Life List

Some of you may think the very thought of a "life list" is morbid, but this isn't what my list is about by any stretch of the imagination. As you may or may not know I have had some health issues over the years, and May of 2011, I was surprised to find out I have a frontal left lobe meningioma that is approx. 2x3 cm (it is approx. 3x3.2cm as of 2012). Since then there has been minor growth and change of shape, but no alarm bells are being sounded at this time.  My tumour was removed October 11, 2012, and I suffered a grand mal seizure on Oct. 28, 2012, and I have fully recovered...but I digress...after the shock of this diagnosis subsided, it forced me to take a really long, hard look at my life. What goals did I achieve and what ones were put on the back burner of everyday life? It brought all of my life dreams to the surface and made me realize there were a number of them that I thought weren't important anymore, but the truth is they are.

In December 2019 I received news the tumour has returned. It's very small at this point, and I have no symptoms but it was, nonetheless, a shock and disappointment to get this news. At this point we will watch and wait to see what happens.

There has always been excuses why I haven't achieved some of my goals, but the number one would always be financial. Funny how there is always enough to have my hair done, to eat out at fairly expensive restaurants, to do all the things that seem important at the time; but, the things that are deep-down-in-my-gut-important were pushed aside. I decided to write a few of my life's dreams down, and that list began to grow...and grow...into something of a list of all the possibilities of life. I look at it and can't help but smile. I see these words and they bring me hope of all the good things to come. I may or may not fullfull the dreams on this list, but I plan on keeping it close by so I no longer get diverted on a track of what isn't part my life's dream.

I can't wait to achieve some of these goals/dreams knowing that Wally will be by my side, or waiting for me, or cheering me on. Now those are words that warm my heart!

Here we go - in no particular order:

Arts & Crafts

• make homemade valentines
• learn how to knit: I received a knitting kit for Christmas 2019 and have finished a beautiful, chunky scarf. I plan on learning more skills and completing another project.
• learn how to sew
• make a quilt
• make an annual book of "Our Life" using photos from the year
• make a book for each vacation/adventure we completed (Florida 2005, Bahamas 2010, Ottawa adventures 2015/2016, Croatia 2017, Caribbean Cruise 2018,  New York City 2019)

(Bennett family cruise March, 2018)

• make a new wreath for every season/holiday

(fall colours 2012)

(summer 2012)

• scrap at least one new page every week

Career

• photograph a wedding
• become comfortable enough to incorporate off-camera lighting in sessions
• design and complete marketing materials
• distribute business cards and flyers in my home town and surrounding areas
• update photos on my website and Facebook
• decide on a pricing scheme and commit to it
• be as kind to myself as I am to other photographers

I have had a sharp change in career trajectory. In December, 2013, the last issue of the Valley Buy, Sell & Trade was published, which meant I no longer had contract work. At that time, I decided to train to become a medical transcriptionist. To say it wasn't an easy process would be an understatement, but as of February, 2016, I am on the downward phase, and have completed a practicum with a company that, hopefully, I will be contracted to work for in the near future. Medical transcription turned out to be a failing industry and pay was very poor. I transitioned to working for the Crown in Edmonton for about 1.5 years, and as of 2019 I am working as a contractor for DND at Stadacona. I feel very blessed to have been given this opportunity to work outside the house again and be paid well for it at this late stage of my working life. In January 2020 I am very happy to be back working at DND, Scheduling.

Education

• get a degree - at this point of my life the cost/benefit doesn't make sense...but one never knows what happens in life :)
• learn how to take good videos and process them
• learn good lighting techniques for photography
• complete training for medical transcription - graduated with honours (97+%) February, 2016.
• I am a lifelong learner and do not plan on stopping reading/learning/growing.

Home Life

• grow a vegetable garden (beets, carrots, green onion, chives, beans, potatoes). We are planning on attempting an apt. sized garden on our deck this year, 2019. Didn't happen in 2019 but there's always 2020!
• grow herbs all year round
• complete a perennial garden  Not possible, now that I'm living the "condo life"
• take a photo of Wally and I every month (ongoing). I fell off the wagon, so to speak on this one because "life happened" and Wally has had a crazy schedule this past year or so. I hope to be able to pick this habit up again soon. We continue to take tons of "selfies" along the way but I still yearn for "nice" photos of us regularly.
• Find a perfect little cottage home on a a decent lot so we can settle in, grow a garden, swim in a pool (or nearby river?), hang out on a beautiful deck, listen to the birds, play with a pup (with a home we can have a dog again), love hard, laugh often and be at peace...just ME+HIM in our little bubble.

Click here to go to the ME+HIM / 2x12 category on the blog

(click image for details of November, 2012 photo)

(photo taken on the last day of September (30th), 2012)

(photo taken by the waitress during our 15th Anniversary dinner Aug. 1/12)

(click image for details of July 31/12 photo)

(click image for details of June/12 photo)

• make a point of photographing the "everyday" of my life. Again I haven't been as diligent as I once was but hopefully I will get this habit forming again soon.
• have a swimming pool of my own Most likely will not happen - the condo life thing :)
• make homemade pasta
• make homemade sugar-free jam
• make pickled beets (from our garden)

(click image to read story - they weren't from by garden but it is a start)

• learn how to make awesome caesar dressing (lighter version) and form a habit of making all dressings. I do have a great recipe for caesar that includes homemade mayo. It's better than what we used to buy. I also make other homemade dressings regularly. Yum!!! Done!
• eat veggies at most meals and find new ways to prepare them (ongoing)
• fly a kite and document it (video)

(click image to read story -so much fun!)

