It’s been so long since I’ve actually did a Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop prompt… and of course, this one I am going to alter a little bit: 5.) Write a list of 100 things you want to do before you turn 100. Otherwise known as a “bucket list”.
I used to have a bucket list of things I wanted to do in my lifetime, but it seemed the older I got, the less important the “things” were to me.
Did I really *need* to have a song written about me by an admirer? Um, I guess not. Could I possibly *survive* without touring the Irish countryside by bike? Yeah, probably.
So my “bucket list” has changed. And I’m here to tell you what’s no longer on my bucket list, and why not.
1. Run/Walk a marathon. Have you ever run for 4-5 hours straight? No, let me re-frame the question: Have you ever spent weeks and months training to run for 4-5 hours straight? Exactly. See, back in 2008, I trained and ran my very first half marathon. I’d run 5 days a week, and every Sunday was my long run day meaning I would be out in the elements for at least 1-2 hours.*
Anyway, after trained for and finished the half marathon I decided I quite liked the half. I could live with the training program and hope to one day do it again. I could picture myself dashing out for a 9-miler in the morning. Could I picture myself doing the same for a 15 or 21 miler? Nope.
*Editor’s note: I am a slow runner
2. Write a book. Okay, this could still happen for me… but I am not sure I would keep it on my “Bucket List.” I used to think the mark of a great writer was someone who was published. Someone who’s words were for sale on a shelf in Borders. But these days? I am not so sure.
First of all, I like the short and sweet. I like to put my thoughts out there… and then move on to the next topic. A novel requires a lot of planning… thought… outlines and character development. Frankly, I am not sure I have the attention span for that – not right now anyway. I can live with that.
3. Live in New York City. I guess, technically, you could say I lived in NYC one summer while in college. I was an intern at Sony Music, and had a blast living in NYU dorms near Gramercy Park. And, the truth is, I would love to move back there one day. I thought I wanted to move there so much, it was on my Bucket List.
But the truth? I like having a lawn. I like having a car, and a space in which to park. I like having my family close to me, and an affordable mortgage. I also love my husband – more than NYC – and he hates NYC.
So there are three things no longer on my Bucket List… and I am okay with that. Of course, I still have dreams and hopes of doing and seeing things before I die… but a lot of them now revolve around my family and our daughter. I’m also proud of the things I have accomplished, as lofty as they may now seem.
Are there things you thought you would want to do before you turned 100… only to realize they weren’t so important along the way??
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
I love your twist on the prompt!
Michelle @ Mommy Loves Stilettos´s last blog ..What Would I Change
I like the way that you changed this!
I couldn’t live in NYC. I’m more of a beach girl- I like a slower pace of life.
@Shell, Oh, I love me some beach time too!
Interesting way to look at this prompt.
Tiffany´s last blog ..Writers Workshop
Till the day I die, writing a book and sending it out to publishers will still be on my list (unless I actually do write a book at which point I’ll remove it). It’s not so much the publishing (which would be AWE-SOME!), it’s the feat of accomplishment. I have a horrible first draft of a screenplay I wrote too. I did it though.
Though if you became this popular NY Times Bestsellers author and stopped blogging I would be sad. I would tell my friends of my sell-out friend whose book they must read, but is too good for her blog.
@Patty, I guess knowing I coudl actually do it would merit some sense of accomplishment…
I know *exactly* what you mean. I’ve written roughly 6 bucket lists in my life (though I’ve never gotten to 100 on a single on… oh yes, procrastination is a life long demon) and looking back at them, I’m never encouraged to do the things, or feel bad for the items I haven’t accomplished. Instead I’m always like, oh, really, I thought I needed to do that before I die?
@Megan (Best of Fates), 100 things to do before 100 is tough!
I used to think that I wanted to run a marathon too but then I watch my SIL train for one and I was like, oh hell no!
@Jen, The training looks harder than the actual race!
Love the twist on the Bucket List! I haven’t made my own list… but I think that the half-marathon might make it on there, just to prove to myself that I could do it.
@MisSarahLou, It’s totally doable for everyone – well, just about everyone
Interesting twist. I did create my own bucket list for today’s prompt and I included two recent accomplishments because they were items that I had always wanted to do. One was to visit Switzerland. We did visit Zurich in May and I detested the big city vibe. So, yes, I am taking the entire bucket list with a grain of salt and a willingness for revision.
@Mrs.Mayhem, Right? If you’re not digging the big city vibe, you might want to cross other “must-sees” in big cities off your list… It’s evolving!
Great spin and great list. Good luck with all three! They very obtainable and realistic.
Stopping by from Mama Kat’s!
Tonya´s last blog ..My Buired Life
Funny – I’ve done two of the three things you listed! I’ve run two full marathons and I’ve lived in NYC. Still want to publish a book someday, tho!
I’m not ready to remove stuff from my list quite yet..
Cheryl @ Mommypants´s last blog ..You Can’t Call a Do-Over
I liked your twist on this one! I will be back to check out your future posts:)
You are right, what is important and what you think you want definitely changes. I have a sister-in-law that lives out east in a high rise with two kids and yeah they definitely live a totally different life. They are getting to the point where they want a real house and a yard
Emmy´s last blog ..Thanks For Nothing Thursday
Running a marathon is still on my bucket list, but my plan is to work my way up and if at some point I am not enjoying it or I don’t want to keep training towards it I don’t have to. Maybe that means the farthest I’ll go is a 10k, or maybe a half, but maybe just maybe I’ll actually run a marathon.
Catherine´s last blog ..Cornmeal Pancake