Opening Up – My List of 45 Things

After lots of inner debate, and after sharing my list with a few people, I have made the decision to share my list of 45 things.  Originally, my intention was to roll it out as I completed each item, and maybe put the entire list out at the end of the project.  But, some things have changed…

I have been overwhelmed with the level of love and support I have received from people I know in all areas of my life – family, friends, colleagues.  To hear people tell me that they admire the journey, that they want to walk with me through it, that my story has somehow given them hope and reminded them that they are not alone warms my heart. This outpouring over only a few days has started me thinking about one of my great challenges.  Asking for help.  Those who know me will know that asking for help is something I do not like to do.  Mostly it is because I like to believe I can do everything on my own, with no help from anyone else.  Also, I don’t want to burden others.  That line of thinking has not served me well.  Someone who is very important to me has reminded me multiple times that humans are social animals.  We need one another.  We are not meant to do this life alone.  In fact, she often has to remind me that one of the worst punishments we can inflict on one another is isolation.  So, friends, readers, supporters, I am requesting your help.

Here is my list of 45 things:

45 things while 45

And here is where I need your help.  As you read through this list, if you have any ideas to help me reach my goal, could you please share with me?  For example, if you know a great book I should read to complete #28 – read a book every month just for fun – please share with me.  Or if you know how to knit (#21) and would like to teach me, I would love to spend time with you, learning.  And hey, if you happen to be a personal friend of Brené Brown (or if you, Brené, are reading this) and you can help with that meeting (#26), please let me know.  And if you would like to come to my home for the dinner party I intend to host (#17), please send me your name.  I want it to be a great celebration of friendship.

Asking for help is not one of the items on my list, but it is something I am learning to do more of.  Maybe, just maybe, part of the beauty of life is found in the struggles.  More specifically, maybe it’s found in knowing that when we struggle, there are others who come along to support us.  When we don’t have the answers, we can ask others for help.  And maybe that connection, the kind that only comes when we learn to rely on one another, is what reminds us of our common humanity.

Thank you all for your support.  And thank you for helping me reach my goal!