Daphne's Blog

by Daphne Price

By the Sevens

 

In my “down time” (what?!!?  Such a thing really exists?!!!?), I like to peruse my friends’ blogs.  Many of them keep a “bucket list” – some with a targeted end date, and others to be completed whenever.  I too keep a bucket list.  It changes all the time. It helps me dream about/plan for the future and reminisce about the past.  (Go to the Oprah Show?  Check.  Bake a batch of margarita flavored cupcakes?  Check. Hike the Grand Canyon? Some day…)

 

I recently happened upon another variant.  This blogger came up with a bunch of random categories and then listed 7 of each. I liked the idea.  It made me check myself, reminding me of my individuality, and reinforcing that I am a multi-dimensional person.  Well, I guess being a full time mom/wife/daughter/office worker makes me multi-dimensional too – but different than saying that I can like reading Tuesdays With Morrie, as much as I like reading Good Night Moon, and that I can like listening to The Black Eyed Peas as much as I like listening to Billy Joel. Working on these lists really pushed me focus on myself in that “what about me and my needs?!!?” kind of way. (Does that sound self-absorbed?  Good! I deserve it!)  

 

Want to play along?   Take/make the time!  See if you can come up with (at least!) 7 of each. I’ll start!

 

Note: I reserve the right to change my lists at any time! And note #2:  feel free to laugh, nod in agreement, or shake your head.  But consider reserving judgment, until you’ve created your own lists of sevens.

 

• 7 people you’d like to meet – dead or alive

 

All of my grandparents (can that count as 1?)

Jon Stewart

Princess Diana

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Oprah Winfrey (going to the show doesn’t count!)

Albert Einstein

Randy Pausch

 

• 7 places you would like to visit

 

Grand Canyon

Pacific Northwest

Hawaii

Alaska

Italy

Spain

Australia

 

• 7 things you would like to make

 

Knit a blanket or a sweater

Roast a Turkey

Bake challah every week

Plant my own garden

Roll sushi

a scrapbook

decoupage a piece of furniture

 

• 7 things you would like to own

 

Ipad2

Beachhouse

A pair of Christian Louboutin boots (in my dreams!)

My own study

A really good set of knives

A car that I like (long story!)

A genie (why not?)

 

• 7 things that annoy you

 

Getting splashed in the swimming pool

Nails on a chalk board

When my kids won’t go to bed

Writer’s block

Over sleeping

Losing my keys (cell phone too!)

Traffic! (can I add bicyclists who don’t follow traffic rules!?!)

 

• 7 films you love

 

Forrest Gump

Dirty Dancing

Love Actually

My Best Friend’s Wedding

Bring It On

E.T.

The Godfather

 

• 7 things that delight

 

A mental health day (preferably at the beach!)

Time away with my husband and kids

Sunrise/sunset

Sleeping in

A spotless kitchen

A good, long run

A great sale!

 

• 7 favorite books

 

Tuesdays With Morrie (Mitch Albom)

Exodus (Leon Uris)

Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)

The Last Lecture (Randy Pausch)

Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)

Half the Sky (Nick Kristoff)

Good Night Moon (Margaret Wise Brown)

 

• 7 favorite songs

 

Anything by the Black Eyed Peas

Anything by Alanis Morisette

Anything by Air Supply

Anything by Billy Joel

Anything by Elton John

I will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)

Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)

 

• 7 funny words

 

Blog

Discombobulated

Linoleum

Hop-scotch

Curmudgeon

Malarkey

Onomatopoeia

 

•  7 more (this list can go on forever…):

 

Fly a kite with my kids

Take up tennis

Run a marathon

Train for a triathlon

Take a Sabbatical from work

Write a book

Volunteer more

 

Your turn. What’s on your list of seven?