My To-Do Lists

I love lists. I am constantly making them. Lists of groceries we need, lists of things to do at work, lists of things to do at home.

No, wait - I hate lists. It's nice having a full fridge and pantry. And just listen to some of the things on my to-do lists. For work, I have to update addresses in a database, mail out some invoices, and file away a bunch of paperwork. At home, I have to call the plumber, rollover my 401K, and clean out the bathroom cabinet.

I get bored just thinking about all the things I have to do. Still, I feel constantly compelled to make lists.

I think I just get a kick out of those teeny tiny bursts of joy I feel when I put a check mark next to an item on a list. But what kind of a life is one spent checking off chores and work orders from a list? Time goes by fast, and when I'm old and looking back on my life's accomplishments I want to be able to say I did more than laundry, closet organization and database entry.

That's why I have another list. A fun list. It's a list of things I want to try, to do or to learn. Things like write a book, make painting a hobby, and travel the world. There's also some personal improvement goals on the list, like exercising and eating healthier, but working on those tasks has introduced me to things I've really come to enjoy, like yoga, rollerblading, and spinach salads with strawberries, pecans and Gorgonzola.

I've always carried such a list around with me in my head. Occasionally I'd write down the things I really wanted to do in a journal I'd never open again. Then, just over a year ago, I chanced upon a book that has helped me to not only list the things I want to do but to take steps to do them. Voila! More lists! The Girl Scout in me was especially drawn to this book, which is called (yes, I know it's cheesy) "You Can Do It! The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls." It included badges like "learn how to knit," "build a website," and "travel the world," but it also had some wild ideas I'd never thought about. Like start a rock band. Fly a plane. Open your own business. Walk on fire (yes, walk on fire - hot coals, actually).

It wasn't until after I'd checked out a few of the entries and started to build my list that I read about the author, Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas. She was one of those "live life to the fullest" kind of women. She was dedicated to mastering new skills, loved the outdoors, and celebrated her 30th birthday by learning to sky dive. She started to write this book with the hopes of encouraging other women to achieve their goals and realize their dreams as well. She died September 11th aboard United Airlines Flight 93. After her death, her two sisters picked up where she left off and completed the book. I highly recommend it to any of you (guys, I won't tell). Proceeds from the book support charitable causes of interest to Lauren, such as college scholarships, a neonatal unit at a Texas children's hospital, and a shelter for abused women and children.

And now, it's time to share with you some highlights of my ultimate to-do list:

1. Travel (halfway done - just need to GO to Prague!)
2. Fire walking (it just had to make the list)
3. Champion a cause/activism
4. Be an author (the blog's helping - but I hope to have some short stories ready for you soon)
5. Redo a room (goodbye dingy laundry room)
6. Learn a new language (I've been working on Brazilian Portuguese for a couple years. But really should learn some German and Czech in the coming weeks...)
7. Play an instrument (friend Greg's planning on giving me trumpet lessons soon)
8. Home maintenance
9. Art appreciation
10. Gardening
11. Entertaining
12. Make your own badge (oh, the possibilities...)

Completed thus far:
1. Budgeting
2. Yoga
3. Become well-read (a big accomplishment for me, who normally reads maybe a book a year)
4. Knitting (which I learned after two scarves just isn't my thing)
5. Painting (some friends and I meet once a week now to create masterpieces)
6. Fitness and nutrition

So...what's on your list?