• host an Oscar party
• host a brunch quarterly with the women of my family (extended family too). Sadly, I have been on the outskirts of my family this last few years. It saddens me but I'm hopeful it will change in the future.
• have a photobooth so we can take crazy fun photos of us and people who visit
• utilize the breadmaker for new and healthy recipes. I don't eat bread often but Wally does make bread for himself several times a year (that I get to sample too!).

Personal Development

• learn to put makeup on with my "now" skin - Clinique products purchased Oct, 2013. 2019 I purchased a new moisturizer and need to get new makeup for my ever-aging skin. 2020 I finally bought makeup and I love it! I think there will be more in my future.
• have my ears pierced (again). I was surprised to see this on my list actually. I have no desire to do this at this point.
• form new meaningful friendships (ongoing).
• volunteer
• be grateful and thank God everyday for the life that I am blessed to be living  (ongoing)
• utilized my "one little word" and document the journey. 2019 I chose "joy" with a companion word of "gratitude". I think about them often but have not practiced the lessons as I had hoped this year. 2020 word is FOCUS and I'm actually documenting it.

Sports and Exercise

• swim in a race (Masters).  Hmmmm....this gets me thinking that maybe I should consider swimming in 2019 or 2020.
• ski downhill
• get diving certified. As of May 2019 we are definitely looking into this. Hopefully we'll be certified and able to scuba on our next family trip in 2020.
• snorkel in an exotic place
• learn to surf
• run in a 5K race. Unfortunately due to a deteriorating spine and arthritic hips I've been advised to give up running since 2018. It's a bummer, that's for sure. My waistline has grown over the past months and I need to get a handle on it quickly!
• 2020 I am walking a 1000K running challenge. I am feeling determined!

Step #1 - walk in a 5K (Spring Sprint to benefit the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada May 11, 2013)

Step #2 - ran a 5K Sept. 28, 2013 "Run or Dye" in Windsor, NS - great fun!

(click image for details)

• learn to kayak and paddle on a lake, a river and the ocean

Step #1 - sit-on-top-style kayak on a lake

(click image for details)

(Gatineau Park 2016)

• practice yoga regularly. I don't do yoga but I have been practicing pilates since 2017. 
• learn how to ride a bicycle and take a tour
• learn to mountain climb. Definitely not mountain climbing but we went chasing our first waterfall in April 2019 and I felt totally exhilarated when I made it to the top of a steep hill to reach the top of the falls. So much fun!

• take a dance class
• learn to sail and go on an adventure
• exercise most days (ongoing)
• learn to skate and spend some time on the oval in Halifax (done!) and skate the Rideau Canal regularly (ongoing)

(photo above taken on the Rideau Canal 2016)

Travel/Adventure

• dance in Times Square. I didn't exactly dance in Times Square but I sure did enjoy the buzz of it during our whirlwind NYC adventure April 2019.

• walk on the Fundy floor and witness the tide come in
• sink my feet into the mud flats near home (or anywhere)

(click image for details)

• white water rafting (again)
• ride in a hot air balloon

(click image for details)

• ride on the biggest and best roller coasters
• travel on a train - I went from Ottawa to Montreal & back. Loved it!

(photo taken on VIA rail February 2016 - click image for details)

• get out and camp/enjoy nature regularly (more often)

(click image for details from Canada Day Weekend 2012 )

• attend the cherry blossom festival in DC
• attend Mardi Gras in New Orleans
• spend a month traveling through Europe
• go on an African Safari
• visit the Grand Canyon and take a tour into it
• eat a "real" Philly cheese steak
• spend New Year's Eve in NYC
• visit an orphanage
• travel across Canada and US in an RV
• take the 1000 Island cruise (Ontario)

(Boldt Castle - 1000 Islands Tour)

• see all of the sites in Ottawa - we moved back before we could see them all but we sure had fun while it lasted!

 (walk in Gatineau Park)

 (hockey game in Montreal)

 (Canada Day 2016)

 (Illumination)

 (Dec. 24th warmth on our deck and our girl Lily was still with us)

 (Weekend in Toronto including a Jays game.)

 (1000 Islands Tour)

 (Mochi went for an accidental swim in the tub Dec. 25/16)

 (Gatineau Park)

 (Winter Carnival)

 (Trip to Montreal - I took the train to meet up with Wally)

 (Rideau Canal - so much fun!)

 (Remembrance Day. It was a moving experience for us both. Click image to read about it.)

 (Holiday lights in Ottawa were incredible.)

 (Winter ferris wheel ride at Upper Canada Village. Incredible experience!)

(Upper Canada Village lights were a sight to behold! Click photo to read about it.)

There were so many things that we did and saw, I wish I could share them all but I must restrain myself.

• witness the aurora borealis and photograph it
• Find/visit waterfalls in Nova Scotia - ongoing

(1st up - Ettinger Falls in Three Mile Plains April 2019)

One thing I became painfully aware of is that a large portion of my "life's dreams" require me to be physically fit. Maybe having these types of goals set out in front of me will help me keep focused and value the journey and hard work it takes to lose A LOT of weight...keep my eye on the prize...so speak.

I have a feeling this list will be fluid, and I plan on updating/changing it over time. Do you have a "Life List"? If so, I'd love to see it!

XO Lisa