What's On Your List?

Image@thefireflytree.com

Fireflies (or as we call 'em where I'm from, lightning bugs) are magical creatures to watch and I readily admit I am completely captivated by them. I'm not alone, as this last weekend and for the next week The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is host to thousands of visitors who come from all over the United States to see these remarkable little bugs do their mating dance. It is this ethereal experience that's partially responsible for putting the sparkle in my weekend!

My mind is a constant, electricity-humming wild thing most of the time and it requires a lot of stimulation. This can be a royal pain the butt. Fortunately, I have had forty-five years to become accustomed to this ever-present need and developed many strategies for fulfilling it. Recently I've added a new layer to the process, creating a list of all the things I've always wanted to do and randomly choosing something from that list that is attainable and just flat out going for it (...I started doing that at the beginning of 2015 in the spirit of what I named this year, i.e. "Go in the direction of your dreams" and haven't looked back)! Having a "Bucket List" is certainly not some new concept I came up with. The new part for me is that I'm no longer waiting for the right time to do whatever it is I've put on my list. There is no "right' time, only now. As I've started crossing things off, I find myself considering and adding things that hadn't occurred to me before (which is a lot of fun)! I'm learning about desires that I'd never have been open to consider prior to being at this place in my life where I'm completely comfortable in my own skin. I am very much enjoying the ways personal growth is changing me.

Saturday night my husband and I were out on our back deck in the wee hours of the morning watching a clear sky of wild stars and quietly talking about a host of random things. The items on my "list" had been conversation fodder for several days, but I was still surprised when he stopped our conversation, went into the house, came out with a blanket and flashlight and said, "Let's go." We were going to make happen one of the things near the top of my list! I followed him excitedly, watching my step and savoring the feel of cool, damp grass on my bare feet. I wanted to memorize every single second, noting the way the fireflies shimmered in the dark treetops, the light breeze rustling leaves in a soft, reverent whisper. It felt as if the whole world was sleeping except for me, my husband and the nature all around us. Honestly, the entire experience from start to finish is one I struggle to find adequate words to describe. How does one express the feelings attached to making a wish come true? I was so stoked afterwards, I don't know how I ever got to sleep. What I do know is that this quest of mine to live in the NOW, making every moment count is gaining momentum in my world, and man is it exciting! I hope wherever my mom is, she's smiling down on me and thinking," Keep on being my wild, wild child."