priorities have changed, or if I've done so many of the things I wanted to do, but my list didn't end up being very long! Of the things I've never done, several of them are rather broad (like visiting England, France, Ireland, Australia, etc.), and renovating a house (beyond the paint and repairs we've been tackling in our current house). The travelling is one that I'm sure I'll be working on for the rest of my life, and I'm okay with that! I'd also like to go on a train trip, and a hot air balloon ride (although I'll have to work up the nerve for that one!) Of all of them, the most meaningful thing I haven't done yet is have children. I'd like to work a bit more on the travelling and the renovating before I start on the baby chapter of life. But at 30, I am aware that my time is a bit more limited now than it was at 20. Hopefully within a few years I'll be ready for that.

But I think the most important thing I realized is all of the things I have done! When I couldn't think of anything else to add to the list of things I've never done, I started writting a list of things I have done in my 30 years! Had you asked me an hour ago, I would have said I haven't done much; I've spent much of the last 30 years "waiting for my real life to begin." But in retrospect, thinking of the things I'd like to do in my life, I've got a darn good start, and I've been incredibly lucky.

I have:

Danced in the rain, truely. I soaked it all in.

Faced my fear of heights: Looked "over the edge" countless times with my husband holding my hand, been up the CN tower, the Seattle Space Needle, the Skylon Tower, the Minolta Tower, been on the SkyWheel, and been over the Capilano Suspension bridge.

(Me "enjoying" the view from the CN Tower, circa 2000?)

Seen Niagara Falls

Been to Disney Land

Sewed clothes for myself

Went to University, and graduated, twice

(BA graduation 2004, with my brother and sister)

Drank wine with my Grandmother

Swam in a pool, a river, a lake, and an ocean

Made sand castles

Baked and cooked up a storm!

Been to Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland)

(Kissed a troll in Oslo)

Ate reindeer (not sure if I should brag about that, but really it's the same as caribou, right?) 

Been snorkeling

Been scuba diving (in a pool)

Run a 5KM race

Been to Ottawa (This wouldn't have actually been on my list at all, until I did it and LOVED Ottawa!)

Been on a road trip to California, twice, down the coast of course 

 (Taken a picture with my honey on the pier in Santa Barbara at sunset)

Lived in a small town, two small cities, and a big city (Vancouver)

Knit a scarf

Painted a picture and hung it on my wall (I have four on display now and several "in the works")

Moved 'away from home'

Driven from BC to Ontario

(Taken a tourist snapshot with the Moose in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan!)

Taught elementary school

Been a Brownie leader

Met the man of my dreams (corny, I know, but so true!)

Bought a car

Got married in Mexico, on the beach

 (Kissin' in the sand on the beach, post ceremony)

Bought a house

Researched my family tree

Worked in a framing department (several months ago I actually said to Ian that I would like to learn framing, and in some weird twist of fate, I found the opportunity presented itself when I least expected it!)

Cooked turkey dinner for my family

Started a home-based business

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it has given me a real appreciation for what I've had, and for what I have now. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves how lucky we are, and today I realized how truely blessed I have been. I have a very long list of things I've done, and even more important is the list of people I have had in my life! I was blessed with an amazing family, an incredible husband, and phenomenal friends. It's funny how much the other stuff doesn't matter when you think about what does.