O/T! The Top Ten Things I Want to Do Before I Die!

[mystylady]

Don't we all have things that we want to do or accomplish someday??? I know I do! Today I was prompted to write down the "Top Ten Things I Want to Do Before I Die" and it really made me think. It made me realize that time's a wastin' and nobody is going to do these things for me, with the exception of #2.
It was such an enlightening experience that I thought I'd pass it along to you! Even if you don't post your list, it's a neat thing to do, just for yourself! I'm going to frame mine and put it where I can see it every day for motivation!

The Top Ten Things I Want To Do before I die...

<In no particular order>

1. Breed, own and Show Ragdoll Cats.

2. Become a Grandmother.

3. Tell everyone that I love that I love them.

4. Get my Gemology Certification.

5. Be comfortable enough financialwise that I can afford the things I “don’t NEED”.

6. Own a brand new car that’s paid for.

7. Learn how to belly dance.

8. Quit smoking. (Has the added benefit of giving me more time to do the other things on the list)

9. REALLY get in shape.

10. Learn not to talk as much and listen more.

[pebbles]

Mysty, that is a great list. Here's mine:

1. See as much of the world as possible.

2. Lose 15 lbs

3. Take up needlepoint and knitting again

4. Go to my son's wedding

5. Finish decorating my condo

6. Buy some better clothes that are co-ordinated

7. Learn more about my computer such as how to use HTML and how to post pics

8. Wear my good jewelry more often

9. Get over my fear of flying

10. Be less opinionated and sarcastic

[Linda Lou]

Well, Mysty,
Following your list, I got 3, 4, and 8 covered. 3 outta 10 ain't bad.

I have to say, that while I talk alot (heh heh) I CAN listen. Aren't I amazing? LOL!

I have to add that I would love to go on a cruise, and maybe work in the jewelry industry again. My needs are small.

[mystylady]

LindaLou, are you getting your Gemology Cert too??? Awesome!

Regarding #3, you know how you have Family that you haven't seen in a long while, and you miss them? I didn't think anyone else would ever see my list but me and a few folks close to me, so I knew what it meant... but it's kind of like a reminder to myself to contact the people that I've fallen out of contact with or to just re-new old friendships that I miss... that sort of thing.

I almost didn't post this whole thread because of #8. I didn't want you all to think bad of me or something, but then I had to stop and say to myself that, after all, it IS true, and I DO want to quit, and it's who I am. Quitting is more than hard. It's a nerve-wracking, crawl-out-of-your-skin, dreadful experience but so necessary and important, especially healthwise. Financial-wise follows closely, in second place. It's also socially unacceptable, offensive, nasty... and a wicked wicked habit that I really want to break... again. I quit for 7 years (I know, I'm such a DOOFUS that I started again) so I know it can be done.

Pebbles I love your list! I can totally relate to so many!
I'm a white-knuckle'd flyer myself so I know just what you mean! I was almost in a REAL plane crash (I probably shouldn't be telling you this!), and I was terribly afraid to fly BEFORE THAT, so now, Oh My Gosh. Here's what happened:
American Airlines was having problems with one of their planes, the American Eagle (ATR 72) not getting rid of the ice building up on the wings properly. The weather was nasty, lots of freezing rain. The flight was kind of a "puddle jump" from Chicago to my town's airport. I was coming back from a trip (alone! And Thank God it was the return trip cuz no way dude would I have gotten back on a plane to go home after what happened!!!) and we were over Lake Michigan when all of a sudden there was this HORRIBLE, Jarring turbulance, and then the plane just started going side to side, started nose diving, straightened out, then there were these TERRIFYING explosion sounds! The Captain came on then, saying "don't worry folks that's just big chunks of ice coming loose from the wings and hitting the body of the aircraft"!
Everyone just looked at each other and resumed screaming! We were all crying and praying; and holy cats! I nearly hugged the ground when we made it to the airport! I actually did jump up and down really hard and I screamed really loud "TERRA FIRMA!!!!!" I was still crying and so was everyone else! Those planes only have ladders that let you out onto the tarmac and you walk from outside into the terminal. This was in 1994 and two days later the same plane DID crash, in Roselawn, Indiana. After that our airport moved all the ATR 72's to Florida where there is no ice! Since AA used only one or two planes for this Puddle jump between Chicago and my town and for a few other MidWest states like Indiana, I'd be willing to bet anything, based on the way that WE almost crashed, that the one that crashed in Roselawn, IN was the exact same plane I was on just two days prior.
Pretty freaky, huh?

[pebbles]

All I can say is EEEEEK!

