“Stop dreaming about your bucket list and start living it.”
–Annette White
As I’ve been thinking about finishing 2026 well—what I’ve accomplished, what still needs my attention, and what I want to move forward—I was reminded of my bucket list. Years ago, I started writing down things I wanted to do and experience. One of those things was a trip to Hawaii. I’m resending this email from 2020. Check this out:
Hawaii has been on my bucket list for awhile. At the beginning of last year, I added this affirmation to my goals. “I feel the sun on my face and the warm sand of a Hawaiian beach between my toes.” I could see, feel, and hear that vision every time I repeated that out loud.
When my daughter asked me in October to go with her, I said “yes” immediately. I wasn’t quite sure how I would cover the cost, since I hadn’t budgeted for it…but I knew…I just knew there would be a way. Actually, I’m writing this from a cabana overlooking the ocean in Maui.
Something magic happens between the brain and the pen.
When we simply think of an idea or goal, we use our imagination on the creative right side of our brain. When we write it down, we use the logical, left side of our brain. Writing our dream or goal moves the goal from “somewhere out there” to physical form. Our brain then goes to work to help us with ways to achieve that goal or bring that idea into fruition.
Written goals activate our brain to see opportunities surrounding that goal that we may not have seen before. Remember when you bought that new car? Nobody else had one…until you began to look at that make and model. Then they were everywhere!
When we envision our dreams and goals and make the decision that you’re going to have them no matter what, God, (or Providence, if that is your preference) moves. All sorts of things occur to help, that would never have otherwise occurred. Unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which we never would have dreamed of, come our way. I am sure you have experienced this before.
This is only one of goals achieved this year because they were written. Did I get them all? Not yet. I like to believe that they’re on the way.
Since 2020, there’s so many more bucket items achieved. In the near future, I’ll be offering a workshop on strategic planning for 2027—not just about setting goals, but getting clear about what you really want and creating a plan to move toward it. I’d love to help you!
What’s on your bucket list? Sit down now and picture it in your mind. What would it be like? What would it feel like? Who would be with you? What kind of person would you become to achieve that dream?
Write it, speak it, feel it. You and your life are worth it.
Warmly (pun intended,)
Jan
Jan McDonald
Maxwell Leadership Certified Team
For a friend to subscribe, here is the link
https://go.jan-mcdonald.com/leadership-seeds