I wanted to travel the world. Paris, Moscow, Sydney, Barcelona, Rio. When I was young I wanted to be Brian Boitano. I wanted to win the Lottery, be obscenely rich and never work a day in my life.
My fantasies and dreams of youth were simple... I wanted it all! My bet is that many of you shared the same dreams (OK, probably not the Brian Boitano part!) Our dreams of youth were usually self-indulgent and not very practical.
As I grow older I find that my hopes and dreams are not so much about me anymore, not about "things," or fame or money. My dreams are more complex, my hopes smaller in scope, I venture to guess that my dreams of youth may have been easier to achieve.
My 2011 Wish list of Dreams.....
- grace for those I disagree with, to those in need and those who are hurting
- to continue loving my job
- health and prosperity for those I love
- time management skills
- continue to reconnect with the people who slipped out of my life through the years
- peace of mind
- one more family dinner with mama
- fit into 32" waist jeans
- more time to spend with my friends
- a cure for AIDS
- for Chelsea and Zack to never suffer and always have a life filled with happiness
- play in the snow
- learn to scuba dive
- dive the Great Barrier Reef
- be able to eat pizza and pasta and burgers and fried foods and not gain weight or damage my health
- attend the Winter Olympics
- walk the Red Carpet at the Oscars
- walk down the beach without a shirt and know I look good
- play with Lita everyday
- our Politicians start concentrating more on what is right for our country and not how they can benefit themselves
- buy a new sofa
- have something I have written published
- Sam and Donna to LOVE the empty nest
- continue to be touched, challenged and ministered to by Pastor Kent and Pastor Jen
- Georgia Bulldog football to be king again
- daddy to have peace of mind
- no world suffering
- growth in my faith
- dedicate an hour each day to writing
- no drama
- use my elected office for good
- be there for my friends and family
- lively political debates with my brother
- remodel my kitchen
- laugh every day
- continued financial responsibility
- Snookie and the Situation to get a job
- economic prosperity return to our country
- be there for my family
- learn math
- enjoy biking
- lose 35 pounds
- volunteer more
- worship in a completed sanctuary at my Church
- own a summer home on top of a mountain in Asheville, NC
- bipartisanship
- paint the interior of my house (OK, have it painted)
- study and grow in The Bible
- be a dependable friend
- inspire
- sing on a Broadway stage
- the naivete of youth
- write the story that is in my head
- don't waste a single moment
- end every conversation with "I love you"
- a backyard pool
- go to the movies more
- love life
- hug at least one person every day
- go on another road trip with Aunt Beck
- be spontaneous
- think before I speak
- be a better person today than yesterday and tomorrow than today
- swim
- restart the Friday afternoon front yard gatherings with my neighbors
- challenge myself physically
- Simon, Paula and Randy all come back to American Idol as the only judges
- eat healthy
- be more patient with little stuff
- do something I have never done before at least once per month
- cook
- realize that being right is not always best
- trust
- celebrate small victories
- do a better job of updating my blog
- say thank you
- an end to war
- praise God daily
- enjoy life
- work hard and play hard
- honor the legacy that has been given me by my parents and brother
- take weekend trips
- children no longer suffer
- honor the attempt
- go to concerts
- get my hands in the dirt more working in my yard
- age gracefully
- be active in my TAG group
- learn to say "no" when I should
- be fair
- honor the elderly
- stand up for what I believe in
- write notes and send them in the mail, not just email
- get pampered occasionally
- don't always do it alone, assign responsibilities and expect them to be completed
- hike
- talk to daddy every day, talk to Sam at least once a week and talk to Aunt Beck once a week
- make others feel special
- live my faith
- love.