A Bucket List is a collection of activities, experiences, achievements and actions that you want to make happen before you ‘kick the bucket’. It’s the classic – what would you regret not having done if you were on your deathbed and your time to do them had run out?
I’ve had a Bucket List ‘collection’ that I started when I left the UK last year, and I thought I’d share it with you, as I’ve been reflecting on it recently, looking at what I’ve managed to tick off, and at what I want to make sure I put my energies towards in coming months and years (I couldn’t bring myself to do 40 before 40 as I can’t quite imagine it so I went with 39 before 39! And just to be clear – I have a good few years left to achieve all the below 🙂 ).
It’s interesting that I feel like I’ve had so many experiences, but haven’t ticked off that many of my ‘official’ ones –but though it was tempting, I haven’t ‘cheated’ and retro-fitted the list! Equally I’ve been flexible and amended some things that seemed less relevant, made some swaps in and out, and have added to it as I’ve learnt about new things I could do or new places I could visit.
Mini-experiences
1. Take art classes and create at least one credible picture
3. Take a pottery class (I have a fantasy, that in an alternate life, I’m a potter living down in Cornwall…I don’t know why…)
4. Go paint-balling
6. Take dancing lessons (one of the guilty pleasures I will miss in the UK this Autumn is Strictly Come Dancing…I know…)
7. Go on a cruise
8. Take an overnight train in SE Asia
9. Take a Muay Thai lesson
Creating
10. Make something crafty (the fact I don’t even know what probably means this one will take a while)
11. Write Morning pages 6/7 days a week for a year (ongoing)
12. Complete The Artist’s Way course
13. Write 2-3 blog posts a month while I am away (ongoing)
14. Create an e-book (fact or fiction)
Achievements and Activities
15. Attend Yoga school for at least a month
16. Run a 5km (have ‘run’ <ahem> one before, would love to get my health to a level where I could try again)
17. Take a meditation retreat
18. Take some Thai language lessons (it’s a little embarrassing I have been in Thailand 8 months and can only say hello and thank you)
20. Log all my books on Good Reads for a year (ongoing)
21. Learn to do a headstand away from the wall
22. Overcome a fear
23. Volunteer some of my time over the course of at least a month
24. Create income by freelancing (ongoing)
Exploring new lands
25. Visit Angkor Wat, Cambodia
26. Visit Japan
27. Visit Vietnam
28. See the Northern Lights
29. Visit India (bit scared of India for some reason, but drawn to it nonetheless)
30. Go to Pai, Northern Thailand
31. See the Golden Triangle, SE Asia
32. Visit Hong Kong
33. Visit New Zealand (Hobbit land! 😉 )
I’m afraid although there are another 6 here, as the category title says, they’re personal. Maybe ask me over a smoothie if you’re interested 🙂
Why a Bucket List?
For me, having a shiny collection of ideas like this was to give me a focus and shape some of what I want to do in the future.
If these are really my dreams, what am I doing to achieve these? And if I’m not doing anything, why are they on there?
But equally, life for me isn’t about collecting experiences. I started attending the yoga school I’m currently at in March, and am still here, 6 months later. Daily life here has taught me a great deal, rather than just ‘ticking it off’. Interactions with inspiring people, deep teachings and philosophy, so many picture-perfect sunsets, and hanging out with friends in my bungalow aren’t things that might go on a bucket list, but they’re just as important and enriching.
But I also enjoy a list, as you probably know, and I like having a place where I can note down things I’d love to do. And whenever I am feeling uninspired, I can go back and think about the amazing experiences I have already enjoyed, and start taking steps towards the next – ensuring I enjoy the steps as much as the actual experience.
Do you have a bucket list? What would you be disappointed you didn’t get to do if you died tomorrow? What one action can you take now which would get you closer to achieving one of the activities or experiences on your bucket list?
El D says
You might be missing Strictly, El, but you can still be in my Strictly Sweepstake! I only have two things on my list: Hot air ballooning in Kenya and a helicopter ride. Waiting for that Lotto win! Am impressed you haven’t filled in retrospectively all the things you’ve done that are not on the list. I would have! A El x
ellenmbard says
Thanks! I’ve taken a helicopter ride in Vegas over the Grand Canyon, and it was exhilarating but terrifying at the same time, so I wouldn’t do it again…and I love the idea of hot air ballooning, but I’m just too scared of heights! But I hope you win the millions and get to try them both!
I think the idea of the list is interesting – and I think it’s also interesting that what is an item on the list for one person is just ‘everyday’ for others. Like riding the scooter for me became a ‘thing’ as I was so scared of doing it, whereas others here just hop on! Still, long live individual differences that contribute to this world’s amazing diversity! x