Bucket lists

I have never had a bucket list per se. I pretty much just live my life day to day doing the most and the best each day has to offer. I don't pass up opportunities. I try to capture every moment like it may be the last. Not my last, but the the last chance to do it.
On some level, I still have the youthful outlook of invincibility. I suppose that is what keeps me young in spirit. I am smarter, more careful, but I make choices based on the knowledge of future chance and the concept that things don't just come along at will. I appreciate each moment that comes my way.
My job has afforded me the destination accessibility for many ventures lately. But, my desire to seek them out has been the catalyst for the many cool activities I have seen and done lately.
I have aggressively pursued my adventures. Blessed to have the ability to get to certain places I would not have traveled to on my own. Blessed to be healthy enough to follow though with my pursuits.
Everyone, on some level has tasks, adventures, things that they want to do. Whether it is travel to a new city, see a sports team play, buy a certain vehicle, everyone has a "thing".
I turned 40 a few years ago, and prior to this birthday I had a list as long as my arm. I wanted to publish a book. Done. I wanted to run a marathon. Done. I wanted to live abroad. Done. I wanted to write an everyday cookbook for busy moms. Almost done. Point being - there was always something at the forefront.
Lately, since I've ventured into my 40's, I've slacked off. Nothing at the forefront. No pending desires that are taking over my time and money as I prepare, just really trying to enjoy each day.
Yes, I want to travel more. Yes, I have goals for my kids. Yes, I want to get better at golf. But, nothing seems as important as living in the moment. Enjoying every sunrise, every kiss, every dinner, every glass of wine, every run, every moment with my child, every  chance to connect with another human being. The important things have changed and I didn't even realize it.
It's almost like I changed my perspective on my reception of life and how I attack it to breathing in each moment and letting it embrace me, for a minute.
These 12 people, whether they had a bucket list or not, will never get to fulfill their desires in this lifetime, and I breathe in slowly as I connect with life itself, blessed to be here one more day, with my kid, in my home, in my life.
Live it! It's short... and un-promised.

Where are our Hero's?

I am watching, "I am Legend", and the main character is trying to explain how he named his child after the great reggae legend Bob Marley. He explains how Marley was scheduled to sing at a peace rally when a gunman came into his home and shot him down, yet he still got up on stage 2 days later and performed. Marley expressed how hate does not take a day off, so how can he?
I was born in the 60's.
I grew up with hero's of unity and love like Bob Marley, JFK, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, Ghandi; all the heros that changed this world we live in today.
I asked, where have all our hero's gone? Have our dreams of hope died with a few good men?
Are we so selfish and able to sit on the laurels of others struggles that we are willing to let our children die in a world where violence, hatred, the greed of politicians and corporate America supersede all the work the hero's of my childhood worked for?
Then I looked at myself. What am I willing to do?
These same things President Obama asked of us four short years ago when he chanted, "It's time for change".
What are you willing to do for your country?
This year, it's time to stand up.
To stop asking what the world can do for us, but what can we do for our neighbor.
I have always thought being kind and good were good enough, but my silence is simply a passive acceptance of the way things have become, and it's not good enough.
I have been one to yell, "what do you stand for", but in fact, what do I stand for?
I have spent the last 16 years living for my kids - wanting to raise good people, but those little people are becoming big people. People I have to let go. People that are going out into the world on their own to hopefully make a change. As much as I have stood for being the best mom I can be, for being the best person, I haven't gotten out there and acted on my passions in years. I have acted safely. I have tried to keep my kids educated and safe. I have lived in a world that observes and evaluates, but hasn't been active, except in a pure volunteer state. I am not the activist I was in my youth. The reason I went to college. The reason I wanted to write, and make films. Everything I stood for ...
It is easy to grow up and become complacent about the hope of the future, because reality sets in and life is bigger than dreams. Bills have to be paid and kids have to be fed, but the reality is our heros of the past, people that made a difference so that we could have the freedoms that we have, they had families too. They had bills to pay. They had lives to live, and they sacrificed those for the state of our world. They gave their lives to change the lives we have. What are we doing?

I have stated on more than one occasion, I do not make resolutions, but this year I resolve to stand and speak for what I stand for. To be aggressive and vocal about what is in my heart.
One love
One people
Love
What stands greater than the greed and inconsequential motives of most of our world? Living in the light of who we are and sharing that with each other.
Truly.

Light up the darkness

Stand for something...please.