I do not have a bucket list. On paper, I love the idea of it – a list of things to experience in life – and I can certainly see how such a list could motivate you to open more to wonder.
As much as I love adventure (I’m in Portland this weekend at the World Domination Summit which is about how to embrace your unconventional path in life although you might not know that from the title), most of my life is not lived in adventure mode.
I need a ridiculous amount of time alone doing very quiet things like walking in the woods with the doodle dogs and reading novels and cuddling with the Bob and watching movies with my girl Lilly.
Which brings me to the Thimble List.
A list of very small ways to savor life. I define savoring as mindfulness + gratitude = touching your essential goodness
If a bucket list is life writ large (bike the Australian Gold Coast, learn to read the Bible in Greek, read past page 12 in Swann’s Way ) then a thimble list is life writ intimate.
Here’s my thimble list:
* Sip my first cup of morning Keemun tea with cream while reading poetry
* Eat raspberries with fresh whipped cream
* Pick a whole slew of lilacs for my studio
* Take my Bob out for a leisurely lunch during the week
* Rearrange my books so I can find stuff
* Tell someone whose work I admire why I admire them include juicy details
Note: this are one time things, tiny pleasures to enjoy once not a new list of “ideal life” have-tos.
I could go on and on with my thimble list but that would overwhelm me and I like savoring small these days.
What’s on your thimble list?
