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Friday, October 9, 2009

What's in your bucket?


I confess, I never saw the movie "The Bucket List" .
It's about two terminally ill gents,
played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman,
who take off on a road trip together armed with a list
of all the things they want to do before they kick the proverbial bucket.


I quite like the idea of this, and as of late, 
have felt compelled to slowly but surely empty my own  bucket after years of relative complacency.

So....what's in my bucket?

Since first seeing the magnificent Broadway musical 
Les Miserables almost 20 years ago, and having seen it 16 times since, 
I have always wanted to sing the role of Fantine on stage.

Something visceral stirred deep within me the very first time 
I heard the opening strains of I Dreamed a Dream.

Odds of accomplishing this: slim to none, 
but I can still sing the libretto joyfully while driving, cleaning, painting....

Next on my list?

To become more proficient and polished 
at the whimsical world of mixed media/altered image art.

I see a great opportunity now to produce and sell 
mixed-media creations in my booth, and eventually, in my own shop. 
Sweet and uber talented friends such as Dawn at The Feathered Nest 
have been encouraging and so very inspiring in this quest, 
so I hope to have some pretties to display soon.

Odds of accomplishing this: Pretty darn good *fingers crossed*!

Next item...

Go to Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat is one of more than a dozen magnificent temples 
in the vast metropolis of Angkor, the capital of the Khmer Empire 
from the 9th to the 15th centuries. 
Located in Cambodia, it is listed in Smithsonian Magazine 
as one of 25 places you must see before you die. 
I have to concur with the good folk at Smithsonian here. Breathtaking.

Next up...

Rest.
Breathe.
SLOW. DOWN.

That's probably the thing I most need to accomplish right now.
I've been firing on all cylinders for weeks now,
and truth be told, my tank's a bit depleted.
We sometimes forget to stop, take a breath, look around,
and actually congratulate ouselves on what we have accomplished.
Instead, all we tend to see are the dreams unfulfilled, the expectations not yet met.

My day job is as a respiratory therapist
and I often work in critical care settings.
In other words, real life or death stuff.
It really does serve to put things in perspective
when one is wont to reevalute their life.
So while my "bucket" might still be full of things not yet achieved,
my heart is actually quite full of all that I have.

And you?
How does your list look?

Don't forget, you have until
Saturday, October 10th, 11:59pm CST
to enter my

Just sign up as a follower and/or leave a comment.
Have a great weekend!

This post was edited to remove
any photos not taken by myself, Anne Lorys.


23 comments:

bj said...

After the movie came out last yr (or so) everyone in Blogland it seems, played the Bucket List meme...we were to name 10 things we wanted to do before kicking the bucket. it was a lot of fun to read what every one wrote...Maybe someone needs to start that again..it was fun. Some things funny...some as serious as a heart attack.
xi bj

Anne Lorys said...

Hmmm, I didn't know that, BJ. Sometimes things just happen here at work (I work in a hospital) that give you a lot of reason for reflection. Today was one of those days.
Hope you have a blessed weekend,
Anne

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

Gosh, here lately it seems I am just trying to survive week to week!!! I need to make a list, for real! I did want a new front door and I did get that this week! That is something accomplished!

Have a great weekend!!

Lou Cinda ")

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

Anne... being older than you, you'd think I would have a list, but I don't. I'm pretty content in my own little world. I had wanted to travel to the Rocky Mountains, but thanks to my daughter, I went there last year! She went for work, and I met her there, it was awesome. I got to go through the mountains, and watch her work, it doesn't get any better than that! We spent several days at a Christian Music Festival GMA in the Rockies. It was great. Nothing comes to mind to make my list.
Have a great weekend!
gail

Cynthia K. said...

Anne ~ I think I have a hole in my bucket! So many things I want haven't come to pass, at least not yet. But, good things are happening all the time.

Thanks so much for stopping by my new blog and visiting - very kind of you. I just checked your followers list--I intended to sign up yesterday and I noticed that I had forgotten to do that so I did just sign up as a follower so please give me the extra chances in your wonderful giveaway.

Blessings to you....Cynthia K.

stefanie said...

i would need a bigger bucket, there is sooooooo much to do and so little time, loved your post today!

The Flying Bee said...

