A Simpler Era

Today I'm linking up to Changing Lanes for her weekly Blue Plate Special.  As Changing Lanes explains, "The Blue Plate Special is designed for you to share your weekly favorite(s), something you learned this week, or anything still on your mind come Friday (your meat). Then add three photos from your week (get it! meat +3)."  Thanks Changing Lanes for having me!

Well, here it goes.  My meat for the week.  I have been thinking a lot lately about how I wish time would reverse back to a more "simpler" era.  For example:  The 14th century when gypsies were more common or the 1950s or any other time during the past that seems "simple".  Since I obviously wasn't alive during the 50s or the 14th century I really can't say that things were "simpler", but at least it seems life moved at a slower pace.  I always feel like I'm running around like a chicken with its head cut off.  I have to be here and there and here and I get stressed and wore out!  I would love to live the life of a gypsy.  No real belongings, nothing to necessarily worry about...just roam from town to town with my horse and wagon doing odd jobs here and there for food and drink.  (Plus their fashion sense was amazing!  Well, I think so anyway.)  Today I was driving to the nearest Wal-Mart (1 1/2 hours away) to get groceries.  Between here and there is an antique place and outside was a gypsy wagon!!!  I got super excited, especially since I've been considering their way of life!  I had to take a picture!  How amazing would it be to fix one of these up, go to Europe, and just roam the back country?! I now know deep down in my heart that I was meant to be a gypsy. 

Now my three:

 One of the signs that Spring is on the way!!

  

A nice bike ride through the canyon with my mom and one of my sister's.  WINDY but nice!

Chillin' out with one of my "nieces" (on the right) and another friend's baby girl.  Love babies!  (Bad picture cause it was taken by me with my phone.)

"Time, you old gypsy man, will you not stay, put up your caravan just for one day?" ~ Ralph Hodgson

Bucket List

Last year I watched the movie "The Bucket List" with Morgan Freeman (one of my most favorite Actors) and Jack Nicholson. The movie was okay. It definitely isn't one of my all-time favorites, but it did help me open my eyes. I've always known life is too short, and that I should be doing all the things I've dreamed of before it's too late, but I also always thought I was too busy to pursue many of those things. I was too busy with school. Too busy with work. Too busy with Pacen. Too busy doing other things. Plus I am not as financially well off as I need to be in order to pursue many of my dreams and interests. Not even close! (I think I really need to find a sugar daddy who will fund my expensive hobbies, interests, and dreams!)

I decided to make a bucket list. I put all my dreams, hopes, desires, and interests on paper, well, actually, I put them in my computer. The initial list was long, and, well, it keeps getting longer! I've been able to cross some things off my list, but it seems I add more than I cross off. Many of the dreams on my list have to do with traveling and, needless to say, traveling is way too expensive.

Some things I've been able to cross off are: see Aerosmith in concert, learn to scuba dive, learn how to rock climb, earn a Master's Degree, learn how to weld, and travel out of the United States. Some things that might take me a while to cross off are: travel to Petra, Jordan; dive the Great Barrier Reef; take Pacen to The Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin was his hero); backpack Europe; swim in The Devil's Pool at Victoria Falls; etc. Luckily there are still a few things on my list that can fairly easily be accomplished: raft class 5-6 rapids, skydive again, compete in a Triathlon, and travel to Las Vegas.

I suggest everyone make a bucket list. See what your list entails and I guarantee there will be at least one thing (maybe even ten or more) that you can afford to find the time and money for. Then go from there. It might take years to cross everything off your list, but so what. Your goals are on paper and it will keep you motivated. I read the other day that people who set goals and accomplish them are happier, healthier, and live longer than people who don't. So make that list, start crossing things off, and live a better, more fulfilling life!

"Nothing happens unless first we dream." ~ Carl Sandburg