Interstate Eats and Adventures

I love lists. Not to check them off but to remind me of the things I look forward to. Lists for me are hope. Lists are things to be excited about and strive for.

My grandmother always has something to look forward to. Throughout her 98 years she has looked forward to great adventures like touring Europe, traveling the USA by camper, going to Vegas and Biloxi, as well as looking forward to countless weddings and births of great grandchildren. My grandmother always told me the key to a happy life is to always have something to look forward to.

I have used lists as a reminder of things I look forward to like workouts to do, trips to take, movies to watch, foods to cook and so on. Then I started a coaching business, Athletic Pursuits, and lists became part personal interest and part work or obligation to my athletes as I was their coach and I did not want to forget anything. Lists were still fun.

Then I started working as a college lecturer and lists became necessary and deadline driven. There were still movies to watch and foods to cook and trips to take but fewer.

Then I started working in administration while also teaching. The list became focused entirely on work. It included things like grade assignment 3, review slides for chapter 5, create questions for alumni focus group.

And then my role changed to full time college administrator and I stoped teaching and I stopped making lists. I stopped planning and dreaming and just got by day to day.

Since leaving this role, I have begun making lists again. My list includes trails to ride, campervan meals to make, places to hike, things to fix in the van, routes to travel, and I keep adding to it. 

I am thankful to be able to leave a job that was not in alignment with my spirit. I am also thankful for being able to make lists again and to have things to look forward to. The biggest item on my list right now is a trip across the U.S. and Canada starting next year.