it's a happy talent to know how to play
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
I've given thought to things I'd like to do rather than things I'd like to change.
Doing versus changing might be a semantic distinction but there is a psychological mind jump between the two.
Change makes me rebellious. If I make up my mind to change l will fight against myself and mostly experience failure, not always, but mostly and it's unpleasant.
Doing or planning an activity is easier to accept. Why? There is an immediate reward for doing something pleasant.
So in this light I made a bucket list for 2018 rather than the typical traditional New Year's resolution list. After all, I don't want to be a rebel to myself.
There are 12 months in a year so my bucket will hold 12 enjoyable things to do.
I will say yes to —
reading 1 book per month, any book even a children's story
1 day trip per week
hiking new parts of the Bruce Trail
technology free weekends
eating one more vegetable each day
laughing out loud no matter where I am
being spontaneous
picnics and badminton
night walking with flashlights
hot chocolate while watching the night sky
volunteering
getting on a plane again
fear
does not stop death,
it stops life
Brene Brown
photos - Pixabay