I recently took a look over my “20 Things to Do Before I Die” list that I wrote as a post for this blog back in January 2008.  I’m happy to report that I’ve made some progress in checking things off the list — Not that I intend to kick the bucket any time soon, mind you, but it’s nice to make life an adventure worth living!

Number One on the list was to publish my fiction, and though I’ve been writing, I ended up publishing a nonfiction book this year instead.  It’s been doing pretty well.  I had three fairly busy book signings, and I’m proud of the accomplishment.  I’ll continue to write fiction, of course, and hopefully I’ll get that published some day soon too.

I work a little everyday towards Number Two, which relates to raising my daughters.

As for Number Five, I did get to meet and interview one of my favorite authors, Kim Harrison.  She had a link posted to my interview on her own blog for a while too.

I’ve spent a decent amount of time researching options for Number Eight, living abroad, but haven’t yet made the leap.  To be honest, since the last presidential election, I’ve been much happier and more hopeful about the state of our own country and would sort of like to be here for the next few years.  Living in another country someday is still on the list though.  I’d love my girls to have the experience of being exposed to another culture in their daily lives and learning another language that they can use.

I’ve accomplished Number Ten by starting a series of monthly writing workshops.  Sometimes I lead them, and sometimes I find guest presenters.

I checked Number Eleven off the list by flying an airplane for my review of Project Pilot.

I continue to make headway on Number Seventeen.  I’ve been to 40 of the 50 U.S. states, and have crossed several international borders.

I still struggle with Number Twenty, learning to relax without guilt, but I do slip in the occasional moment here and there.

I’m a big believer in the concept that writing down your goals and acknowledging them helps us focus our energies towards achieving them.  What are some of the things on your list?