Well, here we are – another Christmas over – and it’s time to make our New Year resolutions, or a bucket list.
I was reading about someone who makes a bucket list – consisting of some things that are quite adventurous, but others that are everyday things we sometimes forget can give us a lot of pleasure. Not only did they write the things they wanted to do on the list but also the reason they wanted to do it.
I would like to visit Dawlish Warren again as I’ve not been since I was a child and it holds such nice memories. Some would say we shouldn’t look back, but memories are sometimes better than the real thing.
I am not adventurous – no jumping out of planes or abseiling down the side of buildings for me! I once saw someone abseil down the side of the 170-metre-high Spinnaker Observation Tower in Portsmouth, and all the while too afraid to look down or around (to admire the view!). They were just concentrating hard on holding onto the ropes … but least they were brave enough to do it.
We cannot change who we are so sometimes what sounds like something very adventurous is just not for us. We should be grateful for the things we are able to do, and just occasionally push ourselves outside our comfort zone.
I know of a young lady who is a nurse. She has three young children as well as working full time and recently was asked to give a talk at a medical conference. Her initial reaction was to say no, but then she realised that if the powers that be had asked her they must have faith in her. So she set to it, preparing and rehearsing her talk and organising for her family to be looked after while she travelled to London and spoke in front of an audience of around 125 people. ‘I did it!’ she said, and she has the photos and certificate to prove it. Well done to her!
It made me smile that on my granddaughter’s bucket list a few years ago she included wanting to see the Aurora Borealis. Off she went to Iceland but the Northern Lights didn’t appear. She’s seen them since though – from her own back garden!
When we make a New Year’s resolution to change a habit, we can sometimes set the bar too high and end up giving in to temptation. Instead of seeing it as a failure, think of it as a mere stumble in the road; pick yourself up and carry on, count the days that you do manage to keep your promise and one day you might just wake up and realise you’ve achieved your goal.
Some people like to tell everyone their plans. But why not keep it to yourself, making a note somewhere and when you manage whatever it is then tell others of your achievement. You’ll get a ‘well done’ from some, others won’t believe you’ve done it, but the most important thing is that you know and can say, ‘I DID IT.’