Without a doubt....make it to Paris! Can't wait to see some of those creations.

Hugs,
Adrienne

Unknown said...

I love your list Anne....

Lisa said...

Great post, very thoughtful. My list is more short term. It's hard for me to look to far ahead. I'd love to see Disney World with my children, see them graduate from high school & help my daughter plan her wedding. Anything beyond that is lagniappe. Lisa

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

Thanks so much for stopping by earlier and becoming a follower...I became one of yours...I love your blog...it's wonderful!!!

I am a huge Le Mis fan...I have seem it almost as many times as you...4 times in New York alone...it's the best!!! I also love the hill country...we were just in Fredericksburg house hunting a few weekends ago. We found a historical home and are trying to make things work out to move down there...I am keeping my fingers crossed!!!

Thanks again and good luck with the giveaway...mine and yours!!!
XOXO
Cathy

savvycityfarmer said...

you're makin' me love you even more than yesterday ...


in my galvanized bucket .... fresh cut evergreen trees for my booth next Sunday!

Unknown said...

Goodness...I wish I actually had a plan....somehow my life has been more about making it up as I go along. Not the right method for everyone, but has always worked for me. I have always lived for the moment.....and tried, just tried to realize that happiness is not the fullfilment of what we want, but the realization of what we already have......sweet dreams....xojana

June said...

Anne, what a wonderful post! I enjoyed reading about some of the great things in your bucket.The first one almost made me cry, because I have always wanted something similar. I love your how your heart thinks.
Hugs,
June

Rust: Vintage Inspired Design said...

Hi Anne,
What a lovely post this is.....you amaze me. Such words of wisdom!!! You are in my thoughts. Take lots of time to smell the roses this weekend.
Happy day.
xojanis

trash talk said...

As crazy as it sounds, the one thing I want to accomplish is to be remembered. That's it...everything else is just gravy.
Trash
P.S. Oh and to run away either with Johnny or Harry! SSSH...don't tell C.D.

Miss Mustard Seed said...

Great post. Oh, I love the little bird you created. Just lovely...you can definitely sell those. You should audition some time for Les Mis. I was a theatre actress in my youth and you just never know...

Nice and Easy Antiques said...

You have inspired us to write our own list...stay tuned!! We hope all your wishes come true...if you think about them hard enough, and plan and make time for them, they will!!!

Anonymous said...

what a great list! I love the pictures of Cambodia, they are gorgeous and the altered art, amazing!

If you get a chance, stop by my Blog for a visit and say hi. I just put up a new post featuring my newest items, my French Bucket Totes!

Have a great weekend,
Aimee

Debra@CommonGround said...

Aaaahhhh, Anne...a lot to consider. Up until a few months ago, I had a lot of things that I wanted "to do", now I just want "to be". To be the best wife, mother and maybe grandmother, to be a witness for my Father in my everyday life, to be in the present and not in the past, and to be fully alive, every moment of every day.
Hugs, sweet Anne,
Debra

Sue McPeak said...

Well, I've always been a 'Fly By The Seat of My Pants Gal', so I guess in my Bucket I need a new pair of pants! You are a thoughtful, creative and industrious young lady. Your Family must be very proud of you. Congratulations on all your accomplishments and start filling that bucket with your Artful Creations.....Sue

Artsy Fartsy Junkin Finds said...

Rest, Breathe, Slow Down, thats sounds like words I need to follow!! Hope all is good. Of course I just got in from another JUNK trip!! Would not be a Saturday unless I went. Have a great weekend, how is the booth coming along?? The second spot I opened last weekend is coming along slow....Well I should say I am being slow with filling it up. I think I need a rest!! Hugs, Janna

Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings... said...

A refreshing post and Love your heart!...In the work you do the realities of life rise to the surface quickly don't they....As I sat in church this morning and heard our pastor teaching on..."Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father" You realize EVERYTHING, not just the happy things, but EVERYTHING comes from God...I love to hear a happy thankful heart....and I did that here, your a treasure, xoxo~Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings...

Ticking and Toile said...

Thank you, thank you for the super nice comment you left on my site! Wow, I'm so touched...I'm so glad I found yours, it looks fantastic & I'm anxious to browse!

Shellagh


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