October 2013

IN THIS ISSUE

 

What's New at Guardian Nurses?

 

Dragon Boat Race!!!! 

   

What's On YOUR Bucket List?
 
   

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GO LIFESAVERS!

Photos from Our First Dragon Boat Race
 
Team Photo

And We are OFF! 
  Three Squids

Little Flyers Say GO
Emily Checks Seating   

Post Race Smiles

Karen and Sharon

  Nice Socks!
 
For more photos of race day, visit the Guardian Nurses Facebook page. 
As many of you know, last weekend, our Dragon Boat team,
The Lifesavers, competed in the Philadelphia Dragon Boat Race on the Schuylkill River along Kelly Drive. Since it was a long day, and our races were spread out over five hours, I had plenty of opportunity to speak to and interact with many of the other participants. 

Much to my great surprise, I heard from a good number of women and some men who, when asked, "So, what got you here today?" enthusiastically shared their "This has been on my bucket list for quite some time" answers.  It got me thinking about bucket lists. Does everyone have one?  (I do.) What do folks list on them?  Are the items silly, serious, ambitious or all of the above?  And how did paddling in a dragon boat race get on their lists??

This month's issue of The Flame addresses the "Bucket List" and flirts with the questions "What do you want to achieve in your life?  What is on your "to-do" list?  Are you writing it down and tracking it? And more importantly, if competing in a dragon boat race happens to be on your list, make sure you give me a call!          
 

   

Here's to YOUR bucket list! 

 Betty

  Betty Long, RN, MHA

 President 

         Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates 


What's On YOUR
Bucket List?

 
   

Officially, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "bucket list" as "a list of things that one has not done before but wants to do before dying."  The origin of the term is from the phrase "kick the bucket" which means "to die."  Other definitions include "a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime."  

 

Last year, my bucket list was very short.  All it ever had on it was "Go to Wimbledon."  And I had been wanting to go to Wimbledon ever since I started playing tennis at 12 years old.  (Of course I DID want to PLAY at Wimbledon---more proof that you should be more specific when making lists!)

 

So after my day at Center Court watching Serena Williams and others, I thought, "OK, now I can die happy." My bucket list was empty. But, I've thought more about things I would like to do and I've started a new one. And no, dragon boating was not on my list!  But going to Italy is!  

 

Everyone has a bucket list, even if it's just mulling about in your head. Thanks to advice offered by WikiHow.com, here are some steps to follow:  

  1. Be prepared:  Invest in a notepad specifically for your Bucket List. Having a hard copy will help you remember everything you want to accomplish. Keeping it easily accessible will keep you prepared should an idea strike! Or, leave it at home and make a note to yourself with your smartphone. Write it down! 
  2. Plan Your List: The majority of items found on Bucket Lists come from seeing something and thinking, "Hey, I want to do that." Look for ideas everywhere. A Bucket List is like a "to-do" list with no time limit so think about what you'd like to do and write it down.
  3. Write Your First Draft: No time like the present, they say! Time to be creative and completely let go of your fears and limits. Write everything that comes into your head---even the ridiculous! As it applies to your Bucket List (not your health), don't be concerned with reality---concentrate on getting the ideas from your imagination onto the page.
  4. Refine Your List: Now that you have a list, time to get rid of the more impossible tasks. Be practical without being ruthless. Learn to find the balance between things you know you can't do and things you will need to develop to do. e.g. "Learn Seven Languages" becomes "Learn French" 
  5. Write the Second Draft: Don't be put off that your list only has a handful of tasks on it. The beauty of a Bucket List is that it will never be fully completed, you will be constantly adding to it when new ideas strike you. Never concentrate on completing a Bucket List, only on completing the tasks on it.
  6. Start Small: Have one thing on your list that you can accomplish today. This will give you a feeling of accomplishment and will motivate you to continue. Accept that your experience of the items on your Bucket List is unique---it cannot (and should not) be compared to someone else's and criticized. How you experience things is the real value. It's not a competition. It's about your personal development and fulfillment.
  7. Be on the Lookout for New Ideas: Never give yourself limits. Get into the habit of looking and finding ideas everywhere---TV, movies, posters, flyers for events, and talking with friends. "Dancing with the Stars" anyone?   
  8. Finding Meaning in Your Goals: if your attitude about your goals changes, remove them or reshape them to suit your needs. The idea is to strive for fulfillment and inner growth, not tie yourself down to things that no longer feel part of who you are.  
Now, Get Going!  And Best Wishes for
a Very Happy Halloween!!!
  

 


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