It's Me Bucket List

I have been overwhelmed the last couple of days thinking about all of the things I want to do with my life. It started when watching clips from my home theater's production of Hamlet on YouTube. And I thought to myself, "I really want to get into theater again". How!?!? When!?!?!?

So forget all the typical things that take up our time, and that our priorities to us- our faith, our families, our friends, our full time jobs, the day to day relationships that are the most important and fill most of our time. There is a full list outside of these things that I want to pursue. I love TV, I love listening to music, and Facebook, but that's all the stuff that takes up my time now. There's a lot of other things that if I were to focus all the rest of my energy on I could become quite successful at one thing. But I don't know which to focus my energy on, and I doubt that I could focus on just one.

Theater:

I was in three musicals from January 2008-May 2009 after a 4 year stint of not doing any. I used to be in one musical a year as I was growing up, and I love theater. Some of my best relationships here have grown from working on shows together. There's truly no people like show people, and it's amazing to work with such an eclectic group of people towards a common goal. I'd love to do a show again, but now that I'm working full time again, I don't know when I'd have the time. Outside of not having the time after work, there's the late nights that are required and having to get up for work the next morning.

I was even working on writing a musical a few months ago. I really want to focus more time and energy on that.

Running:

Yeah, you read that right. I ran my first 5k on Thanksgiving morning, and I'd really like to keep doing it. I want to reach my goal weight before I turn 30 next year, and that means I've got to lose 10 pounds. By running "for" things, I can help others and get in shape, too. Racing reminds me of my dad, as he used to always cart me around to different races when I was a young teen. It's a great feeling to be there with all those other runners and to complete a 5k. I want to get better at it. I'd like to run further and further distances. I don't know that I could ever be a top finisher, but I'd like to run a whole race without stopping. I want for it to get easier and easier. I've checked out http://www.runwashington.com/ and have found another race or two I'd like to do in the spring. I could be a good runner if I could take the time to do it.

Music:

I spent five years (and other people spent thousands of dollars) investing in my study of music. At one point I at least understood the concept of a Napolean 6th (even though I couldn't hear it to save my life). I get great joy teaching music (especially theory) to the kids I teach guitar to. I've settled in to 4 students, and I wish I could give them more time. I really wanted to take a guitar class at the community college this spring, but I think it will be too much financially and time wise. I want to practice more guitar myself. I want to write music again. I haven't written a full song in a couple of years, which is probably the longest stint I've ever gone without writing since high school.

Photography:

I decided to do something about these interestes this past year and get my feet wet by taking a photography class at a community college. It's amazing everything that I've learned. I was thinking last night about how photography is like driving a car (I tell my guitar kids the same thing about playing guitar). There's so much to remember at one time, and you have to do it a lot before it all becomes second nature. You've got vantage points, and white balance, and exposures and appeture. I'm not where I want to be yet, and I'd like to get better. My friend and I would like to get into wedding photography, and I plan on taking the electronic darkroom class in the spring.

Relationships, Saving the World, Etc.:

These are the things that really matter. How do I become a good friend? A good roommate? How do I balance all of my interests with everyday life? How do I care for the hungry and the poor and maintain my personal relationships? How can I focus on one of these things and not make the others less important? How do I get the most out of Mere Jazz, my book group? How do I put all of myself into work? How do I become a great teacher, a great daughter, a great friend? How and when do I start a family?

What are your ideas? Do I focus certain months or time of the day on my various projects? Do I just dedicate myself to running every morning and writing every night? Do you find yourself in the same position? How did you get through it?