I have a problem with “bucket lists.” Not necessarily with having lists of things you want to do, but more with the implication that if you are able to cross things off said bucket list, you can die happy and complete.

I’m all for having goals and wish lists, but I think it’s a bit naïve to believe that crossing items off a list leads to such a state of satisfaction you can die knowing you’ve accomplished everything you’ve ever wanted to do. More importantly, I don’t necessarily believe that we should ever reach a point when we’ve done everything we’ve ever wanted to do. 

I’m a list maker by nature and it’s been my personal experience that whenever I cross something off a list — any list — something else is right there to take its place. The way I see it, as far as life experiences go, these perpetual lists can only be a good thing. Sure, it might be exhausting to perpetually have a to-do list, but my lists keep me on my toes and always striving and searching for the next thing to add, be it work or play. 

As far as the fun goes, a little over a year ago I had a list of five musical acts I wanted to see in concert. I foolishly thought that once I’d seen those five I would be “done” with concerts. Guess what — I’ve now seen three of the five, more than once, and other music groups almost immediately took their place. 

I had a list of national parks to visit next. I’ve been to those and now just have more to visit. I could tell myself I won’t be satisfied until I’ve been to all of them, but I know myself well enough by now to understand that I won’t be satisfied even then. 

I remember telling my husband how disappointed I was when the original Harry Potter series came to an end, both the books and the films. “What are we going to look forward to now,” I wondered with dismay. Suffice it to say, I can’t even begin to count the wonderful things my obsessive nerdy self has fallen in love with since then — some of which I think I love even more than Harry Potter. 

That’s one of the wonderful things about life; there’s always something else waiting to be discovered, in places old and new.

There is one area of my life in particular where there is always a to-do list and always something to be discovered. Work. 

I love my job. And I’m not just saying that because I know with 100 percent certainty that my boss is reading this. 

I’m busy more or less all of the time, which is great because I loathe downtime. There’s always something to cover or some event to take in. Honestly, anybody who says nothing ever happens in Evanston must not be looking very hard. Or at all. 

I’ve been working at the Herald for right about three months now. In that time, I’ve been welcomed to government meetings, numerous public events and into every school in town by familiar faces and complete strangers. 

I’ve learned a thing or two about domestic violence, nuclear waste disposal, women in the west, Evanston’s historical buildings and violent intruder training. I’ve enjoyed concerts and theatrical performances. I’ve gotten to interview a gubernatorial candidate and a U.S. senator. I’ve made new friends and become reacquainted with old ones. 

I’ve even been taught how to shoot a flintlock rifle. 

It’s been great. Even better, I then get to write about all of these things and share what I’ve learned with my entire community. For a compulsive writer like myself, it’s pretty much a dream come true. 

These work experiences have brought me to a realization that I have another issue with “bucket lists” — that my to-do lists have often overlooked my own backyard. It’s really easy to get so focused on the day-to-day necessities and the big things like holidays and vacations — the “bucket list” items — that we overlook the things going on around us every day.

We live in a fairly generous, warm, big-hearted community that is literally filled with people doing good deeds, staging events, donating time and money and just generally being kind. We have abundant local talent in various areas of music, the arts, woodworking, cooking, etc. 

I’ve frequently found people to be quite generous, especially when it comes to my kids and the way community members have always supported them in school fundraisers. Even when times are hard and people don’t have a lot to give, so many people still find a way to help. 

I was born and raised here in Evanston. This is my home. But, in all honesty, I’ve often had a love-hate relationship with this place where I’ve frequently felt like a misfit. It’s only fairly recently that I’ve begun to understand the loyalty and dedication to this community I’ve seen exhibited by others. 

Now, when I say this is my home, it means more than simply the place I was born and raised. It means that these are my people, this is my history, and I am fiercely protective of what’s mine. I may at times still be a misfit, but I’m OK with that, and, thankfully, most of the people I meet seem to be okay with that too. 

When I started working at the Herald, there was a quote written on the whiteboard near my computer. It is attributed to Michael Scott from “The Office,” and reads, “Sometimes I’ll start a sentence and I don’t even know where it’s going. I just hope to find it along the way.” It’s still there because I love it and completely relate to it. 

It definitely applies to this particular column that has been evolving in my head for a while now. 

My thoughts on lists, my work and this community have been like dangling strands that I’m slowly weaving together to hopefully resemble something coherent and with a point. 

The point could be that our little city, and county, are really quite amazing and something to be proud of. 

The point could be that I hope we all take the time to appreciate everything happening around us. 

The point could be that, no matter their differences in politics or religion or lifestyle, people in our community genuinely care about one another. 

The point could be that having perpetual to-do lists is a very good thing. 

The point could be that life has a way of surprising us and that there is always something new to learn and something new to love, and that is also a very good thing. 

Really, my point is that in this, the season of giving thanks and counting blessings, I myself am filled with gratitude.