A “heart smile” is the feeling of utter bliss. It is what I imagine it feels like to be on ecstasy but instead of taking a pill, you get high off of what is in front of you, what you are experiencing. A lot of people get this feeling from a very anticipated kiss from a long time crush. Me, I get this feeling from experiencing something I've set out to accomplish. (Side Note: this feeling is not to be confused with indigestion)
I currently live my life differently than I imagine most people do. For me, a career is not one of my top priorities right now (probably because I am not 100% sure what I want to do for the rest of my life yet). Finding someone to be in a relationship with is DEFINITELY nowhere near the top of my priority list. I live life based on my bucket list. Sure, there are experiences and opportunities that come my way that aren't necessarily on my list, but I know will enhance my life so I take them. However, I live to accomplish the goals on my bucket list. This list gives me direction and helps me understand if I'm on the right path or not. Nothing feels better than scratching something else off that list. I am the type of person that can be perfectly content working a minimum wage job as long as I am working towards striking things off that bucket list of mine. I figure that if I settle down with a big girl job, I might not have the time to do the things on my list. I also fear that with a big girl job, I might lose focus on what is really important to me.
I am constantly adding to my bucket list and I will continue to add to it until the day I die. I am always discovering new things that I want to experience. Some of my goals are small and easy to accomplish while others take more time and determination but in the end a goal accomplished is a goal accomplished right? Sometimes, instead of adding things I WANT to do, I will add cool things that I've ALREADY done and cross them off so it gives me more motivation to keep livin' the dream.
Want to make your own bucket list? I suggest using an actual piece of paper and a writing utensil instead of a computer (there are these things called pens that you hold in your hand and when you touch it to paper and move your hand in certain motions, it makes words and shapes). If you have it written on a piece of paper than you can bring it anywhere and even take pictures of you crossing something off while you are doing it! Start by writing down some big things you've ALWAYS wanted to do. Then write down some smaller ones that can be easily achieved and therefore motivate you towards tackling the bigger ones. Write down a few cool things you've done in the past and cross those off so you think to yourself “hey, look at all this cool stuff I've done. Maybe I'm not so boring and maybe I CAN accomplish the rest of these things.” Don't worry about prioritizing it or putting it in any type of sequential order. Don't worry about making it neat or making sure you use a ruler to cross off finished tasks. Don't worry about spilling stuff on it and NEVER make a new copy. In my opinion, the dirtier, the more wrinkled, and the more abstract the list looks, the more its been through! Make sure to take pictures if possible when doing the things on the list! I started making a scrapbook with all my bucket list pictures. It'll be a great memoir to look back on when you are older. Actually, you should still be adding to it when you are older!
Now, I really don't talk about it much but when I was in Grade 6 I was diagnosed with an extreme case of Social Anxiety Disorder and bipolar depression, which I have learned on my own to handle very well. Back in the sixth grade, I couldn't do normal everyday things without having panic attacks or feeling incredibly sick and frightened. Going to school was out of the question. I couldn't even eat at a restaurant. I was even too nervous to go eat dinner at a relatives house. My constant nervous feeling resulted in me not wanting to eat, which landed me in the hospital. I'm not exactly sure how or why this all started and it isn't something I want to talk about in detail, not in this blog anyway. I actually don't think much about it. I hate to say I am embarrassed but I just can't believe I used to be that way seeing as how I am today. Anyway, As part of my therapy, I had to start with a small list of fears I wanted to overcome. Some people are afraid to swim, some people are afraid of heights but I was afraid to do anything in public. I can't remember the exact list but I know “eat at a restaurant” was on it. I remember my family and I went to McDonalds and I was so very nervous. I sat at a table by myself while my family sat at a separate table. I finished my meal and was very proud of myself. I know how incredibly odd this sounds that eating at a McDonalds was a huge victory for me, but it was a goal I set out to accomplish, one that challenged me. I think it was shortly after that success that I started getting better, gaining confidence, and believing in myself. I never wanted that feeling to end which is why I live by my bucket list. Look at me now!
Here is my bucket list so far:
1. Bungee jump
- Skydive
Be on top of a mountainGet on the Student Representative CouncilGet an Executive position on the Student Representative Council- Travel Europe
Graduate College- Do an overseas mission with Habitat for Humanity
- See the Great Wall of China
Go horseback ridingSwim with dolphinsDrive across the Unites StatesHave a summer romanceLive out West- Visit out East
Sit on the edge of the Grand CanyonSee the Hoover Dam- Write a book
- Play with a chimp
Start a blogDrive down Las Vegas BlvdSee the Hollywood SignGo to Cancun for spring break- Go to Austrailia
- Go to the Chicago Aquarium
- Work on a cruise ship
- Eat a Philly Cheesesteak Sanwhich in Philadelphia (I will be accomplishing this in a few days)
Ride a camelGo on the Empire State BuildingSee the Statue of LibertySee the Sea Lions at Pier 39 in SanFran- Kiss/touch a sea lion
- Live on a farm
- Party with real cowboys
Get a tattooGo glass blowing- Sing karaoke
- Do the Edgewalk in Toronto (this is being booked soon)
Drink coffee in SeattleWatch a baseball gameMeet a famous personFlash someone- See/climb a pyramid
- Go to Marine Land
Do something very spontaneous that leaves a lasting impressionTake a risk for loveHave a cool job I like- Climb the Eiffel Tower
Go whale watchingSee the famous Arc in CaboWin and awardGo campingGo skinny dipping- Get my Indian Status card
Ride in a Trolly in SanFranFall in and out of love- Go to the Winter Carinvale in Quebec/get a picture with Bonhomme
See the Rocky MountainsAttend a fancy dinner- Finish the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon (I am currently training for this)
Go taboozingVisit the World's Largest Truck StopVisit Buffalo Bill's graveBe in the newspaperSee the “painted ladies” in SanfranFind the “Full House” house in SanFranBecome a volunteer- Go on a vacation by myself
Attend a function where nobody knows me/make friends- Go to the movies by myself
Be in a fashion show- Read 100 books (currently working on this)
Drive a boatGo fishing- Go to the Titanic Exhibit
- Go scuba diving
Bathe in a waterfallGo hikingClimb a treeSwing on a swing set past age 21See AlcatrazSee the Golden Gate Bridge/drive across it- Ride in a gondola
Tour the Celestial Tea Factory in ColoradoVisit the Chelsea Teddy Bear FactoryEat at the Cheesecake FactoryVisit the first ever StarbucksPut my gum on the gum wall in SeattleSee the Space NeedleDrink PatroneTour the Jelly Belly FactoryVisit Ground ZeroMeet a RocketteSee the set of SNL- See the big Christmas Tree in Times Square
- See the Liberty Bell (I will be accomplishing this in a few days)
- Visit Jersey Shore (I will be accomplishing this in a few days)
- Buy something from the Shore Store (I will be accomplishing this in a few days)
- See the Jersey Shore house (I will be accomplishing this in a few days)
100. Have a drink from Jenkinsons (I will be accomplishing this in a few days)
101. Get paid to write (currently working on this)
Thank-you for reading:)
Love, Chelsea xo
Here are just a COUPLE of the MANY photos of me doing thing son my bucket list.
See the "painted ladies" in SanFran
