Bucket lists

I'm 3b so not advanced but It really put my life in perspective. Before I fretted and worried about money and retirement and material things. Now I try to live by the motto "stuff doesn't matter". It is a daily thing I have to remind myself. I don't have a bucket list other than to spend as much time with my 3 and 5 year old as possible and just live out daily life with a great attitude. Many of the best experiences I had growing up revolve around just everyday things like hanging out with my mom fishing or walks with my dad. It seemed like the big Disney world trip I went  on as a kid faded into my mind. If I could sum it up with one word it would be contentment.

I'm 3b so not advanced but It really put my life in perspective. Before I fretted and worried about money and retirement and material things. Now I try to live by the motto "stuff doesn't matter". It is a daily thing I have to remind myself. I don't have a bucket list other than to spend as much time with my 3 and 5 year old as possible and just live out daily life with a great attitude. Many of the best experiences I had growing up revolve around just everyday things like hanging out with my mom fishing or walks with my dad. It seemed like the big Disney world trip I went  on as a kid faded into my mind. If I could sum it up with one word it would be contentment.

I'm 3b so not advanced but It really put my life in perspective. Before I fretted and worried about money and retirement and material things. Now I try to live by the motto "stuff doesn't matter". It is a daily thing I have to remind myself. I don't have a bucket list other than to spend as much time with my 3 and 5 year old as possible and just live out daily life with a great attitude. Many of the best experiences I had growing up revolve around just everyday things like hanging out with my mom fishing or walks with my dad. It seemed like the big Disney world trip I went  on as a kid faded into my mind. If I could sum it up with one word it would be contentment.

I was diagnosed stage IV in April 2013. At the time, I was so wrapped up in how to "fix" the situation, that I didn't think of anything but enjoying the very moment that I was in. Sunsets, the sounds of birds in the backyard, goofy romantic movies… I just wanted to absorb the beauty of everything I felt I had ignored while plodding through life with work each day. My husband took all of the family leave time that he could, and we would make daily trips to a coffee shop to enjoy some "us" time and reconnect like we did as a new couple. Eventually, things circled back around to a more typical routine. While I am forever changed, and will always find the best I can in even a mundane moment, we started moving ahead with bigger plans. With all of the time spent in doctor waiting rooms, we decided to learn a new language (Spanish). One check on the new bucket list! That got us started on wanting to visit Spain. In nearly 30 years of marriage, our only "vacations" had always included visiting either his family or mine. We'd never just gone anywhere for pure enjoyment. Obviously, this was a biggie, with expenses and the need for me to be healthy enough to travel. I thought that one would be a tougher check mark, but last summer, we left my radiation oncologist's office and headed straight to LAX for a flight to Barcelona the next morning. CHECK! Somewhere between learning Spanish, and making it to Spain, I fit in a Century Ride on my bicycle…. prompted by a friend in TN, who flew out to do the ride with us. I guess I don't have an actual, literal, list of things I'd like to do… they just kind of develop through ideas that my friends or family propose. When someone asks "You know what I think would be fun?" or "You know what I've always wanted to do?"… I think far more seriously about it now. I start to think, "why not?" and "how can we make this happen?". I don't have a big list of things I'd like to tackle, but spending time with friends and family, and taking on their wish list is a way to enjoy new things, and spend time doing them with the people I care to be around!  : ) 

I was diagnosed stage IV in April 2013. At the time, I was so wrapped up in how to "fix" the situation, that I didn't think of anything but enjoying the very moment that I was in. Sunsets, the sounds of birds in the backyard, goofy romantic movies… I just wanted to absorb the beauty of everything I felt I had ignored while plodding through life with work each day. My husband took all of the family leave time that he could, and we would make daily trips to a coffee shop to enjoy some "us" time and reconnect like we did as a new couple. Eventually, things circled back around to a more typical routine. While I am forever changed, and will always find the best I can in even a mundane moment, we started moving ahead with bigger plans. With all of the time spent in doctor waiting rooms, we decided to learn a new language (Spanish). One check on the new bucket list! That got us started on wanting to visit Spain. In nearly 30 years of marriage, our only "vacations" had always included visiting either his family or mine. We'd never just gone anywhere for pure enjoyment. Obviously, this was a biggie, with expenses and the need for me to be healthy enough to travel. I thought that one would be a tougher check mark, but last summer, we left my radiation oncologist's office and headed straight to LAX for a flight to Barcelona the next morning. CHECK! Somewhere between learning Spanish, and making it to Spain, I fit in a Century Ride on my bicycle…. prompted by a friend in TN, who flew out to do the ride with us. I guess I don't have an actual, literal, list of things I'd like to do… they just kind of develop through ideas that my friends or family propose. When someone asks "You know what I think would be fun?" or "You know what I've always wanted to do?"… I think far more seriously about it now. I start to think, "why not?" and "how can we make this happen?". I don't have a big list of things I'd like to tackle, but spending time with friends and family, and taking on their wish list is a way to enjoy new things, and spend time doing them with the people I care to be around!  : ) 

