Country Notebook by Rogene "Jeanne" McPherson
Thank goodness the internet set me straight. A bucket list is a list of things one wants to experience or accomplish before dying or “kick the bucket” so to speak. I have not made a bucket list nor intend to do so, but I know more than a few people who have made such a list. For those with a bucket list, do you have just one list or are there multiple pieces of paper with one activity on each page? Is there really a bucket involved acting as a receptacle or storage place for the wish list? If I was so inclined to have a bucket list, I think I would find a metal bucket, list each goal on a separate piece of paper, withdraw the accomplishment(s) when met and burn the remaining pieces of paper at my burial. Now I’m just being silly.
A resolution is a firm decision to do or not do something. Why we think we have to make resolutions at the beginning of a new year, beats me. If we make the resolution to lose weight, I assume we could begin that goal any time of the year. Guess it’s too late to start tonight as I just had a bowl of ice cream before I started writing. That’s the problem with resolutions; It never seems the right time to start. Maybe that’s why we choose a new year.
Saying, “I’m going to lose weight this year” is not a good way to make a resolution. Many resolutions are made without setting an end-goal in mind. An example is losing 20 pounds as the end goal. After losing 20 pounds, one can always set a new goal.
If a significant change is to be met, to make progress, it may be important to seek a friend’s help for support and hold them accountable for making the goal-setter accountable. In really big, health-changing goals, the assistance of a physician should be sought. It is recommended that we don’t make too many resolutions. Fewer resolutions may lead to more powerful adherence to one or two goals.
Here’s my take on the resolution of losing weight. It’s important to have a plan and it probably involves the type of foods eaten, not just eating less. I know I should eat more fruits and vegetables, even though they take longer to prepare than pulling out a granola bar. See, I am making my reader accountable now for my actions. I’m probably just being silly again, but I’m hopeful putting it in print helps me be more accountable.
Maybe I would be more successful with a bucket list. I could write down going to Amsterdam as in Holland. Not realistic as I don’t like to fly on an airplane any more. Maybe I could schedule a trip to Pella, Iowa, to see the tulips blooming instead.
I’ve read about a farm outside of Hermann, Missouri, that raises black English Shires, like my Charlie-Horse. Cheaper and less time-consuming than going to Scotland or Wales. (I think there’s a winery there too, so not all in vain if I can’t find English Shire horses!)
How many times have I said to a friend, “Let’s get together after the first of the year?” If I had a dollar for every time I said this, I could pay for the gas back and forth and then some. Another list is needed, one containing the names of friends and inviting them to lunch.
On second thought, maybe it would be easier to take one of Charlie-Horse’s feed buckets and just kick it around the yard a few times, but that truly would be silly. In 2024, I’ll forget bucket lists and resolutions as well as calories and just have lunch with friends.
Rogene “Jeanne” McPherson, from the Centerville area, is a regular contributor to the Linn County Journal. She recently published a book about her experiences entitled Posts from the Country, Adventures in Rural Living. It is available online in both virtual and printed editions. Copies are on the shelves at all Linn County libraries.
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