Okay, I often think how freaky it is that I'll be thinking about something, and then wham, there's someone else thinking the same thing.
I'd been saving this post up for a bit, mostly because I wasn't really ready to write about it Just Yet, but after reading Chris Brogan's entry called "The Bucket Meme", I realized I had to pipe up.
I'd already written that the reason I got off my duff and got this blog up and running was because I was prompted by Bruce Murray in an email. But the reason we were exchanging those emails? Bruce wrote to tell me about a new programme on the Slice Network called "The List", in which participants are challenged to check off challenges from the Life List. I sat down to watch it, and one of the ads? Was for the new movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman -- "The Bucket List" -- so I promptly sent Bruce the link for it.
I'd been planning on going to see it so that I could talk about it and the experience of list-making on my Cinéfolle podcast, and then, whammo, I read Chris Brogan's blog this morning.
I'll be writing more about this once I can get some of the ideas running around in my brain to settle into some coherent form, but let me say this: I think one of the most important things that happened to me last year was to be challenged by Bruce to re-do my life list. It's a little more than a year since I did that -- I sat down in December 2006 and opened a notebook and started writing, and I revisited the list occasionally to add things (and remove things -- some things I'd originally put on the list I changed my mind about) -- and in that time, here are just a few of the things I've done:
- I learned how to use the weights at the gym (I'd known for a long time I needed to do this, but putting it on my life list gave me the shove I needed to actually do it);
- I produced a podcast for my birthday last year (those of you who know me know that I don't "do" birthdays, so this was a big change for me);
- I baked a ciambellone (an Italian cake) and posted the recipe on the advent blog I ran last year;
- I baked vin santo cookies (also Italian, and exceptionally good cookies) and wrote up a recipe for the advent blog, too;
- I re-did the banner (twice) for my old blog. You may think this is a small thing, but I'm not great at using the technology required, so it was more of a learning experience than you might imagine;
- I finished Clapotis (okay, I really don't want to talk knitting here, but let's just say it was a project that turned out to be the most deadly dull thing I'd ever knit, and I'd left it unfinished for a long time, and when I put it on the list, it was done in a week - AND -- it's one of the few things that I constantly get compliments on);
- I finished the Fir Cone Shawl -- same deal as the scarf;
- I participated in Project 365 (ok, until about October when life just exploded and I ran out of things to take pictures of, BUT, it was a totally worthwhile experience, I learned a lot about myself and my life doing it, and I think it was one of the things that pushed me to realize I had to make some changes);
- I attended Podcasters Across Borders 2007. I wasn't sure I'd be able to -- R. was unemployed for almost a year, and miraculously got a new job just in time for us to be able to go. I have to say that I think it was one of the most important things I did last year, for a variety of reasons, and six months later, I can see how my life has changed as a result of having done it.
Now, as for 2008? After looking over the list to pull those finished items off it, I realized that there are a few things on the list I could get to right away -- and some more things I want to add (though I'll save those for a future post). But I really do believe in the power of making a Life List, that the simple act of putting something on the list releases some kind of energy and sets some kind of action into play. When Bruce challenged me to re-make my life list all those months ago, I wasn't prepared for all the ways my life would change as a result. But I wouldn't trade the last year for anything, because all the lows were more than made up for by the incredible people I met as a result of my list, by the pride I've felt in striking off even the most seemingly simple things.
There are a lot of big dreams on my list. I put them there just as an exercise, but now? I really do believe some of them might be possible. And I'm excited to see where the next year will take me.
Oh, before I forget -- there's one thing I put on the list last year that I actually didn't accomplish: "Buy Bruce Murray a beer at PAB 2007".
So Bruce? I owe you one. Big time.
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