And just like that, I am a business owner. Full-fledged business owner with articles of organization, LLC status, a business license, and all the other stuff that goes along with owning a business. After years of thinking how to take all my ideas and wrap them into one big package, this was it. I made up my mind and took the plunge!

I recently picked up a book, More Than a Bucket List, by Toni Birdson. These kinds of titles have some kind of appeal to me now that I’m over 50, haha. I figured I might put together my own bucket list and hopefully start crossing some things off. Turns out this book was more than just list-making ideas of things to do and places to go. Like the title suggests, it was much more than that. The book challenges the reader to create a list that not only allows for DOING things, but it also challenges us to make our list from a spiritual viewpoint. The opening page offers encouragement…. “discover hundreds of ideas to jump-start your heart. Be inspired. Be intentional. And be contagious in your quest to live a life that is more than a bucket list”.  For me, 175 “more than a bucket list” ideas later, and The Brimming Cup became a reality. Here are a few ideas you might find interesting:

·      Don’t wonder any longer

·      Run your race

·      Focus on the promises, not the problem

·      Zip it and listen

·      Live. Greater.

·      Start a blog

·      Plant something to celebrate

·      Admit that you blew it

·      Live faithfully

·      Be a hero

I try really hard to look at life from a positive, glass half-full standpoint. As an instructor, I teach my classes that way and I try to embed that philosophy into all areas of my life. We all have good days and bad days, but for the most part I think I’m pretty consistent with finding the good in most situations and in most people. I’ve been in the helping professions all my adult life and while I love teaching at the university level (and have no plans to stop), I’ve had that nagging of a missing piece. And when I finally figured out what that piece was, I knew I had to pursue it – ignored the critics – and went for it!

So, in one year, I added registered mental health counselor intern to my credentials, started a private psychotherapy practice (The Brimming Cup) and am working on my full licensure. Do you know how many students, family members, career professionals, children and adults are struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction and other mental health-related issues? A LOT!! In fact, 1 in 5 adults will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime (www.nami.org). It’s pretty reasonable to say that everyone is impacted by mental illness, whether it’s yourself, a family member, someone you work with, or a neighbor.  I personally feel it’s my ethical responsibility as a professional educator to address all issues related to student learning. We tend to focus on academics, disability, poverty, parental support, curriculum, etc.… but rarely do I find people talking about mental health issues and the impact. Trust me. We need to have these conversations and take action.

Opening a small business to enhance my career as a special education instructor at a university was the right thing for me to do. I’m excited about the journey and looking forward to changing lives. What about you? What’s on your bucket list?