The beauty of a bucket list? Everyone’s list is different, unique, and ever-changing and none of them are wrong or too crazy. Why? Because that’s the whole point of a bucket list; it is the ultimate freedom granted to the creator of the list without reservation. A testament to each of our unique innate desires for curiosity, exploration, and discovery.
I am a firm believer that a bucket list is an invitation to dream bigger. Bucket lists are a great way to discover your meaning of life and live to the fullest. They serve as a roadmap for your wants and wishes from a kid to adulthood. They inspire individuals to be more adventurous, and also serve as benchmarks to work towards. The pursuit of completing a bucket list allows us to cherish our moments and create our fondest memories.
Fact: The term “Bucket List” comes from the saying “kicks the bucket” which signifies death or passing away. Though dark, it is a reminder of the fleeting nature of time and life, and that we need to slow it down to appreciate the moments.
Oftentimes a bucket list reflects our ideal life or utopian society in our minds. It is a gentle reminder of the adventures, people, and events that allow us to live life to the fullest. Sometimes bucket lists can be scary too. There is often a stigma surrounding bucket lists due to the fact that death is inevitable and thus a bucket list is confined to our limited time. However, I would argue that a bucket list can be the first step to accepting one’s finitude.
Bucket lists range from community service to travel destinations to food and assorted life goals. Ultimately, a bucket list is a wish list, a life plan, and a collection of memories all in one.
Personally, my bucket list is centered around traveling. It reads as follows;
- Surf a pipeline, North Shore Oahu
- Surf with dolphins, Bali
- Swim with whale sharks, Belize
- Helicopter ski in the Alps, Switzerland
- Backflip on skis, Park City
- Golf in Iceland, Reykjavik
- See a panda & polar bear in real life, China/Antarctica
- Spearfish, Cape Verde
- See northern lights, Iceland
- Go to space
My bucket list is a form of active mediation, absent of restriction. In reality, I would probably never make it to space without throwing up 4 times, granted even getting the opportunity to in the first place, but it still holds a very strong place in my list.
Within each bucket list, there are values that are associated with each task or check box in the list. Such values are reflected in the decisions to add the item to the list in the first place and expressed throughout the journey to check that item off. Arguably the journey to check on items off the list is more influential than the event or item itself. Along your path to a fulfilled bucket list, you will undergo personal growth, create new memories and experiences, and see lifestyle changes that are a result of the journey as a whole. As by standard belief, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Imagine one of your bucket list items was to visit all 7 continents. Yes, you will undoubtedly enjoy Christmas in New York City, street food in China, and the diverse wildlife of Kruger National Park in South Africa, but, perhaps more importantly, the act of saving money, booking the trip, and sense of accomplishment as continent by continent you inch closer and closer to your goal, brings greater value. A bucket list’s benefits extend far beyond its face value. It bridges dreams and reality, which kindle a wave of self-discovery and appreciation for the moment.
Having yet to check off any items off my list, I wait in constant anticipation. However, I must brace myself for the fact that sometimes life does not unfold according to plan. But that same uncertainty highlights that nothing in life is set in stone, furthering the possibilities encompassed in a bucket list. Nevertheless, a bucket list is a universal measurement for life itself, a reminder to savor every moment, and a declaration that you intend to say, “been there and done that.”
A bucket list is not merely a checklist of our dreams and desires; it is a reflection of our values, aspirations, and our commitment to living life to the fullest. It invites us to dream beyond boundaries, embrace our finitude, and embark on a journey of self-discovery. Take a moment to create your own bucket lists, and forever hold the key to unlocking life’s true potential.
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