Stacy's List

Poster: Stacy

1. Be Present. Set clear boundaries between work and play, and pay full attention to the setting that I’m in, when I’m in it. Since the nature of the bucket list is to maximize the use of our precious time, I need to prove that I understand the worth of time by employing it well. First, there’s a time and place for everything. There’s a time for work, and there’s a time for relaxation. I need to put the blackberry away when I’m with my family and friends, and likewise, stop checking facebook and gmail 100 times a day on my blackberry when I’m in the field. In short, give the present 100%. Be present.

2. Practice one Random Act of Kindness a day. Buy the person behind me’s coffee at Dunkin Donuts on the way to work. Resist the urge to honk my horn at the annoying drivers(well, this might be just considered “normal” to most people, but to me, I actually feel like I am doing a huge kindness when I just let it go. Call in to the manager when a store employee or waiter has been particularly helpful or kind to me. (Just happened the other day at Macy's!) These things will "pay it forward" and I am SURE that it will make a difference in this world if you factor in how many different people we encounter on a daily basis. And considering that I have about a year and 9 months until I'm 30, that will add up to a lot of acts of kindness and a lot of people.

3. Become fluent in Spanish. I spend so much time in La Villita, Pilsen, and Cicero as the encompass a major part of my territory for work…I’m constantly picking up little sayings, some slang(some arguably mildly inappropriate) but nonetheless, I feel that all of the office staff and physicians appreciate that I strive to understand and practice their native tongue. But I want to take it to the next level. I’ve come this far, so it’s time to finish it off.

4. Conduct a thorough Ethnic Dine Around. Explore and experience all the fine establishments that our wonderful city of Chicago, the melting pot, has to offer. This includes, but is not limited to, Greektown, Chinatown, Devon Ave(Indian food), Pilsen/Little Village, South side(Soul food), Skokie/Lincolnwood Jewish food, Andersonville Swedish, Urkranian Village Polish....the list goes on.

5. Visit a fortune teller/psychic. This is actually the one that scares the shit out of me the most. So there-that’s it. No turning back now.

6. Embrace my inner nerd with my Dad. Visit the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago History Museum, and Museum of Surgical Science, IMAX, etc. with my dad. Treat him to dinner after each day of exploring and bond :) We share interests in these things, I know it would make him and me SO happy, and in our busy lives, it's one of those things we always talk about but it never happens. Well, I've decided it's up to me to make it happen. It's really important to me.

7. Travel to visit all my friends/loved ones that live long distance. Destinations include Grand Rapids Michigan(Lorelei), San Antonio Texas(Brandi), New York City(Dana), and Del Rey Beach Florida(Gary). The people that I would be visiting in these places mean the world to me, and I want to make sure that I take the time to experience what they are experience during their times living there. Plus the kids(Sophie, Sloane, Arianna, Cy, and baby to come) get older as time goes by, and I want to make sure they all know their Auntie Stacy :)

8. Take a cooking class series. When we look at turning 30, and our 20’s slowly shrink back into our rear view mirror, I realize that having a family and being an actual grown up isn’t all that far away. As I am a perfectionist, I want to not just learn how to do something, but I want to become awesome at it. Therefore, I am assuming one measly cooking class isn’t going to do the job. What can I say, I was inspired by Julie and Julia. So I’m warming up my cast iron La Crueset pot—and getting ready to BRING IT.

9. Take a belly dancing class. I always am in awe of those ladies that come up and dance with us at the Lebanese restaurants and confidently swing their hips and roll their bellies. I am always pushed by all you guys to get up with her, and I always refuse. Well, maybe it’s time to take the class, and consummate my graduation by a command performance at our favorite Lebanese restaurant on Wells.

10. Donate all my old clothes to Center for Abused Women shelter. I have an abundance of clothing that I have been waiting to go through and give to charity, sell to Plato’s closet, donate to the Salvation army, or more accurately, just continue to store in the basement. Well, while my clothes would undoubtedly be useful in all those capacities, if I have to choose where I would like to help most, my heart goes out to these women.