What’s on Your Teacup List?

I spent most of the last year eagerly waiting for my cousin’s house to sell so we could move back up to the San Fernando Valley. From the end of May 2008 until the beginning of June of this year I spent a lot of time thinking about all the fun things I would do and how I would enjoy life to the fullest.

We did find our dream house to rent at the beginning of June, and we love it. We have been having a great time decorating and gardening and I give thanks every day that I’m living here.

I love our neighborhood. Last night after I walked the dogs I took another walk by myself just so I could completely indulge in the balmy air gliding on my skin, gaze at the lush trees and bushes and watch the streaky pink clouds turn gold without two miniature pinschers yanking at my attention. (They love the neighborhood as much as I do, by the way.)

I am savoring life where I live now, but as far as all the other things I’ve planned to do, I just haven’t gotten around to it. Sure, it’s only been a month and we’re still settling and unpacking. But I woke up today wondering when I was going to start doing them.

There were several things I vowed I would do when I turned 40.That was going to be the time I really started living life fully.

Taking singing lessons was one. I used to love to sing as a kid and now I sound like a chicken with laryngitis.

Learning Italian was something I always wanted to do—even if I never go back to Italy at least I’d know how to pronounce things on a menu without saying everything like it was a question. 

And I’ve always wanted to take hip hop dance lessons. Yeah, my middle-aged self feels ridiculous even typing that, but it’s true.

Did you see the movie The Bucket List? Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman make a list of things to do and see before they kick the bucket.

My dreams and budget don’t include helicoptering around pyramids so I’ve decided a teacup would be more appropriate.

Regardless of their size and scope, my 40th birthday came and went and I didn’t do any of those things on my teacup list. Last month I turned 45…so another 5 years have gone by. 

So…what am I waiting for? I’m living in the second largest urban area in the whole country, with numerous opportunities around me. No matter where we live, this life is so full of so many wonderful things to do and see…God’s infinite variety is so mind-blowingly incredible, and yet I let every other mundane daily task come before my tiny, yearning dreams.

What’s on your teacup list? What are you waiting for?

Earlier this week I went online and found a dance studio here in the Valley. They have adult hip hop dance classes the last Thursday of every month. I’m putting it here in writing for all the world to see that I’m going to that class, no matter how ridiculous I look or feel. 

Thank you, God, for another day and another chance at my teacup list!

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