Bucket List

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.