I have been having a nagging sense that I have way too many dreams and am not doing much about most of them. It’s always been taking the next step, and following the clear path forward. Most of this is because of my ‘in the box’ thinking, I think. I did not grow up with the talent of seeing big opportunities, of beleiving that the imaginable can actually be realized. At times this has been a great burden on things, but recognition has led to increasing understanding, and it’s getting easier and easier to actually follow the dream.

Strangely, this does not at all go for travelling. When I travel, I can be ambitious, set the weirdest goals and totally accept whatever comes along. The same goes for photography, which to me feels a lot similar to travelling. It is imperative to set a goal, a challenging one, but it is just as imperative to not allow the goal to blind you for the path you are on. Only with a goal, do you escape your preconceptions, patterns and habits.

In recent years, I have done several larger and more compact things, which were clear examples of this thinking. Things that I did, knowing that they would turn out to deliver, if not the expected result, an experience. It strikes me, that many of these actions included what you could describe as ‘dreams’ or ‘ambitions’. So, this is an attempt to formalize this thinking, and to visualize my opprtunities for the future. Let’s write a bucket list, a list of dreams, ambitions and goals!

What I did recently:

• Learned gliding Although I am not doing it any more, this was a huge learning experience. Not only did I manage to solo a glider during an entire summer, I met a completely new group of people, and got confronted with learning. Not studying (I’m good at that trick), bot actual learning.
• Took a month of vacation to tour the Southwest and hike the national parks A great adventure and an unexpectedly deep impression. Surpises around every corner.
• Proposed to Arnolda We’re getting married. At the moment I think it probably still scares us both, but it’s going to be a brilliant thing.
• Flew a hot air balloon

So how to go forward?

• I opened an account on 43things.com.
• I started adding some goals off the top of my head.
• I intend to update the blog with my experiences, new additions, completions and steps made towards my goals.

What is in the list now?:

• Complete my Design for Six Sigma black belt projects This was a course I started at my previous employer. I was super enthousiastic, and really think this stuff is made for me. A great combination of practical and theoretical, of project management and project execution. But it does require submitting 2 project to get the certificate. And that’s where I’m stuck. I guess the professor was right when he said that it’s not as easy as it looks. So I will start afresh, coose a very simple task, and just do it.
• Build an aeroplane Something I have been wanting to do ever since I saw A plane is born. Actually making something is rarer than you would think, for engineers. I would have to learn great deals, and find a good mentor. Don’t even think getting a licence first would be necessary. This would be a real adventure.
• Fly around the USA/Australia in a light plane. Flying is just great. This goal would involve getting a license, becoming proficient at flying, and probably finding a guided tour of some sort. What could be better than exploring a great continent in a fast vehicle, and getting the great scenes that you do from the air?!
• Marry Arnolda. Mentioned last, but definitely not least. After more than 12 years, it felt like our relationship was missing the final detail. To be able to really call her ‘wife’ (I have been doing this for years regardsless) and have her carry my name. This will be an adventure in itself, and will require both of us to face old fears and reservations. Adventure!

Analysis

… is what i do.

I see one overriding theme in this short list: adventure. I like adventure, apparently.

Other themes:

• A lot of ambition, big goals
• The desire to learn

Midlife crisis?