I find that as people are getting older, they often start mentioning their “bucket list” more frequently. The see the clock ticking and become more aware of the things that they haven’t done or what they still want to do. For most people, a bucket list is generally an itemized agenda of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to accomplish during their lifetime before they “kick the bucket” or die. This concept of a bucket list brings to mind the 2007 film “The Bucket List”. In the movie, fate lands two complete strangers Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman in the same hospital room where both are diagnosed with terminal illness. They decide to complete a list of things they want to see and do before they die. They go skydiving, visit Hong Kong, drive fast cars, fly over the North Pole, visit the Taj Mahal, ride motorbikes on the Great Wall of China, attend a safari in Tanzania, visit Mount Everest and the Pyramid of Giza. It certainly is a worthy list that would warrant the description of a Bucket list. “and I have most of them on my own list as well. I personally have always been very goal oriented and from a young age have thrived on my yearly lists of goals and experiences that where relevant to me at the time
Some of the lessons I learned over the last few years living a Bucketlist life :
Don’t wait : I don’t believe that people should wait until they are getting to a specific age to check things off their list. In my experience, many people have a list of things they want to do one day in the future or when they are no longer working. However, the realities of life often get in the way of those plans. No one knows when it’s going to be their last day or if they become too sick or old to do certain activities. It is for this reason that I encourage people to do things while they can. If you want to go to Everest Basecamp or jump out of a plane and have the money and time to do it, then you shouldn’t ‘put it of. Do it now! If you want to learn a new skill or hobby and can invest the time and effort required, then you should do it now . Unexpected life events occur, so take the opportunity by tackling some of your bucket list items today.
Include a date: A wish list of items with no set date for when you plan to achieve, or work towards, them will likely remain just that, a wish list . If you include a date by which you’d like to accomplish your given goal, then you will more likely be working actively toward achieving it. If you are really serious about certain items on your list, for example some that require more time or money, I’ recommend putting them down on a a piece of paper with a more specific action plan on how and when you want to accomplish them. For example, if hiking up to Everest Basecamp or Mount Kilimanjaro is on your list, then decide on a time frame on when you plan to accomplish that goal, yet also note when you’re going to buy the appropriate gear and detail a training schedule to ensure that you are physically fit to accomplish these objectives. Goals with no timeline are easier to procrastinate.
Make it be a living list :Even though I decided on not adding or taking things of my Bucket list, I realize that people’s priorities and interests change and evolve over time. That is why a bucket list doesn’t have to be written in stone. We all know that things can, and should, move up or down in priority and some might even fall off your list altogether. As we are moving through life our priorities and interests change. Your ultimate goal should be living your best life and the definition of ” your best life” may have changed over the years. Having a bucket list that reflects those changes helps you staying focused on what’s important to you living your best life