My Bucket List

Shells in the Sands Series #6

The intention for this series is to share cherished thoughts and reflections of life in bite-size pieces. I have been an avid journal writer since my early teens, and most of the original writings were initially captured in my personal journal. I have chosen the most pertinent ones to share with the world through this series. This joy is similar to picking out beautiful shells while walking on a sandy beach.

I often wonder what my 50th birthday would be like. This question looms larger as I recently celebrated another birthday as a thirty-something, edging ever closer to 40.

In Chinese culture, 50 signifies maturity: you’ve had enough experiences in this earthly school, endured your fair share of tests and difficulties, and are now primed for wisdom. That’s why I often thought that if I were to write a book, as many friends have suggested, I would have to wait until after turning 50 to qualify.

So, my bucket list revolves around what I would like to do after I turn 50, when the second half of my life begins. The golden thread is that I’d like to honor my being over my doing, my thriving over my surviving, and my inner fulfillment more than my external success. This is going to be an inverse of the way the first half of my life played out.