Once can be enough

Greetings:

I am on a role with this concept of making a list of 100 things to do before you die. I love the idea and hope by now you have read the last two post (see below) and are busy making your list. If not get to it. It really is a fun thing to do and it will inspire you to do things you might not have ever pushed yourself to do. And the good news is you only have to do them once.

On my list of 100 things I want to do before I die I put down Hot Air Ballooning. Mostly I put it on my list because my father always talked about wanting to do it and I thought it would be fun. Not sure why I thought it would be fun because I am deathly afraid of heights and have gotten stuck on a ladder a time or two! But hey I was willing to give it a try.

Well sort of. I actually had chickened out when the opportunity was presented and because of the circumstances and the fact that it was on my list I did it. Do I regret doing it, no way. Would I do it again, NO WAY!

Here is a Day I wrote several years ago for 365 Days of Coaching that tells about the experience and why it is important to at least try something once.

Once Can Be Enough

There are many things that I would like to do. In fact I have made a list of 100 things I would like to do before I die. I have been checking quite a few things off the list in the last couple of months, including a fire walk and a hot air balloon ride. One of the things I am learning is that there are things that doing once is plenty.

When I made my list of 100 things I wanted to do before I die eight years ago, I put hot air ballooning at the top of the list. It was something my father always talked about doing and I thought it would be fun. Although I have a huge fear of heights, I still wanted to attempt the feat. While attending the Albuquerque, New Mexico Balloon Fiesta my dream came true and I was fortunate enough to take a ride with one of the top woman balloon pilots in the world, Cheri White. The balloon ride was amazing, exciting and I would never do it again. I was terrified when I was up in the balloon, but I managed. Being up in the balloon was nothing compared to landing in it. We had a crash landing in the weeds and burrs, and the basket was drug for a distance before we finally stopped. I wasn't hurt, but I was convinced I would never do it again.

It is funny that when I tell people that I would never do it again, most look confused and wonder why. The truth is I wanted to do it just because. I don't have a passion for hot air balloons or being off the ground for extended amounts of time for that matter. I just wanted to try it. And for me that is fine. There are things you only have to do once to know if you want or need to do again. For me the balloon ride was worth trying once, and now I can move on to the other things on my list.

If I had not put taking a balloon ride on my list I doubt I would have done it. I am so glad I did. It is one of those life experiences I will treasure forever. And once is plenty! Don't worry that what you put on your list will be repeated, it might but chances are most of the things on your list are a once in a life time experience. Actually that is what it is all about.

Please share your experience with doing things on your list. I would love to hear how it is going.

Here's to taking action.

Rachelle