The Bucket List

I often speak about the kind of life I want to enjoy; the family vacations, the girlfriend getaways and me retreats. I SPEAK about it often but very seldom do I afford myself such luxuries. I have been working since I was 17 years old. I've been a successful entrepreneur for over 10 years; grinding daily to build my business and secure the lifestyle I've become accustomed to. While I have enjoyed the freedom and security that comes along with owning your own business, I have also suffered many of the consequences. The most obvious and perhaps most damaging being very few opportunities to take off, relax and regroup. All work and very little time to play has made Lisa a very UNHAPPY CAMPER!
What is it all for, when you work your behind off and neglect to enjoy the fruits of your labor? Who really wants to work just to simply survive? Life is meant to enjoy.

I made up my mind this year that I was going to start traveling....exploring my city, my country and the world I live in. There is so much out there to experience and I refuse to miss out on all that this life has to offer. 

So I created a "Bucket List". Now for those of you who have not seen this excellent film starring, Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson it is a must see, thought provoking movie. In the movie Morgan's character finds out he is dying and decides to create a list of everything he wants to do before he passes away or Kicks the Bucket. Which raises the question: Why does it take the threat of death for some of us to figure out We should be living? Crazy huh?
I'm ashamed to admit it but that has been me for far too long. On the other hand I'm happy to annouce that I will no longer be a benchwarmer on the sidelines of Life. I will not wait until I'm stricken with illness or given X amount of time to live before I decide to do what I should have been doing all along, Living! My Bucket List will not be a last attempt at life before an impending death but rather a celebration of my rebirth.
What began as a list of 10 places to go, things to do and goals to accomplish has expanded into a Heavenly Grant of obtainable Blessings and Gifts that I know my Father will one day give me; The Desires of my heart. I started the list one Sunday while sitting in church. By the end of service I was overwhelmed by how much I wanted: 1. Shop on Rodeo Drive 2. Walk Along the Black Beaches of Africa 3. Earn a PHD 4. Attend a play on Broadway 5. Empower someone to Change their Life. The list goes on forever but yet nothing on it seems far fetched.

The journey has just begun, there is so much living, loving and growing to be done; so many Phabolous years ahead. And I'm not letting another minute pass me by. First Stop... The Essence Festival in New Orleans in July. I've gathered my traveling companions, booked my room and now I'm simply counting the days. One thing I know for sure is I plan to dance like I'm 20, laugh like a school girl and party like a Rock Star.