Stop. Breathe. And Smile.

Life is too short.

We sort through a a million thoughts a day. We hear and see a million different moments. Which will be the moments we hold onto? What words will we remember hearing? And what thoughts will we deem as significant?

My mind has been going 100 mph lately...I'm constantly thinking about the future and about my next move in life. Sometimes our path splits into two directions and we are left standing at a crossroad that can alter our lives forever. It is too often that we stand there and scratch our heads that we forget that the world and everything else around us is still moving, regardless if our momentum has slowed down.

I've been so preoccupied with the future of my family that sometimes I forget to live for today. I've seen young people...friends...pass away much too soon. I've seen healthy adults receive the news that they're not as invincible as they thought. Reality happens too fast to the precious time that we are given today. When I die, I want to be able to smile at the things I did do, and not the things I planned on doing.

This doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to spend every penny that I get as I get it or that I am going to party like it's 1995 (Or in my case 2005). But sometimes I need a good jolt back to reality. Someone to say "Hey! You're getting older but you're too busy worrying about tomorrow to notice!"

So here I am..telling myself that today is more important than tomorrow. And to remind myself of that on a more consistent basis, I'm going to make a bucket list. Not my wishes for the future or things I hope to see before I die (i.e. See Rosalie get married or celebrate my 50th anniversary with Anthony) but a realistic list of 10 personal endeavors that I'd like to accomplish sometime before I kick the bucket. These things don't require age, assistance, or experience (maybe money) but rather, my full attention to living for today.

Ria's Bucket List
1) Write a book. (I already have ideas I just need to get them on paper)
2) Host a formal dinner party in which all the food is prepared from scratch...by me.
3) Go Island hopping in Greece.
4) Read the bible from cover to cover.
5) Go to Comic-Con to see all my favorite celebs in person
6) Take a road trip all the way up California's Coastline using only Pacific Coast Highway.
7) Take a pottery class. (I'd love to be able to make my own home decor)
8) Brew my own beer
9) See the Northern Lights
10) Create/research my family tree

There it is. Little things I've always wanted to experience for myself that I've never taken the time to do. If you can offer any help/advice on something on my list, please share! This isn't wishful thinking people, this is the real deal!

So, what's on your bucket list?