My Bucket List

Achieve ideal weight (135)

Attend Summer Olympics

Complete degree

Complete my fan chart

Create a photography portfolio

Cruise with friends

Deep sea diving

Do 3 consecutive pull-ups

Eat entire taco 12 pack in one sitting

Enjoy a holiday in a log cabin in the snow

Fly in a hot air balloon

Get par on a real golf course

Get savings account to $100,000

Help build a Habitat for Humanity home

Hold a legit plank for 2 minutes

Learn a new language

Learn archery

Learn to glass blow

Learn to knit/crochet

Learn to meditate

Learn to play chess

Learn to play the guitar/ukulele

Learn to play the violin (hymn)

Let someone know how much they mean to me

Louvre in Paris

Maintain a 4.0

Make a difference in someone's life

Make a piece of art to display in our home

Meet General Authorities (Holland, Bednar, Uchtdorf, Eyring)

Play in a flash mob

Read entire Bible

Ride a segway

Ride an elephant

Romantic dinner on a rooftop

Run a 5K in less than 30 minutes

See a pyramid

See all my kids in the temple together

Serve a mission with Bill

Solve a Rubik's Cube

Swim with dolphins

Take a photography class

Tandem skydiving

Travel to Africa

Travel to Europe

Visit Australia

Visit Machu Picchu

Volunteer abroad

Watch Survivor finale live

Whale watching

Witness a solar eclipse

Friends

"Great leaders usually have a lot of great friends, and friends are, by definition, people who lead others to higher ground while at the same time helping them enjoy the journey."   Jim Ritchie

I have really begun to think about the people I am surrounded by.  There are some that I don't have a lot of choice - for instance, co-workers, employers, and even family members.  But there are a lot of times that I can choose.  In those moments, am I surrounding myself by others who will help "lift me to higher ground while at the same time helping me enjoy the journey"?  

Am I that friend, the kind of person that helps lift others, helps them see the positive and find joy in even the small moments?  There is more joy in being around these type of people.  Sometimes I get caught up in what is not right or perfect, or a neverending list of things to do, and miss the joy of the journey.  Sometimes, I don't even want to be around myself because I get stressed out.  I don't need to have glory and recognition among my peers.  In fact, I'd rather be in the background.  But I do want to be known as an optimistic person who can help others.  

This is a life lesson that will benefit me not only professionally, but in my family, at church, and in life.  Where can I begin to make this change?