Checking Another Bucket List Item Off My List

I stood staring at the cold, jellyfish infested, waters before I took the plunge. Oh yeah, and where Soren told me, "Of course they have sharks...but they're only small sharks." But then what other creatures lurk in the warm water of the ocean. . . ?

Oh . . . but that's beside the point.

Have you ever wanted to swim in the ocean...between two countries...? Well, I'm definitely no bathing beauty...especially at 50! But... I thought it would be cool to swim in the waters between Denmark and Sweden (with Hamlet's Castle in the background). The only problem was the cold . . . it's my nemesis...so first I had to go for a run to heat up my body core. So, I got up at 6:00 a.m. to go for a run around Elsinore or Helsingor Castle. Running a loop around a castle..that's enough to get my blood pumping and after that it was a piece of cake...well, almost.

You can see (if you look closely) on my face that the water isn't warm but it is waaaaay warmer than the Ocean off the Oregon coast. Our water flows down from Alaska...it's hypothermia-frigid. But the water between Denmark and Sweden comes from the warmer waters of the North and Baltic Seas. So while it's not bath water warm, it is comfortable for swimming. And, since I want to begin training for the triathlon next June, I thought this would be a good opportunity to do some open water swimming. And I had to have my son come take the pictures for my proof...that I did it!

Once I'd made up my mind, I had to run for it...no looking back, and, like Nike says, "Just Do It!"

I really did it!!!

Now I have my photographic proof - even if I only look like a little dot in most of the photos (which I'm sure you all would appreciate...if you'd seen close ups, YIKES!) - that I swam in the ocean between Denmark and Sweden! Two checkmarks off my bucket list in one year: a marathon, and swimming between two different countries...What next?

BREAK THE RULES in 2011

People tell us to “Set realistic goals”.

I say, "WHY?"

New Year’s Eve
Is the perfect time
for new beginnings,
forgiving and forgetting
things better left behind.

Goals shouldn’t be practical. Not at a time like this. This is the dawning of a new year, a new decade, perhaps even a new life.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Start it right. Dare to dream, believe in yourself, try something new. Have faith. There’s no better time than NOW.

We’re all standing on the edge, leaning over a precipice, take the leap, plunge headfirst into the New Year.

You can become the person you want to be
Don’t tell yourself “It’s just not me”
Step outside your box today
Remember
You’re never to old to run or play

Mom used to say, “If you have the faith of a mustard seed, you can move mountains”.

I’m saying it doesn’t need to be a mountain you move, but at least start with a molehill.

Change something, try something, dare something, become something. . .new.

Turn the page and start anew
Try something you never thought you’d do
Wear red or yellow, pink, chartreuse
Order calamari, duck or goose

Isn’t that what the New Year brings to all of us. . .the chance to change?

You can achieve something you’ve never done before. All it takes is opening, not closing, the door. . . to possibilities.

Goals shouldn’t be realistic. I say, “Shoot for the Moon even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”


So, start by setting some Resolutions or goals for yourself. Remember a goal is only an objective or stated intention. Even if you don't make it all the way, you'll get farther than if you never had any focus.

Let's state our intentions or, a goal or two, maybe even ten.

One piece of advice is to make goals specific and measurable: “I want to enter a cooking contest” rather than “I want to be a good cook." People need quantifiable results and I love to set goals so I can cross those little suckers off my never-ending bucket list.

Here are my goals for 2011:

1) Train for a marathon
2) Run a 15k, a half-marathon and get ready for the biggie in 2012 (baby steps)
3) Knit some fingerless gloves (I started some in 2010 but never finished them)
4) Take a class (it doesn't matter what - I want to be a lifetime learner)
5) Start skiing again (snow-I never gave up on water)
6) Volunteer (I volunteered for Wordstock in 2010 and it's worth doing again)
7) Write another novel (I have a few manuscripts but want to finish another one)
8) Share seeds, plants, and flowers
9) Ride my bike to work more than I did in 2010
10)Plant more vegetables in 2011

I could go on and on...how 'bout you? Share some of your goals in "comments" and I'll leave you with: Auld Lang Syne (translated: Old Long Since)

Should Old Acquaintance be forgot,
and never thought upon;
The flames of Love extinguished,
and fully past and gone:
Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold,
that loving Breast of thine;
That thou canst never once reflect
on Old long syne.

CHORUS:
On Old long since my Jo,
in Old long since,
That thou canst never once reflect,
on Old long since.
My Heart is ravished with delight,
when thee I think upon;
All Grief and Sorrow takes the flight,
and speedily is gone;
The bright resemblance of thy Face,
so fills this, Heart of mine;
That Force nor Fate can me displease,
for Old long since.

CHORUS
Since thoughts of thee doth banish grief,
when from thee I am gone;
will not thy presence yield relief,
to this sad Heart of mine:
Why doth thy presence me defeat,
with excellence divine?
Especially when I reflect
on Old long since

If you want to read more on blogs, resolutions and writing, check out RedRoom.com