Because sometimes the most beautiful way to live is to do what you can, while you can — and love who you’re with when you are home
“You don’t have to wait for someday to live your dreams — you just have to start with what your body and heart will allow today.”
So, I’m Living My List — One Mile, One Memory at a Time
There was a time I didn’t even know what a bucket list was but when I did learn about a bucket list it became a “maybe one day” list — tucked away between old recipes and travel notes, waiting for that mythical moment when I’d have more time, more energy, more money or just feel better. But when you live with a progressive chronic illness, you start to realize that “one day” isn’t promised — and waiting for perfect conditions means missing out on the beautiful, messy, imperfect life that’s happening right now.
So instead of waiting, I’ve started living my list — piece by piece, mile by mile, meal by meal with my partner by my side cheering me on all the way. (He adds a few of his own bucket list items on our journey)
Traveling While We Can
These days, my husband and I are soaking up the adventures while we can. Sometimes that means packing up the RV and chasing sunshine — finding places that feed our souls, from the palm trees of Indio to the salt-kissed shores of Vancouver Island. Yes, travel looks different now. We move slower, plan more carefully, and build in rest days. But every mile is a gift — proof that life doesn’t have to stop just because the road gets bumpier. Each sunrise over a new or familiar horizon reminds me that my illness can limit my body, but it will never steal my wonder.
The Joy of Coming Home
And then there’s the sweetness of home.
The sound of grandkids giggling screeching in the park, swimming in the ocean, playing frisbee or soccer or life size jenga – whatever it is, it just fills my heart with joy. The smell of soup simmering on the stove. The comfort of slipping back into my cowboy boots and knowing this is where my roots are. The kitchen has always been my therapy — where I stir love into soups, roll joy into chocolate chip cookies, and feed both bellies and hearts. Cooking in Cowboy Boots was born from that spirit: making something beautiful out of what life gives you, one bite at a time. When I’m home, I don’t need bucket-list thrills. I just need family around me, laughter in the air, and the reminder that this — this quiet, ordinary magic — is what really feeds my soul.
Finding Balance Between Wander and Rest
Living with a chronic illness is all about balance — knowing when to go and when to stay. When to stretch yourself and when to rest without guilt. My bucket list isn’t about racing the clock anymore. It’s about feeding my soul in all the ways that count — a new adventure, a shared laugh, or a simple homemade meal. Whether I’m watching the sunset from a different zip code or from my home on wheels, I’m still living fully — on my own terms.
A Life Well-Seasoned
So, I’ll keep checking off my list, not because time is running out, but because joy is worth chasing. And I’ll keep coming home — to my family, my kitchen, my husband and myself — because that’s where the real magic happens. If life has taught me anything, it’s that feeding your soul looks different for everyone. For me, it’s the open road, a bubbling pot on the stove, and the laughter that fills the spaces in between.
Here’s to living while we can, loving deeply, and always finding something delicious — in the kitchen or in the moment
