You know, i’m that kind of girl who’s always making
lists. To-do-lists are as much needed as oxygen to keep me going… Sometimes i
feel like i’m knee-deep in all of my to-do-lists. Sometimes i can’t even see
what list has priority. They all seem to be important. And so it happened that
a while back i found a little notebook in one of my storage boxes. There are a
lot of interesting things written down.. It really was a trip down memory-lane.
Not a trip to the best years of my life (definitely not) but still it was
interesting to read the things that were important to me back then. One of the
lists stood out to me. It was my Bucket List:
What i wanna do some day:- motorcycling- going to South-Africa- studying Psychology- graduate from High School- summerjob at a Christian Summercamp for kids- working at the Dolphinarium- attending & helping at the Flevo Festival- attending & helping at the Christian Youth Day (for my Dutch readers: i’m talking about the EO Jongerendag)- helping (HIV/AIDS) orphans and giving them love- horseback-riding- acting- modeling- working at a shop eg. the HEMA- finishing my story and publishing it- swimming with dolphins
So uhm yeah… i guess this is quite a list… But the
funny thing is, there are quite some items that can be checked off :) and i
truly am surprised with how i have been able to pursue my dreams over the past few
years…
x
Motorcycling
This is
something i still have to do. However, i can proudly say that quad riding has
been a terrific experience as well!
✓
Going to
South-Africa
Yay, this
one has come true! The Summer of 2013 was incredible. i can’t believe i’ve
actually been able to go visit my country of birth and see where i’ve been
spending the first years of my life.
✓
Studying
Psychology
Against
all odds i’ve managed to pass all my tests and finish my internship
successfully. All that’s left for me is to do my final research project. Yeah,
i know it’s a huge mountain to climb for me. But God willing i will find the
right place and in His timing receive my certificate…
✓
Graduate
from High School
Once again
something i did against all odds. While being inpatient and with less than 6
months preparation for my exams i managed to pass them…
✓
Summerjob at a Christian
Summercamp for kids
It wasn’t
a “job” as in i wasn’t getting paid or anything. But Summer of 2008 i joined
the Free x/s team. A team full of wonderful people from my local church. i
enjoyed helping out with the sport clinics, join the drama team and share the
love of Christ with the kids & youth that participated with the activities.
x
Working at the Dolphinarium
This one
is still a dream for me…
✓/x
Attending
& helping at the Flevo Festival
i did
attend the Flevo Festival. One night stands out to me. It was the night of
Rebecca St. James’ concert, back in 2009. i feel so blessed my dad got tickets
for us. The Lord really really spoke to me that evening. Through the song “You
are Loved” and through the rolling of the thunder and the lightning… Our God is
an awesome God and i won’t ever forget this moment. (And i won’t forget the meeting
with Rebecca St. James afterwards).
✓/x
Attending
& helping at the Christian Youth Day (for my Dutch readers:
i’m talking about the EO Jongerendag)
It’s been
a while since i last went, but i have been to some really great Christian Youth
Days here in Holland!
i enjoyed shows by Barlow Girl, Salvador,
and many more Christian bands from all over the world. And i loved how i could
feel the Lord’s presence among all the people who gathered to praise His Holy
Name!
✓
Helping
(HIV/AIDS) orphans and giving them love
During our
vacation in South Africa
back in 2013 i was blessed to spend 1,5 days at the children’s home Takalani. i
loved playing with the kids, sharing the love of Christ and talking with the
staff. Yes, these kids have a special place in my heart.
✓
Horseback-riding
Horses are
incredible creatures. They are so sensible and full of love. i enjoy spending
time with them and am very blessed for all the opportunities i have had to ride
them, play with them, learn from them, take care of them. Trick-riding, equitherapy
and riding through the South African nature are definitely some highlights of
my experiences with horses that i will always cherish.
✓
Acting
Growing up
i loved to act with my friends. We made up stories, we wrote plays and we
jumped in front of the camera recording a television show (and the commercials
for the break :p)… And even though i can come across as shy and timid, i always
had this dream to act in a movie/tv series. To be honest i never ever thought
that i would do it… That i would actually have the nerves to try out for a
casting… But well, miracles do happen and in my craziness i did it. i got to go to a
casting for a local TV series (Groote Markt 30 @ RTV Oost) and even though i did not get the part, i was
still invited to come over and be an extra. So yeah, i think that was such an
incredible experience (both the casting & the being an extra) that it
qualifies for checking off this item.
x
Modeling as a part-time job
Nope, this
one has not become reality. And i guess i can only say that i’m thankful for
that. i am not confident about my body (or myself for that matter) and i guess
it would not be beneficial for me to join the fashion industry. i loved &
enjoyed the photoshoots i had with my friends, sister & at summer camp.
Those are the moments i will cherish!
✓
Working at
a shop eg. the HEMA
It wasn’t
the HEMA, but i did manage to find a part-time job at the Action for quite some
time. Though it had it’s pros and cons, i definitely learned a lot during my
time there.
✓
Finishing
my story and publishing it
Oh yeah.
Although there are quite some items that i found most unlikely to come true…
This one definitely makes the top3. September 2011 i published my own book (in
Dutch). (i chose an alter ego for privacy reasons, as it is a book about my
personal experience with mental health struggles – therefore i won’t name the
title here. But if you’d like to know more about it, please feel free to
contact me).
✓
Swimming
with dolphins
This one
also makes the top3 of most unlikely to come true… And yet… i have. It was such
an amazing encounter with dolphins. i often look back to this special day.
Words cannot describe how incredible this experience was (and is) to me and how
i frequently take time to look back and let the memories warm my heart.
So yeah, that was quite the list. As i look back on
all these experiences i recall many more beautiful & precious moments i
have had over the years. Many of them shared with lovely people that mean the
world to me.
There’s only one thing left for me to say about this: i know
i am truly blessed.
