Call It A Bucket List If You Want To!

Earlier this week, I had a conversation with Nellie Jo (she not only plays a character in my books but one in my real world, too.) It saddened me to hear her say that she could never do something she wanted to do. This is the same grandmother who three years ago said she could never do anything but clean. Since then, she has become a children's librarian while attending college full-time (and made Dean's List!), taken her first plane ride with me to Chicago, went to Las Vegas on her 2nd plane trip with a co-worker, went on television to talk about the library and so many other amazing things.  She says I make her do these things, but I just laugh and keep on encouraging her.  This morning, a similar conversation with my best friend, Kim, who has always wanted to write a children's book but just hasn't gotten around to it, made me think about the voices in our head that says we shouldn't or can't do things that we want in life.

This afternoon, as I was walking the most magnificent JRT, Watson, and his goofy friend, Fritz, I thought about how many times I've heard someone say they could never do something they truly wanted because they were "too old" or "not smart enough" or "not talented enough." Well, folks, I am hear to tell you, get off your behinds and just do it.  I listened to those same negative voices both inside and outside of my head for years.  I finally decided that only I could silence those voices.  I started to doing the things I always wanted to do and that bring joy into my life.  So to encourage all of you, I am making a list of things I have done in the past decade.

1.    Went back to college and obtained my B.A. and M.L.S.
2.    Reconnected with my high school sweetheart and married him.
3.    Learned to play a fiddle (badly, but it makes me happy so who cares!)
4.    Ran a half marathon in Alaska (those who know me can attest to my aversion to exercise plus I hadn't run since my early twenties!)
5.    Wrote my first short story on a lark, entered it into the WV Writer's Contest and won Honorable Mention.
6.    Bought the goats I wanted since I was five years old and you know what?  They make me happy!
7.    Learned how to make wine and honey mead.
8.    Planted a small vineyard.
9.    Built a large high tunnel to grow organic vegetables here at Bella Lilly Vineyard and Farm.
10.  Took a beekeeping class. (Sherlock Holmes raised bees.)
11.  Learned to crochet.  (Thank you, Caroline!)
12.  Learned to spin yarn. (I admit I am still perfecting that art. It is not as easy as it looks.)
13.  Learned to weave.
14.  Learned how to bake really amazing artisan bread by taking a Craftsy class online.
15.  I am now learning yoga.
16.  Wrote my first book, Death is Long Overdue, as part of NaNoWriMo and am already working on    two more novels and a few short stories.
17.  Currently participating in the American Library Association's first Career Development Facilitator's course taught by the amazing Dr. Caitlin Williams and will be a certified CDF by summer.

Have I done all of these things well?  Of course not.  I have, however, enjoyed each of them immensely, and more importantly, I gained self-confidence.  I know that I can do anything if I truly want it and am willing to put forth the effort to accomplish it.  Nothing came easily.  It all required perseverance and practice.

By the end of this year, I will learn to knit and make jewelry, publish two more books, and I would love for someone to help me learn how to sew and quilt.

You are only given one life.  What do you plan to do with it?