What I Did for My Long-Time Bucket List Dream

Baby Step 2 from 2023 Fall into Better Habits series

Last year I was blessed to be able to cross off a Bucket List item that had been a very long time coming. I'd been promising my kids since they were little that we'd visit NYC (#Motherland) during the magic of Christmas. I'd tell them stories about all the times I went while I lived there and how beautiful everything looked. I gave them detailed descriptions of Macy's store windows, street vendors, ice skating at Rock Center and, of course, the ginormous tree with billions of lights.

I had the dream. I had the desire. Unfortunately, I also had the belief that the timing (#huge expense) was never right. Now that my kids were in their twenties, I finally realized that the timing would never be right, so...

I just did it. I took a chance. I made the plans before I had the means.

This helped in two ways:

1. I gave myself a deadline so it created a sense of urgency rather than some distant wish.

2. I made the decision so now I had to fulfill a promise.

BABY STEP

Do not be fooled by my decisiveness and determination. It did not play out like some romantic comedy. LOL. There were plenty of setbacks and doubts and fears, but I did it anyway. Why?

Because it was so meaningful to me that I couldn't imagine not doing it.

It took almost a year of planning and saving so it was easy to get discouraged and impatient. So, this is what I kept telling myself:

"I can't wait to see the expressions on the kids' faces when they experience Christmas in NYC for the first time!"

That image is what kept me going through working extra hours and taking on extra jobs and making extra sacrifices to finally make that dream a reality.

What's your dream? What are you looking forward to be the end of this year?

And, more importantly, what are you willing to do to get it? I know that sounds ominous but you get my drift. Sometimes we want to believe that our dream will come true by magically appearing out of nowhere. Granted, that happens occasionally, but most dreams require a bit of effort on our part, too. I gave up my free time and physical energy for quite a while to earn the extra, extra, extra, extra (#Christmas in NYC$$$$) money I needed.

So, give up something in exchange for a magical memory. I have to tell you...it was a long road for me to get where I wanted to go, but it was well worth the wait (especially for the bagels and pizza)! In fact, everything turned out better than I imagined. I even got to visit my childhood home...I spent many happy hours on that stoop in Brooklyn!

And, it is now one of my (as well as their) most treasured memories (check out my photos below). We reminisce about it often. And...I would do it all over again.

Here's your Baby Step challenge for today:

What will you give up to get what you dream about?

photographs by Debra Plotkin