Birthdays and Bucket Lists

At the top of my to-do list for the coming year: Moving past the 10-minute mark in my morning meditation.

I was corresponding with a friend the other day who shocked me with an astounding proclamation: Every item on her bucket list had been ticked off. Yes--she'd accomplished everything she'd ever wanted to do, and felt pretty good about the state of things. Content. No complaints. No itch for more. 

What?! How is that even possible? 

My bucket list is e-p-i-c, and while I've crossed so many dreams, wishes, and desires off already, and am proud to have met so many goals (many of which were not pain-free), it barely feels as though I've made a dent in my personal to-do list. What's more, I am continuously adding to the aspiration pile. Every day, it seems, another "Yes! Gotta do this!" idea springs forth. I can't stop it--and, frankly, don't want to.

This week, I'll celebrate another year's journey around the sun, and with this birthday--as with all the others--comes contemplation; contemplation about where I've been, where I am now, and where I want to go in the coming 365 days. Part of the birthday process is taking stock of that old bucket list, and making additions, deletions, and tweaks. Some of the things I'd like to move to the top of the list in the next year include:

- Overcoming my fear of public speaking and getting the confidence to work a room
- Learning to write fiction
- Mastering sewing (thanks, Project Runway, for the incessant inspiration!), so I can bring my sartorial dreams to life
- Moving past the 10-minute mark in my morning meditation practice
- Visiting Sri Lanka 

​There are many, many, MANY more things I want to do, see, accomplish, improve, try, and master. I hope I'll have the chance to do like my friend did and cross each of those items off, but I know there'll always be something new to replace the "done" items. 

How about you? What dreams are you burning with desire to fulfill? What do you want to learn? To see? To experience? If you're so inclined, please share!