Transformational Moment

I used to try new things; I knew what I liked and didn’t like, and I was satisfied with my life. About two years ago, however, my friend and I decided to make lists of the 100 things that we wanted to do before we died – a “bucket list,” if you will. Judy and I sat in her Vashon home, drank peach tea while wrapped in her warmest fleece blankets and big fuzzy socks, and we began to brainstorm. We thought through our lives, and what we wanted to accomplish. My goals were all ambitious, while Judy’s were more domestic. At the time, Judy was 51 and in the middle of the adoption process – her goals were for her daughter-to-be and for a home and a family. My goals were more thrilling: I want to climb mountains, eat new foods, have different jobs, and experience other worlds. My list totaled out to about 60 goals, big and small.
After I wrote my list, my life changed. I began living my life by my list. I began to try new things constantly. I went sailing. I tried sushi. I laid out for a disc in Ultimate Frisbee and caught it. I began to try things that weren’t even on the list, just because I loved the thrill of trying new things. I ran for School President, and I won. I went to the film location of the Goonies, took a road trip with my girlfriends, and I had the perfect birthday party. I spoke at a rally. I acted in the school play, I had a New Years kiss, and for the first time, I kissed in the rain. I even went to a monster truck rally.
My list has grown to define me; trying new things makes me truly happy because I feel like I’m living my life to the fullest extent possible. My friends have joined me in my adventures, and our friendships have grown as we’ve had more adventures away from the television and the computer.
A year after we made our lists, we met up again to see how far we’d come. Judy and I had both completed at least 7 of our goals. I still have a long way to go, but my list drives me to take risks, to push myself to have adventures.
This spring, I'm going skydiving.