So I ask myself this everyday: "What am I doing today or tomorrow that will make me a better person, that will make me a more interesting person, that will make me a happy person?"
And these questions lead me to make a "bucket list" for 2010 at the end of last year. It was seriously time for me to start doing all the things I've either always wanted to do, or to at least start moulding my attitude of "wanting to do a lot of things but there's always tomorrow", because you know what? There isn't always tomorrow. And I realised it the hard way. Anyways, I decided one sunny day, while sitting at my desk - bored to tears with my job - that I am the ONLY one who can shape my destiny, and who can make things happen for me. That realisation lead to create my List.
The list consists of a few items, some silly and some scary, but all achievable within a year, and it is placed on my fridge for myself and anyone who cares, to see each day. In order of remembrance, here it is:
1. Run my first half marathon
2. Try out a water sport
3. Learn a new martial art
4. Learn to ride a motorbike, well
5. Buy property
6. Speak more Afrkaans
7. Bleach my teeth
8. Bungee jump
10. Get my scuba license
11. Master making nougat
12. Ride my bike more often
13. Paint something (like a picture, not a wall)
The existance of this list has made me realise that I've not been as dull and lazy in my life as I gave myself credit for - I started tallying all the great, the cool, the exciting and the not so exciting things that I've done and achieved so far in my short life. How wonderful! I call on everyone to keep track of what you get up to and high 5 yourself all the time, we give ourselves too little credit in life for how awesome we really, really are!!
The List has also helped me to recognise "in the moment opportunities" and grab them, even if it seems impossible or very, very scary or humiliating. Think getting my body painted for a radio station's FIFA event, standing nekkid next to schmodels in my Nigella Curvaliciousness! Think applying for becoming an egg donor with a lump in my throat, and getting That Email saying that my application is succesful and that I will now go onto the database for families to select me as a donor. Life changing stuff, for me at least. For the first time in my life (I've been a Christian all my life and never tried this, why I wonder?) I'm actively participating in my church and my religion - I'm sacrificing for Lent, I'm working with the kids on Sunday mornings while their parents are in the Big Church. Selfless acts you might say? No my friend, they are all selfish, I (read > my soul) need this so much more than what the recipients of my acts/time/money think they do.
I leave you with some words of wisdom: surround yourself with the positive and the positively challenging, and you will become your positive thoughts. Thoughts become actions become influence. You live once only, don't waste it before it is too late! When you're gone one day, people won't remember what you said to them, did, bought them and so on. But they will remember how you made them feel.
If you want to star in that movie, go do it! If you want to start your own little business, no one should be stopping you! What and who are you waiting for? You will nver know what you could have learnt in the process, or who you could have met, or where it might have taken you.
Love
Ikasan
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