Stuff I Like to Try

They say that when we reach middle age, we ponder on our accomplishments and think of things that we still would want to do.  Yes, at this age we may have already lost the agility of our youth but we think that we can still do a lot.  We want to try deeds or exploits that never entered our minds back then.  Maybe because we have more time for ourselves today as we have been relieved of parental duties and of preparation for a good future.  

There are stuff that I would like to try before arthritis and other age-related diseases catch up with me.  I would like to try:

Dancing.  I am not gifted with terpsichorean skills.  I find difficulty in coordinating foot, hand and body movements.  My mother often said that I got it from my father as she is a graceful dancer.  When watching dance presentations on the television and stage, I marvel at the adroitness of the performers.  It is as if to the dance floor they were born.  

Getting a dance instructor (DI) would be the first order of business.  Luckily, DIs are dime a dozen and can be contracted for a reasonable amount of payment.  Maybe after a couple of months of regular dancing sessions I will be able to show my mother a number of cha cha or swing.  While getting that dancing groove, I will be doing my health a favor.  Those extra pounds need to be shaken!

Singing.  Music pervaded my growing up years.  I woke up and sometimes went to sleep to the sounds of Filipino, Bicol, Spanish music blaring from the stereo player.  I love singing even if I have a difficult time hitting the notes.  It is only through singing that I find total appreciation of my favorite songs.  Kudos to Mr. Roberto del Rosario for pioneering the "sing-along" system in 1975 which later became the karaoke machine thus giving singer wannabes like me the proverbial fifteen minutes of fame.  Maybe my classmate, Abby Luz of ACIATEAM will be able to help me hit those notes.

After the dancing and the singing, I would like to try my hand on Chinese and Japanese Cooking.  My family loves Chinese and Japanese dishes and having a degree tucked under my belt will just be cool.  I can easily whip up their fave dishes.

I think dancing, singing and the cooking will make me extra preoccupied for quite a while.  Pass the microphone, will you?

My Bucket List

"A life list is a set of goals that you set for yourself covering all the different areas of your life. It's meant to ensure that you decide who you want to be, and what you want to do and have in life, and that you take the necessary action to accomplish these things." -- Marelisa Fabrega

A month ago, I read the posting of one of my Facebook friends asking us what our bucket list is.  Her posting is a reaction to the grief that she is feeling for not telling her cancer-stricken sister how much she loved her  when she visited her two months before the latter died.  This got me thinking.  Why not make a list?  Why create one in the first place?  Having one will make us maximize every moment of our existence.  It will remind us of what is/are important instead of wasting time in futile activities.

I am making my bucket list or life list not because I am dying or afflicted with a life-threatening disease but I just want to enumerate the things that I really want to do.   I would like to share how I did mine.

As much as possible, refrain from putting qualifiers to your to-dos like if you can afford it or you are healthy enough to do it.  What is important is you were able to name the things that mean much to you.  Once you have them, start planning and take the necessary steps to achieve your wish list.  My list could be similar from what you have in terms of number of things to be achieved or the nature of the list itself but it takes a unique form when it comes on how to attain it.  

For starters, these are the things that I would like to do.  The list is not yet final and I will add new dreams from time to time.  Here goes:

1. I would like to visit all the famed Philippine tourist spots.  I don't want to be a stranger in my own land.
2. Make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2012.
3. I want to tour Europe and have my fill of Italian and Spanish cuisines.
4. Ride the gondola at Venice.
5. I want to scale the Great Wall of China.
6. I want to ride a cruise ship.
7. I want to set up a profitable blog.
8. I want to have a restaurant serving timeless recipes.
9. Study voice lessons so I can reach all the high notes singing my favorite songs in a karaoke bar.  (I can dream, can't I?  Lol.)
10. Lose 50 pounds before 2016.

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