I want to thank the brilliant person who was inspired to write the screenplay for the new movie, The Bucket List. If you haven’t yet seen it, I highly recommend it. The storyline is simple. One of the main characters is Carter Chambers (played by Morgan Freeman). Carter has been a mechanic most of his life, working hard to raise a family. The other is Edward Cole (played by Jack Nicholson). Edward is a billionaire, who, by nature, has lived a very different lifestyle than Carter. They come together by sharing the same hospital room. Both men have been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

One day, Carter writes a list on a piece of paper, then crumples it and throws it away. Ed sees it on the floor, opens it and asks Carter what it is. It was titled “The Bucket List.” Carter was listing the things he wanted to experience before he “kicked the bucket.” The story starts to really take off after Ed adds his things to the list. With nothing left to lose and Ed’s money to finance them, they both leave the cancer ward and head off on a road trip to accomplish everything on their to-do list before they die.

The movie is funny, poignant and made me stop and think. What is on my to-do list that I’ve been putting off?

Does it seem like your life is “on hold?” Many people work hard for years waiting for the day when they can start really living. We hear words like “someday” and “as soon as” quite often. These phrases keep us in bondage. They hold us apart from being, doing and having what we really want in life.

Think of the dreams and visions you had as a young person. You were eager for life experience and ready to fly out of the starting gate. What happened? Life took you off in another direction. Where did your dreams go? We sometimes get so busy making a living that our dreams seem to fade further and further into the background of our lives until they are a tiny glimmer on the horizon of our future.

What if, just what if, you decided to bring them forward? What if you decided to breathe new life into those things you have waiting for you? What if you decided to take your life off “hold” and go for it today?

The answer may lie in the overall message of the movie. In Ed and Jack’s adventure to do all the things they ever wanted, they end up healing the unhealed parts of themselves, become true friends and ultimately finding joy in the remaining days of their lives. Through genuine communication and bonding with others, we discover the true meaning of life, which is to experience joy.

I believe this is what we are put on earth for, to listen and follow our inner urgings, which are always pointing us in the direction of our dreams and highest aspirations.

This movie called me to action. I went home and began my list. I thought about every time I said, “As soon as this happens, I can do this,” and “Someday I will be doing this” and let my mind flow freely, listing my burning desires. And, interestingly enough, I found I have all the tools, equipment, books, tapes, etc. to do the very things I want to be doing. I’ve been collecting them for years, knowing that “someday” I would get to them. Perhaps some of you can also relate to this.

You know what happens next, don’t you? That beautiful thing, the Law of Attraction, takes over. Since you are now focused clearly on what you want, you take it off “hold,” and become a magnet for all the resources, people and circumstances to flow in to you. Everything you need to realize your dreams appears and zooms into focus once you have regained yours.

So, for this Valentine’s Day, why not give yourself the gift? Make that list of the things you’ve held in your heart for so long. Your list is the key that will open the door. A fabulous, vibrantly alive YOU stands on the other side, ready to fly!