Hi friends, and thanks for stopping by to read how to choose your own happiness with a Me List!
And just what is a Me List? Is it like a Bucket List?
I think most people know what a Bucket List is. It’s a list of things that people want to do before they “kick the bucket” (die).
I’ve never really put together a bucket list. Loosely I have a bucket list in my head that mostly consists of places I want to travel to and visit like the Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu, and Antarctica.
The Me List is actually a book available on Amazon. (Disclosure: I’m an Amazon affiliate. If you click and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission for the referral.) It’s kind of a humorous, inspirational chick lit fiction that explores the complexity of relationships and a woman’s quest to make her life more fulfilling.
I will quote a bit of the book by posting 10 items on the character’s Me List:
- Zipline
- Yoga
- Sing
- Rescue dog
- Join book club
- Make coffee drinks
- Mom
- Date nights
- Vacation
- Fancy undergarments
Book review?
I wasn’t planning to make this post a book review! But I will clarify the above list from the book to make my readers get the gist of where we’re heading here!
The main character is scared of heights but her daughter wants to go ziplining, so they head to a rope adventure park.
Yoga is on her list to help her get back to a level of fitness. Becoming a foster parent to a rescue dog will also help in the fitness quest because the dog needs to be walked.
We’re all about saving money around here. Making coffee drinks at home instead of spending $5 (or more!) at a coffee shop should be a goal for many people. Not that I want to put Tim Hortons or Starbucks out of business…
For inspiration, see Save Money with Homemade Cold Starbucks Drinks.
“Mom” made the list because the character’s mother is an alcoholic and she’s had a lifelong difficult relationship with her. She is always trying to improve her relationship so her mother can spend more time with her granddaughter.
Here I want to say to all my readers that if there is a toxic person in your family – you do NOT need to have a relationship with that person. Cut them out of your life and you will be happier not having to deal with their venom.
If you’re in a relationship, date nights are important to spend time together.
Vacation hit the list because even though they have a vacation fund, they have not made vacation plans. So get on the ball! However, in the book the main character has borrowed money from the vacation fund to loan her mother to help her get caught up on rent. And her mother is ghosting her about paying it back. She has not told her husband yet about dipping into the vacation fund. Hmmm…
I’ve had a vacation fund for many years and have mentioned it in many posts. When I was working I used to put $200/month into it, $100 from each paycheck. I recommend everyone have a vacation fund! And use it one day to take a vacation!
Help a dog!
If you’re able to do so, foster a dog. Or adopt a dog. There are many good dogs out there who need to be rescued.
There were times I had several foster dogs living with me while waiting for their forever home. Foster homes are in short supply. Check with your groups in your area. These groups take care of the dog’s vet needs and supply food. You supply the love.
The little cutie in the photo above is Lucy, a dog living a hard life on Mayreau Island, that is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Can anyone reading help this dog? If anyone is heading to this part of the Caribbean and can get her out, I will gladly pick her up from you. During the few months I was there, I made a difference in her life.
Me List versus Bucket List
A Me List is similar to a bucket list. It’s a list of things a person wants to do that will enhance their lives, challenge them, and bring them happiness.
Overall I think it’s a good idea and reading the book has challenged me to put a Me List together.
A Me List for a nomad! How will it look? I think the lines might be blurred with a bucket list. The bucket list is a list of things that a person hasn’t done before but wants to do before they die. Generally speaking that’s how I live my life these days!
The things on your Me List can be things you’ve already done before but need to do more of in your future if it brings happiness or will make your life better.
Just because the main character in the book had 10 items on her Me List, that doesn’t mean the rest of us need the same number. We might only have two of three items, or the list might be a lot longer.
There is no right or wrong number. It’s all about thinking and putting into action. Too many items will be overwhelming and en up not being put into action.
Me List in progress
To help everyone get started, I’ll list a few things this book has inspired me to think about.
Join a book club is actually right up there with me. An online book club that is that meets virtually. I’ve never been to a book club meeting in person so I’m not sure how it works. I also think I’ll need to get a library card so I can download and read for free some of the book club suggestions. I’m more about reading books I find for free or cheap on Kindle.
Go horseback riding more often. I have this mind block about renting horses when I own a horse. But the sad reality is my horse and I have been separated by thousands of kilometers for the past year and a half. For me horses = happiness so I need to get past this obstacle.
Do another epic hike. The Camino de Santiago inspired me, though I don’t necessarily want to walk the Camino again. I’ve heard about the 280km Camino de Costa Rica that goes from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean and takes about 16 days. But … it costs a lot of money. Or at least a lot of money for me! So I will need to start another vacation fund! It’s not so much an independent hike because it goes through the lands of indigenous people and a guide is required.
Getting comfortable being a nomad in North America is a big one for me.
This means I am working to find a balance between housesitting in Canada, and probably the western states, with international travel. I’m a nomad. I need to keep moving.
Author’s Me List versus mine
The author’s Me List does mirror mine a bit.
Let’s start with zip lining. I’ve only gone zip lining once, about 15 years ago, up in Whistler, BC.
There’s a zip line up on Grouse Mountain in Vancouver. A friend and I have our birthdays 3 days apart in late September and have decided we’re going zip lining at Grouse Mountain to celebrate turning 65! Yay us! It’ll be a couple of days after our birthdays because I’m housesitting and have to make it back to the Vancouver area. So tentatively we’re zip lining.
However … there is a zip line park in the area where I’m housesitting in September so … stay tuned!
Yoga – yeah I need to buy another yoga mat and get my lazy butt back into it.
Sing? Nobody needs to hear me sing! And here’s the proof. Too much time walking on the Camino de Santiago with time to think up silly ditties!
Let’s make fast work of the remaining items on the author’s list that I didn’t already cover. I’ve rescued many dogs. My mother passed away in 2005. Date nights are solo now. Some might think my retirement life is one big vacation. And I’m at the age where underwear is better off functional than fancy.
That’s why we have to come up with our own me lists instead of copying someone else’s!
Choose your own happiness with a me list
Well, what do you think? Is it time to choose your own happiness with a me list? What are some of the things that will be on your list that will bring you happiness?
Leave a comment below if you’d like to share!
Published by Cheryl @ The Lifestyle Digs on February 9, 2025.