[mystylady]

Definately not a trip for the Faint of Heart! After I submitted that post I went on Google and looked up Roselawn, IN. Plane Crash because I was like "did I get the dates right? The plane type?" I posted it, shivering as I looked back and just submitted.
I remembered EVERYTHING about it to a T but who the heck wouldn't??? I'll never forget that one as long as I live! I seriously thought that it was over. Maybe we prayed us out of it or something, because I, like everyone else (there was maybe 30 of us... very small plane), was Front and Center in the Praying Department!!!

<brrrrrr>

[jewelfreak]

I almost didn't post this whole thread because of #8. I didn't want you all to think bad of me or something
--------------------------------------------------
Don't feel bad for being a smoker, it doesn't make you a bad person, just a person who made a poor decision, believe me, I know, I am a pack a day smoker since I was about fifteen. But I commend you - you WANT to quit. The sad part is, I have no desire to quit.
There's nothing closer to heaven then cruisin in my giant old Lincoln Continental with Alice Cooper blasting with a cigarette in one hand and a 44oz mountain dew in the other...
Anyway, my list..... Here goes...

1. Be a better mom

2. Becoming a Graduate Gemmologist

3. Own my own Jewelry Store

4. Own my own restuarant/bar

5. See everything I want to - including (but not limited to) the Cappuchin Catacombs in Palermo, Italy, Egypt, every US state, and going to several of those mine your own gem places throughout the states.

6. Become successful enough to make sure my family is comfortable, not rich - just comfortable

7.Buy a '55 Chevy Nomad - pale yellow

8. Have a successful, lifelong marriage

9. Make my Mom proud of me

10. have the best jewelry collection in the world - so all of my relatives will fight over it when I die!!!! LOL

[mystylady]

{{{Jewel}}}

I loved your list! LOL number 10 is priceless!!!

I really DO want to quit. I hate the process, and that's what stops me. I know I have to make up my mind to just do it and pick a date... at least a month in advance, to prepare. Then, about two weeks before, I'll switch to a brand that I hate. It makes it easier to make it not as enjoyable. I'm painfully aware of how nasty it is, and that's a good thing.

You'll know when you're ready to quit, and I felt the same way that you do for a long time... I didn't want to quit either. But now I feel differently, because of my health and because I'm just sick of it, I guess. I really hate the smell and am embarrased by it, now. Hopefully That will help me to be successful.
I'll keep ya posted!

[jewelfreak]

I heard of a GREAT method to quit that if I ever get a brain and decide to quit, I will definately use. Here it is...
Figure out what time you usually have your first smoke of the day, say, 9am, then tell yourself you can smoke as much as you want that day, but not until 10am, for instance. After a couple of days move it to 11am, then noon, and so on. That way, you won't feel stressed that you can't smoke. Pretty soon, it will be nighttime before you allow yourself to smoke, and then soon after, not at all.
Good luck on quitting! I know you can do it!!!

[beekeeper]

These aren't in any order (obviously some are more important than others)

1) visit Italy
2) visit Hong Kong
3) visit Puerto Rico
4) visit South Africa
5) learn Spanish
6) learn to play the piano
7) have a child
8) become a grandmother
9) Own a second home in Paris
10) Maintain my successful marriage.

[Garnet333]

These are not in any order.

1 Become a grandmother
2 Learn how to make the perfect pie crust.
3 Visit the Taj Mahal
4 Visit the Pyramids
5 Take voice lessons
6 Have a spa day in NYC, massage, pedicure, manicure, facial.
7 Learn to play golf
8 Make sure my family and friends know how much I love them
9 Learn to be more patient
10 Finish making my tanzanite bracelet

[amber]

1. become a succsful business woman
2. travel the world
3. Learn how to forgive and not hate
4. marry a good looking rich senstive carring man
5. have children
6. write a book of my life
7. become a best selling author
8. meet madonna
9. meet George michael
10. write a number one pop song

[beekeeper]

lol ... Garnet ... your number 10 is a MUST! ;-)

[mystylady]

Amber, Garnet and Bee your lists are awesome! Amber, I like that you want to be an author! I'd love to write a book someday... I'm certainly wordy enough!!
Garnet, I laughed when I read #2 on your list! Anyone who's ever tried to make a pie crust knows EXACTLY what you're talking about!!! Me included! I think having one of those pastry tools with the 4 - 5 "half-moon shaped" blades in a handle work wonders, but I've never used one. I can't remember what it's real name is... it's used to "cut in" the shortning with the flour. I always seem to overwork mine. :-P
I took golf lessons TWICE and I'm still the crappiest golfer in the world! I have a good swing, but the stupid ball goes "bloop" up and comes down ...blah... like right in front of me! Plus, I break every tee! <tears out hair> It's so frustrating!

Bee, have you ever traveled anywhere outside of the USA before? I'd love to see all of the places you listed! I don't fly, at least unless it's absolutely necessary, so that, as they say, is that. I'm such a homebody!
So you want to start a family! How excellent! I'm just itching to become a "Grandma"! OMG that would be just, just, wow.