Have you, or have you ever considered, making a bucket list? You know, a list of things that you just “need” to, or, at least, want to do, before you, what the English euphemistically refer to, as “kick the bucket”.
The whole idea of bucket lists became popular after the 2007 release of the movie of the same name. It seemed everyone was, not only writing down but actually following through with their notions of what they simply had to do, to make their lives fulfilling and complete.
Swiss Alps ~ Photo credit: Aldimedia via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-ND
I’m sure some of the lists were reasonable and sane, but many were excessive and wildly impractical. Suddenly, it wasn’t enough to visit Switzerland, no, you had to climb the Alps while you were there.
Well, that’s fine if you are an Olympic athlete, but not so fine if you’re a middle-aged grandmother from Kalamazoo. Of course, these are the stories celebrated in the press to make the rest of us mere mortals feel unadventurous and generally, no, totally inadequate.
Like many things in popular culture, the “bucket list” craze has mercifully disappeared from our daily lives.
I recently wrote about New Year’s resolutions and how they are a time-tested and, for the most part, harmless annual exercise with a degree of frivolity built-in.
Photo credit: Or Hiltch via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC
I’m not sure that bucket lists fall into that same category. Lists seem more permanent and serious, but listen, we all have dreams. What I mean is maybe we shouldn’t be so specific with those dreams.
Instead of saying I want to visit Tuscany perhaps our goal should be simply to travel more. You never know what you might miss out on because you were too rigid in your planning.
It’s the surprising and spontaneous occurrences in life that very often provide the greatest pleasure.
Sometimes, when standing at that fork in the road, you have to follow your heart and go left, even though your head is saying that going right is the practical thing to do.
Tuscany ~ Photo via Visualhunt
Okay, okay, I do admit, a trip to Europe would most definitely be on my bucket list, if indeed I had a bucket list! And…if I happened to take the fork in the road that led to Tuscany, all the better! Either way, though, it would be an amazing trip!
What about you, do you have a bucket list…actual or otherwise?
What’s on your bucket list?
Like you, Monica, I don’t have a bucket list, per se, but more of a “If-I-win-a-lottery” wish list! ( Am told it helps to actually buy a ticket to do this!) A trip to far away lands would definitely be on or near the top but I hope I would have to courage to try something new. In the words of Robert Frost;
…Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
Took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference.
BTW, a wine tasting tour of Tuscany sounds great to me!!
Yeah…my bucket list is most definitely an “If-I-Win-the-Lottery” list too. If I can’t sleep at night I will often lie awake thinking about what I would do if I won the lottery. a wine tour of Tuscany is most definitely on my list too!
BTW…I love that Robert Frost poem too!
Monica Parlee recently posted…Reminder ~ Enter to Win a 4 Night Trip to LA to See Bryan Adams
I don’t necessarily have a bucket list but I do have two places I’d love to visit. If ever there were a possibility of me traveling I would visit Disneyland (a dream since I was a little girl) and Portugal (where my father was born).
You’re just young Amanda, you will get to see those places one day! I made my first trip to Disneyworld just a few years ago. Our kids were past that stage so my brother, two sisters and all our spouses went for 10 days of relaxing in the sun.
Monica Parlee recently posted…Reminder ~ Enter to Win a 4 Night Trip to LA to See Bryan Adams
You’re just young Amanda, you will get to see those places one day! I made my first trip to Disneyworld just a few years ago. Our kids were past that stage so my brother, two sisters and all our spouses went for 10 days of relaxing in the sun.
Monica Parlee recently posted…Reminder ~ Enter to Win a 4 Night Trip to LA to See Bryan Adams
I don’t have an official list, just a few ideas in my mind, but I think I need to make it more official- that’s how you make things happen!! :) I would love to visit Mexico again.. maybe the other coast. :)
Heather Lynne recently posted…Easter Treat Box (Real Meaning of Easter)
I think you’re right Heather, making the list official is a great idea!
Monica recently posted…How to Make Irish Coffee
I have a huge bucket list, complete with categories and subcategories, lol. I really wish I could call it something else though, ya know?
That image of tuskany is gorgeous, wow!
There’s a lot of travel on my bucket list. I definitely want to do a fee cruises and visit the land of my ancestors (Scotland).
Aeryn Lynne recently posted…What James Bond Has Taught Me for International Womenâs Day
I agree Aeryn, “bucket list” is a bit of an unfortunate name! I have never been on a cruise, but for some unknown reason, (you would think I would be happy with the cold & snow we currently receive…lol) I would love to take an Icelandic cruise.
I don’t have a list of things I want to do before I die, but I do have a list of things I want to do with my family. Interestingly, they mostly relate to travel as well, except that I really want to go cage diving with sharks. I was pregnant the last time I had the chance, and well, we agreed SCUBA diving and the adrenaline might not be good for the baby. Next time!
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Wow…cage diving with sharks, what an experience that would be! I like your idea of “the list” being more about things you would like to do with your family.
Monica recently posted…How to Make Chicken Parmesan
I’ve never actually written one down but there are soooo many places I would love to visit. Western Canada and Europe are on the top of the imaginary list!
Me too Jennifer, and those are on my imaginary list too!
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