I was diagnosed stage IV in April 2013. At the time, I was so wrapped up in how to "fix" the situation, that I didn't think of anything but enjoying the very moment that I was in. Sunsets, the sounds of birds in the backyard, goofy romantic movies… I just wanted to absorb the beauty of everything I felt I had ignored while plodding through life with work each day. My husband took all of the family leave time that he could, and we would make daily trips to a coffee shop to enjoy some "us" time and reconnect like we did as a new couple. Eventually, things circled back around to a more typical routine. While I am forever changed, and will always find the best I can in even a mundane moment, we started moving ahead with bigger plans. With all of the time spent in doctor waiting rooms, we decided to learn a new language (Spanish). One check on the new bucket list! That got us started on wanting to visit Spain. In nearly 30 years of marriage, our only "vacations" had always included visiting either his family or mine. We'd never just gone anywhere for pure enjoyment. Obviously, this was a biggie, with expenses and the need for me to be healthy enough to travel. I thought that one would be a tougher check mark, but last summer, we left my radiation oncologist's office and headed straight to LAX for a flight to Barcelona the next morning. CHECK! Somewhere between learning Spanish, and making it to Spain, I fit in a Century Ride on my bicycle…. prompted by a friend in TN, who flew out to do the ride with us. I guess I don't have an actual, literal, list of things I'd like to do… they just kind of develop through ideas that my friends or family propose. When someone asks "You know what I think would be fun?" or "You know what I've always wanted to do?"… I think far more seriously about it now. I start to think, "why not?" and "how can we make this happen?". I don't have a big list of things I'd like to tackle, but spending time with friends and family, and taking on their wish list is a way to enjoy new things, and spend time doing them with the people I care to be around!  : ) 

Bucket lists, of course!  But I must say I was most concerned in my first year after Stage IV diagnosis.  I made several trips to the mainland, to see friends, Son, Dad, and frankly most of all, to play in the snow.  I still remain committed to an annual vacation to go snowboarding, and to just walk through a quiet forest covered in white.  Nothing soothes my soul more than that. Life has a way of getting in the way of all you want to do.  I have obligations, and do not have unlimited resources so I accept to enjoy each day, spend time with my children and to just be thankful to be alive is reward enough.  OK, I still do really want to take a nice long ride on a motorcycle.  I need to make that happen.

Gary

Bucket lists, of course!  But I must say I was most concerned in my first year after Stage IV diagnosis.  I made several trips to the mainland, to see friends, Son, Dad, and frankly most of all, to play in the snow.  I still remain committed to an annual vacation to go snowboarding, and to just walk through a quiet forest covered in white.  Nothing soothes my soul more than that. Life has a way of getting in the way of all you want to do.  I have obligations, and do not have unlimited resources so I accept to enjoy each day, spend time with my children and to just be thankful to be alive is reward enough.  OK, I still do really want to take a nice long ride on a motorcycle.  I need to make that happen.

Gary

Bucket lists, of course!  But I must say I was most concerned in my first year after Stage IV diagnosis.  I made several trips to the mainland, to see friends, Son, Dad, and frankly most of all, to play in the snow.  I still remain committed to an annual vacation to go snowboarding, and to just walk through a quiet forest covered in white.  Nothing soothes my soul more than that. Life has a way of getting in the way of all you want to do.  I have obligations, and do not have unlimited resources so I accept to enjoy each day, spend time with my children and to just be thankful to be alive is reward enough.  OK, I still do really want to take a nice long ride on a motorcycle.  I need to make that happen.

Gary

I've had a very full life so I kind of reacted the opposite to the bucket list. It's a relief to not have to strive for excellence in the future and to accept fulfilment here and now. Happy to smell fresh mown lawn or wander down and enjoy a cappuccino. A cool glass of water on a hot day. I don't feel like I have to climb Everest. Funny with languages… that was one of the things that made me thoughtful. I speak several having lived all over the place and I thought what use is all the knowledge? It all dies with you. I guess when it comes to that stage you have to be happy with what you have aspired to and be ready to be at peace that the world will keep turning and that's as it should be. 

I've had a very full life so I kind of reacted the opposite to the bucket list. It's a relief to not have to strive for excellence in the future and to accept fulfilment here and now. Happy to smell fresh mown lawn or wander down and enjoy a cappuccino. A cool glass of water on a hot day. I don't feel like I have to climb Everest. Funny with languages… that was one of the things that made me thoughtful. I speak several having lived all over the place and I thought what use is all the knowledge? It all dies with you. I guess when it comes to that stage you have to be happy with what you have aspired to and be ready to be at peace that the world will keep turning and that's as it should be. 

I've had a very full life so I kind of reacted the opposite to the bucket list. It's a relief to not have to strive for excellence in the future and to accept fulfilment here and now. Happy to smell fresh mown lawn or wander down and enjoy a cappuccino. A cool glass of water on a hot day. I don't feel like I have to climb Everest. Funny with languages… that was one of the things that made me thoughtful. I speak several having lived all over the place and I thought what use is all the knowledge? It all dies with you. I guess when it comes to that stage you have to be happy with what you have aspired to and be ready to be at peace that the world will keep turning and that's as it should be.