Bucket List

A bucket list is a number of experiences or achievements a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. Here's mine: 

1. Fall in love.

2. Successful marriage.

3. Healthy and happy kids. 

4. Punaluu County (Black Sand) Beach in Hawaii.

5. Fireworks at Mount Rushmore.

6. Write a children's book. 

7. Take voice lessons. 

8. Flip a house to sell. 

9. Go swimming with Dolphins.

10. Take up dancing: Salsa, Line dance, Tap dance, Tango, Ballroom dancing, etc.

11. Join a Social Etiquette Class.

12. Be kissed in the rain. 

13. Fireworks in Duluth.

14. Fly in a Hot- air Balloon.

15. Start my own business (Childcare). 

16. Go Scuba Diving/Snorkeling and experience marine life up close. 

17. See a Broadway Musical. 

18. Participate in the Color Run. 

19. Ride an Elephant. 

20. Stay at an underwater hotel in Fiji.

21. Visit the Walk of Fame.

22. Go Zorbing.

23. Watch the ball drop in Times Square. 

24. Jump in a pool fully clothed.

25. Visit a Chocolate Factory (Hershey, Pennsylvania). 

26. Kiss under fireworks. 

27. Play messy Twister.

28. Smash a pie in someone's face.

29. Sing Karaoke.

30. Swim in Lake Superior.

31. Live in a house with a turret.

32. Teach 1st grade at a public school. 

33. Homeschool my kids.

34. Be a Mommy Blogger!

35. Drive a mini-van.

36. Fill a truck bed full of pillows and blankets and drive to the middle of nowhere to go stargazing.

37. Graduate college.

38. Attach a lock to a love bridge.

39. Visit Pixar Studios. 

40. Stay in Cinderella's Castle.

41. Go down the Shark Tank water slide at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.

42. Swim with the Manatees in Florida.

43. Visit the largest swimming pool in the World (Algarrobo, Chile). It covers 20 acres which means I'll be swimming with no worries about sea creatures!

44. Visit Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

45. Go Mini- golfing.

46.  Move to Duluth.

47. Learn how to snowboard. 

48. Learn how to sew.

49. Visit all the mega churches in the United States. 

50. Put a piece of gum on the gum wall in Seattle.

Who Am I, Culturally?

Culture is the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for an excellence in arts, letters, manners, and scholarly pursuits. I believe my parents and grandparents were instrumental in supporting the development in my cultural identity. They taught me that cultural identity isn’t about food, language, and music, but about how I feel everyday at any given location. They taught me I am not defined by where I live, the food I eat, or the family I was born into.

            Growing up I always came across the change of thinking money and material items defined who I am. My parents are not materialistic, but society is and I was falling into that role. I always wanted the newest technology and expensive items thinking that if I had those things I’d be well off. I have come to learn that my parents and grandparents are right, those things do not matter, it’s the people and things you do in your life that matter and determine your happiness. I have to remind myself all the time that material items only give me temporary happiness, it won’t last a lifetime much less a couple months.

            Based on my experiences I can help children realize that when they do unto others and make a difference in their family or community they will feel good. I will try to show them that you don’t need the best of everything to define who you are. Just because society says you need something doesn’t mean you’ll be happier if you have it. I think I can affect a child’s identity development by teaching them to be happy with what they have and showing them that there are people less fortunate out there who would love to have half the stuff we do. I think by teaching children good morals, values, and respect for one another they will be able to determine who they are and be proud of the person they have become.