Why do people make bucket lists? Is it to commemorate the passage of time and a longing to make our final dreams come true or are we giving the finger to father time. When I turned forty, I jumped out of a plane. That was definitely me flipping off the decades. At fifty, I’m mellower. It is less about flipping off anyone and more about me finishing the work I was meant to do and enjoying my final third.
One of the things I would really love–something that is on every writer’s bucket list–is to score a spot on the New York Times best seller list. Now that would be something, huh? But honestly, that’s something I can’t make happen no matter how diligently I write or how hard I study craft. And I feel as if bucket list item should be things you can achieve on your own power, don’t you? The NYT best seller list isn’t something I have control over so phht. Off the list.
The rest of the items on my list are things that I can make happen. I’m a huge believer in making your mind and body work equally hard to stave off the rotting part of old age. I want to age gracefully, not decay. So I made a conscious effort to include things that were both physical, mental and of course, things that feed my soul.
So first thing on the bucket list.
I want to learn to speak another language.
I don’t want to die being fluent in only English and Pig Latin. I truly believe that the world is small and growing smaller and I feel so damn provincial knowing only English. I’m not exactly sure which language I’d like to learn, but I’ll learn one of them. I may not be fluent in it, but I’d like a working knowledge.
For practicality’s sake, Spanish would win hands down. I live on the west coast and knowing Spanish would be very handy. But I am seriously drawn to Italian or French. I think it must be my love of European history. Of course, I love Spanish history, as well, so we’ll see.
As learning a language takes some time, I think it’s something I should start on fairly soon, don’t you?
Au Revoir! Arrivederci! Adios!
photo courtesy of Aleks Melnik and freedigitalphotos.net
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