Day 4: 7 Wants

3 down 7 more to go. Who doesn't want more in life? Today's about 7 wants of my life. Well, a couple of years back I did start putting together a bucket list - a list of 100 things to do before I die, only penned down about 56  and I looked at it again this afternoon, quite a few of those have been fulfilled. But when I had to pick 7 of those, it set me thinking and I actually ended up adding a few to that list ! Some of these as always are practical and some of them are whimsical !

1. Be an Author someday ! 

A friend of mine recently said I need to start putting my writing skills to better use (in his words: Contribute to the company's newsletter) and my reaction was "Thats it? I want to do something bigger !" and again, the other day I was talking to another friend of mine about alternate careers, doing something you really "want" to do, not just thinking about it but taking the plunge and doing it ! This is something I truly want to do one day. The most I have done is contribute a couple of short stories to a publication. Sometimes I think of eventually penning down a whole novel and yet other days I feel like I want to write a childrens book.  

2. Visit Greece

When I told Mom about this, she told me Greece is now the most debt-ridden and bankrupt nation in the world. Well bankrupt or not, I still want to visit Greece. I admit I have only seen the Santorini in pictures, but to me standing on the rooftop of the highest villa and looking out over the ocean on a beautiful day has to be the most romantic sight. Pati ko Patao mission is in progress !

3. Teach basic English to 11th/12th grade students at C

Mom used to teach Economics at this college in Mumbai that I'll just refer to as C. I once attended a lecture a couple of years back just to get a feel and I was appalled at the level of English these kids knew. Even though Mom was teaching Economics, she had to sometimes pause, spell out basic English words, explain the meaning and then proceed. So many of those kids were from Non-English medium schools and struggled to grasp basic concepts when they were thrown headlong into an English medium Junior College. It continues to be a roadblock when such kids try to make it at a global level. The incident left a very deep impression on my mind that day and this continues to be a serious "want" in my life. When I return back to India, I plan to atleast start with a bunch of 4-5 kids. Why C? Because of having spent so much time there due to my Mom, being a part of the annual activities, knowing the teachers, I feel like there's an inner connection. Its the least I can do. Mom has retired since but this connection has become  a legacy. 

4. Play the Bin Tere - The slow version on the guitar 

Tee hee ! Giggle. A mix of real and fanciful. Ever since I have heard that song being strummed on the guitar I have fallen in love with it and there's no other song I would love to play. I will be the first admit that I know not a thing about strumming. I did attempt to learn once and borrowed a "Guitar for dummies" video from the local library and promptly returned it unused after 3 weeks. Lethargic me ! But ah, someday ! For folks unfamiliar with the song: Its from the movie "I Hate Luv Stories" - well, the movie is a big bore, but the song is beautiful. I didn't like it the first time but the more I heard it, the more I started to fall in love !

5. Churn butter in an authentic village setting in Punjab

LOL ! Deepa's been watching too many Hindi serials or she's completely smitten by Bollywood. Well, maybe not so much, but this is definitely one "want" which has come out of those. A completely chimerical want. But wouldn't that be fun. Churning butter, drinking lassi, makki de roti, sarson da saag, running in the fields .. oooh fairy-talish ! Don't you dare laugh !

6. Eat gracefully with chopsticks.

Whenever I try this, I probably look all funny. I have attempted this n number of times yet everytime I do, I get so conscious I feel clumsy even though am not. I do not spill yet I feel like the world around me is watching me and just waiting with bated breath to see my next goofy act !! Someday I want to be able to eat without feeling all that unseen weight  !!

7. Swim the length of a pool and back !

Yet another activity where my psychological fears get the better of me. Swimming is a very important skill I feel every human should know. You never know when it could come handy. I wish I had learnt this when I was young and a quick learner. Learning is so much easier as a kid. I tried to learn when I had joined work, but the only all-female courses in the gymkhana were at 10:00 AM so that was that. I have since learned some from friends, now I can confidently swim the breadth of the pool, I know to float, yet the minute I sense like I have crossed the 5.5 ft mark to the deeper end, I lose confidence in myself and swim back. One day I want to be able to swim laps and this one I will !

My 58 item so-far bucket list is still a living document and will continue to grow and hopefully I would be able to mark items off that list in good time !!!! 6 places to follow !

I would love to hear your views!