LIFE

The bucket list is defined as ‘‘a list of things that one has not done before, but wants to do before dying.” It allows us to reflect on what matters most to us, our personal values, and identify important life milestones and experiences that we want to have in our lifetime. — Stanford Medicine

The movie was interesting, even entertaining. And the storyline inspired the concept of creating a “bucket list” of adventures, experiences, and challenges to be completed before leaving the planet on our final journey.

It caught on, and the idea of having a scripted promise to ourselves…

WRITING

“Until you know who you are you can’t write.” — Salman Rushdie

The game of writing success takes many shapes and forms

And the guidelines aren’t always clear or easy to interpret. That’s when doubt, frustration, and anxiety come into play — rearing their confusing, unwelcome heads front-and-center. Because while most of us are typically good sports and play well with others, we don’t always have a clear picture of the rules.

This concept is encountered all too often in our writing efforts

Seems like every day, I discover something new, different, unusual, unheard of, or hypothesized to be taken into consideration. All good stuff, and important to factor into the ever-changing equation.

But sometimes I’m left with dizzying stress —…

It’s usually on the list of most people’s dream occupation — being a writer. There seems to be something mystical, even esoteric about the profession.

Why?

Maybe it’s the fantasized notion of creating unique masterpieces, or being able to write on an independent schedule — without a boss or supervisor — and having the freedom to take a day off whenever the mood strikes.

And while writing is a noble and rewarding endeavor, the truth is many may not have a true calling. Or patience.

It takes more than a naive interest to sit down and express your thoughts to…

PERSONAL GROWTH

Just do it.

The phrase was made famous by an athletic shoe and clothing brand. And we often repeat the words to ourselves and others when faced with a hurdle that can stop us in our tracks.

Still, the message is difficult for most of us to live by.

Why? Because more often than not, the alternative is so much easier.

Rather than tackling the problems and issues that pop up front-and-center, many folks prefer to coast along through life, avoiding many of life’s difficult challenges and situations. Because it doesn’t take nearly as much effort — or thought.

Unfortunately, making the easy choice not to do anything is often encouraged by an apathetic crowd…

HEALTH/FITNESS

We couldn’t wait for the new gym to open.

A local chain of fitness centers had taken over a vacant grocery store. The construction crews arrived, and a brightly-colored banner across the front of the building boldly announced the new proprietor. We drove past the building several times a week, waiting for the announcement of opening day.

Finally, the membership sales trailer showed up in the parking lot, with three perky sales reps just outside — biting at the bit. Wearing sunglasses, smiles, and sporting muscular physiques, they paced energetically back-and-forth across the asphalt, waving their arms in a welcoming gesture.

We assumed the gym was getting close to a grand opening, so we stopped to chat.

We had a few questions about the hours…

WRITING

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. — T. S. Eliot

The desire to write is more than a curious passing thought to explore

For some of us, it’s an obsession — one often triggered by an issue, problem, or curiosity. That prickly sensation materializes as a nagging devil of an idea that gets lodged in a writer’s mind, evolving into a burning question — desperate for an answer.

Many writers, myself included, answer the call with high expectations, believing that through the process of creating articles, we’re on the road to sharing, caring, and helping others by exposing doubt and confusion —…

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

It Took Me Awhile to Figure it Out, But I Finally Came Face-to-Face With the Truth.

There’s a fear factor in everything we do.

Call it doubt, uncertainty, or emotional confusion. That uncomfortable feeling is easy to recognize, and usually shows up as a slow python-like squeeze in our gut that can take our breath away.

And the tingling sense of building anxiety can trigger a self-inquisition — an internal argument attempting to keep us from trying to change the status quo, even when the result will be positive, uplifting, and motivating.

Here are a few examples that may sound familiar:

• Will the new exercise plan work?
• Will I be able to stay on my diet?
• What if my stock portfolio crashes or I lose…

WRITING TIPS

My husband calls me analytical.

I prefer to think I’m detail-oriented, with a touch of obsessiveness when it comes to making sure my articles are ready to break out of the gate before I click the green “Publish” button.

To be fair, my husband’s assessment is spot-on. Because I have an incessant need to go through the details — several times if necessary — to calm my mind and convince myself I’ve done everything possible to prepare my stories for their debut.

In this article, I’ll describe the first impression a reader will see — what I call the icing on the cake.

Because that’s the first thing your teeth sinks into.

For me, this includes the title, subtitle, kicker, and photo. I’ll be posting follow-up…