Overheard at.... the dining room table.

"If Dec. 21st really was the end... what would be on your bucket list?"

Lately I have had a couple of Celestine Prophecy moments. I mentioned on twitter that people keep referencing Wizard of Oz to me, and I'm still trying to figure out what that means. (If anyone has an idea, let me know:>) But the other reference is this idea of a bucket list.

Maybe it is simply that people have it on their mind as we head into 2012. Or perhaps the universe is trying to tell me that this is an important exercise for me. Either way, I have found it an intriguing discussion. Narrowing down our priorities to the very most important isn't easy and begs the question of whether we are spending our time well. My husband and I are in agreement that before the end we would want to live for at least a few months in Italy.

Of course the technical questions are always what keep us from an otherwise obviously fantastic experience: School and friends for our daughter???? Our jobs????? Money to afford it???? Our house; our dog????? Sadly, although an escape feels a lot less so if it requires years of planning, this would be the process we would need to go through in order to make our dream real.

And, I think this is the real power of a bucket list. Without consciously paying attention to our most important priorities our plans can get confused and take us in a completely different direction. This is true whether the dream is expat living in Italy or publishing our first novel. There are many hurdles that can get in the way of fulfilling our dreams, and that hard work can make us question whether it is worth it. In fact, that insecure feeling can be the most insidious hurdle of all; especially as a writer.

Writing and publising is arduous... and there is a reason many people don't get there. It is also incredibly worthwhile. But, if it is on your bucket list it's time to get started; make a plan, write every day, research the new world of publishing.... and do it now! After all, Dec. 21st is only 11 months and 12 days away.