The First Step

     Have you ever thought about the things that you would like to accomplish during your life? Maybe it is a task, like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or going to the Grand Canyon. Perhaps it is something more personal, such as making an effort to be more honest or more patient. In my life, I know that I have had many moments in which such thoughts have crossed my mind. Though they intrigued me, I would quickly move on to something else, believing that I would come back to the idea in time. I rarely do, so these aspirations are often forgotten. However, when I truly think about it, these are all important goals in life that I do not want to put off until it is too late. Starting today, I have decided to take the first step in accomplishing these. Before setting out to accomplish my goals, I must decide what they actually are.

  I don’t like the term “bucket list.” Not only do I think that it simply sounds strange, but it also denotes what one hopes to do before he or she dies. More positively, I would like to think about what I want to do while I am still living. Sure, the difference is subtle, but I think that it is important. After all, I am a healthy eighteen year old who plans to live a long life. While I cannot ensure what is in my future, I would nonetheless like to believe that I will have time to do what I plan.

  So join me as I chronicle the activities and personal aspirations that I will work to complete. There will be some desires that I cannot practically accomplish for years to come but, by writing them out, I know that I will be more motivated to do so. Other goals are things that I can do now. I will no longer put them off and I will tell you about my experience of crossing them off “The List.” 

  Whether I think that I will complete the goal in a month or in a decade, I am pledging to take the first step towards doing so. I invite you to take a look at what I want to experience, learn, and achieve.

  And you never know. Maybe you will want to begin a list of your own, too.