Brenda’s Blog – July 3,2018
“Do you know anything about making cookies?”
The good looking young man asked me this question in the baking aisle of the grocery. “I know a little, what do you need?”
“Would you look and see if I have everything I need to make chocolate chip cookies?” We cross-referenced the faithful chocolate chip recipe on the back of the Nestle’s package finding two or three items which were missing from his cart.
“Is this a special occasion?”
“I am turning 20 in three days and I made out a bucket list of things I wanted to do before I was 20. The last thing is “bake chocolate chip cookies. So I want to get this done.”
My age group talks frequently about bucket lists, but in the true sense of things we want to do before “we kick the bucket.” The purposefulness in this young man’s face clearly indicated a man who plans well. I imagine the next 20 will see outstanding items on the “before I turn 40” list.
Tomorrow a high school friend is buried. The last time I had a serious conversation we talked about bucket lists. “The only thing I want to do is spend time with my family creating memories. I have done all the travel, bought all the ‘stuff,’ treated myself, and crossed off all the status items. Now whatever years I have left are going to dedicated to meaningful experiences with my children.” Those words went deep into my heart and mind. Her cancer reoccurred and her years were indeed spent making rich memories with family. We will celebrate her life, her choices, and her determination to leave a legacy, not just accumulations.
How can we encourage those around us, young and not-so-young, to make the days count? How can we make sure our bucket lists are about relationship and not just “stuff?”