THE LIST

Some people are list-makers. Grocery lists, honey-do lists, daily pick up and drop off lists….there are people who physically (or digitally) write down things that they need to accomplish.

Of course, there are other kinds of lists. If you are a late 20’s to late 30’s woman who was a fan of the show Sex and the City (which is hands down my all-time favorite series ever) the “LIST” referred to how many sexual partners they had.

And maybe you aren’t a fan of lists. Maybe they make you anxious or nervous because you are great at organizing what you need or your goals in your head.

There is a LIST that I firmly believe everyone needs to make.

Every single human needs to make a list of GOOD things they have accomplished in their lifetime.

Have you done it?

Up until two weeks ago, I had not. And because you may need some inspiration, I am going to share mine with you.   But first, I think it’s important to say why I think this is necessary.

It is very easy to allow oneself to mentally list all of the “NOTS” that have stacked up over the years.  You know, all of the things that we shoulda, coulda, woulda done in life by now.  It is the reason that we talk ourselves out of dreaming again.  All the failures, the mistakes, the defeats, the pain, the sadness, the DID NOTs….now, those I can list without even thinking about it.  

But what about the good? And why is that list so much harder to keep at the front of my mind?

It’s because of all the negative self-talk that we have listened to over internally for so long. We forget that we’ve actually done a whole lot of good over our lifetimes. We are pretty freaking incredible.  I don’t know about you, but I am tired of constantly living in the darkness of all the things I didn’t do – and want to live in the light of all the great things I’ve done.

So, without further ado…here is my LIST:

• I graduated high school at my local community college with my last two remaining credits I needed for my diploma.
• I have read the Bible in it’s entirety. 
• I have lived in 13 different cities (5 states).
• I have owned a brick and morter business – a Curves Franchise.
• I have owned an at-home business that grossed over $675,000 in team sales in 2017-2018.
• I have managed 7 multi-million dollar portfolios in the forms of multi-family housing (apartment communities).
• I have achieved my Certified Apartment Manager license.
• I have obtained my South Carolina Property Manager In Charge license.
• I have been pregnant twice and given birth to two healthy babies within 4 years.
• I have met and married the love of my life.
• I have traveled internationally to England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Mexico, Jamaica, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and St. Marteen.
• I bought my first house with my husband 2 years ago.
• My best friend and I have been friends for 11 years and it is a relationship that I value more than anything.
• I have watched a baby be born (my best friends’ baby girl – Emma).
• I have only gotten one speeding ticket in my life. (It was a doozy, though….lol….that’s another post!)
• I have been a regular blog contributor alongside several talented women in my current city for 2 years.
• I earned a car allowance with my direct sales company for nine months!
• I am my grandmother’s favorite grandchild (sorry, but my cousins know it).
• I have a pretty impressive shoe collection.
• I have earned the love and respect of hundreds of women over the years and can call many of them friends and loved ones.
• I bake the best chocolate chip cookies!
• I am a Certified Make Up Artist with my company.
• I can recite almost the entire movie Sound of Music – word for word, song for song.
• I can drive a stick shift.
• I have run 10 miles at one stretch.
• I have never broken a bone in my life.
• I have never had a cavity in my life.
• I choose really great things on menus at restaurants.
• I am a lot of fun after a bottle of Prosecco.
• I am human.

That’s the list that I came up with. I could probably say “and, but, or” after every single one of those sentences, but why diminish all the awesomeness that I have done? Why make my list of achievements smaller than they are? I am proud of the things I accomplished and the person I am. I’ve spent a majority of my adult life agonizing and apologizing over all the things I didn’t get right or didn’t do. In the end it was because of all of those things that made my LIST grow!

Now, I want all of you to make your lists. DO NOT shrink any of it. Write every single one down – no matter how “small” you think they are. All of the great things you’ve done or are. I want to hear them.  They are all stories that deserve to be told.

Make your list and send it to me on Facebook (Brandi’ Musso Starbuck), Instagram (@brandnewday526) or via email at b.musso.starbuck@gmail.com

I CAN’T WAIT to read them!!!!!

Xoxo, Brandi’