I am a list person. I love the organizing process of making lists and the fulfillment of crossing each item off. Sometimes I even add completed items to a list just so I can immediately cross them off. I find lists useful in just about every situation and I am positive that I make way more lists than the average person but I guess that just goes with my extreme need to always stay organized. Anyway, two lists that I started back in high school and have continued to update since then have been my bucket list and the list of things I have already accomplished in life. I think it is important to always keep future goals in mind so you can work towards them while also remembering what you have already accomplished. It always amazes me when I look back at the list of what I have done - usually in those down times when I am feeling as if I have done nothing and may never do anything! As I am completely travel obsessed, most of my list revolves around travel experiences. These are the experiences that made me feel that I was really living and not just getting by and the kind of moments that I still smile about (and maybe tear up about) when I look back on. I think everyone should have a way of keeping track of the things they have accomplished whether it be work related, family related or personal. So I challenge you to go make a list! Here's the list of things I have done; I stumbled upon it tonight and it made me smile as usual so I updated it and thought I would share!
- Hiked a mountain in Colorado
- Seen Niagara Falls
- Napped under the Eiffel Tour
- Walked down Broadway in NYC
- Seen the Today show live (2x, shook Al Roker’s hand!)
- Been in the White House
- Zip lined through the Jamaican jungle
- Been in a castle
- Sailed in the Caribbean
- Kissed a sting ray
- Spoke French to someone
- Eaten crepes on the streets of Paris with two of my best friends
- Eaten dinner with a traditional isiXhosa family
- Surfed in the Indian Ocean
- Befriended South Africans
- Hiked two days up Table Mountain
- Horseback rode on the desolate beach in Jeffery’s Bay
- Bungee jumped from the World Cup 2010 stadium in Durban
- Shark cage dived with Great Whites in False Bay
- Boated through a pod of 500+ dolphins at sunrise in False Bay
- Drove on the left side of the road
- Graduated with my B.S. in Accounting from Truman State University
- Drove solo half way across the U.S. St. Louis to Boston
- Moved to Boston on my own
- Saw Wicked on Broadway
- Saw NYC from the Statue of Liberty/Empire State Building
- Went into Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian’s store DASH in NYC
- Saw Buckingham Palace while the Queen was inside
- Worked at an NGO where I was the only white, English speaking employee
- Was a tourist extra in the South African film GrapeJuice
- Went hiking in Lesotho with nomadic herders singing all around us
- Saw the most incredible stars and the sunrise in remote Malealea, Lesotho
- Saw the Big 5 in Kruger National Park
- Went to sleep to the sound of lions roaring
- Slept on the beach under the stars in Koolbai, South Africa
- Attended COP17 and the Rural Women’s Assembly on Climate Change
- Was a bridesmaid in my cousin’s wedding
And now I am just 53 days away from setting off to work on another goal of mine: getting a masters degree! I knew I would be excited if I got accepted but I think I have officially exceeded my expected level of excitement. I have already completed most of my packing way ahead of schedule because I am that ready to head to Edinburgh! I have also been assigned my housing so I think it makes everything so much more real. Thanks to Google Maps I can see what my building looks like and view my entire walk from the flat to my classes. Crazy! I have been assigned a flat about 15-20 minutes walking distance from my classes and I will have 5 other post-graduate roommates. In addition, I have heard nothing but amazing things about Edinburgh since being accepted. Everyone that has been there seems to be in love with the city - my dental hygienist even told me that I most likely won't come back (though she hopes I do once in awhile to get my teeth cleaned)! And so the countdown continues! I don't know whether to expect the time to fly or drag on!
