Lists

Agendas, calendars, itineraries; lists: address, e-mail and telephone number; birthday, grocery and prayer. Itemizing, prioritizing and scheduling seem to have taken over my existence. Meeting deadlines and managing time are skills that I have perfected in my professional and personal life. Even though organization is my forte, I wonder whether I am devoting enough energy to meeting my private list of dreams and desires.

Self-analysis strikes me in the strangest ways. On a recent edition of “60 Minutes,” Andy Rooney listed a half dozen things he does once a year. He goes to the dentist, the Super Bowl, a restaurant too expensive to experience twice, and to the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. A revered author, columnist, and commentator, Rooney has become an important icon in my life. While his style is a bit too cranky (for me), his unique way of sharing his perspective on everything from serious world issues to absurd topics helps his audience reflect. That Sunday evening, his message made me realize the only annual events that I schedule for myself are medical appointments. Amid plotting and planning for everyone else, I fail terribly in determining what is important for me. I can almost hear Rooney asking, “Donna, what do you want to accomplish before you kick the bucket?”

The following Monday, a co-worker spoke of a must-see movie for anyone over the age of 50, “The Bucket List.” Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman play two terminally ill codgers (Edward Cole and Carter Chambers) who meet while sharing a hospital room. They become friends and embark on an adventure designed to cross off wishes from their bucket list.

Skydiving was on their inventory of “to do” items. Watching Cole and Chambers achieve that particular goal caused me to reminisce about my childhood days when skydiving was on my list of top-ten dreams, along with owning a horse farm. Neither of which I have done, nor do I care “to do” any longer. By looking back and examining my life, I am learning that time and experience have changed my desires completely. Messages from Cole, Chambers and Rooney sent me on a mental mission to rediscover my innermost needs. Being completely honest was difficult. Seeking assistance, I purchased “101 Things You Should Do Before Going to Heaven,” by David Bordon and Tom Winters.

Astonished by the number of suggestions outlined in their book that I had already accomplished liberated fears that my life has been a total waste. Dance with abandon, do something that scares you, and record your life story, can be checked off. Much to my surprise, I have experienced more than 90 percent of their 101 things. My personal fulfilled list then became easier to identify. Being the best possible mother was and is number one on my priority list. Discovering divinity, feeling forgiveness, loving life are all huge undertakings that are works in progress in my world. My daily altruistic goals are delivering good deeds, making a difference in children’s lives and creating change for a peaceful planet. Pleased by the items crossed off left me searching for what remains on my bucket list.

Selfish desires to travel, to be pampered, and to be loved unconditionally are located on my inventory. Items in bold, highlighted and underlined include embracing opportunities to share the wisdom of heavenly hope, being a living example of light and love, and sailing through life with God’s grace gently serving as my guide. What could be more important?

If it takes keeping calendars, meeting deadlines and prioritizing to keep myself straight, that is a small price to pay for making my life meaningful. When my time expires, I want others to evaluate my living legacy list not by what I owned, but how I savored and shared the goodness on earth.

Donna Bonnell is a columnist from Newberry.
She may be contacted at Donna@towerpublications.

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