Create Your Bucket List...Life is Too Short Not To!
I watched a movie about a man who had a list of things he wanted to do before he died. In the movie he completed each one and had an amazing adventure jumping out of planes and other crazy things. My list isn't quite so interesting. I want to visit Dallas Texas and tour Dealy Plaza and the Book Depository Museum. I am a history buff and such a trip will be excitement enough for me. I plan to see Mount Rushmore, and I want to visit Europe, see London, Paris, Rome and maybe Venice. I am not rich, but I'm creative. I know how to travel cheaply and put together budgets to make my dreams possible. But, that's not the point.
The point is that having a bucket list gives your life purpose and direction. It can't be a hastily written list tossed in a junk drawer either. It has to be a well thought out list of things that you want to accomplish before you leave this world behind. My best friend from Kindergarten wanted to jump out of a plane and parachute to the ground. At age 53 she did it! I was right there on the ground cheering her on. She's obviously the adventurous half of our life long friendship! Her bucket list and mine are very different, but we support each other in accomplishing them.
The whole point is to make the list. Think about what brings you joy, what you want to accomplish, and work a plan to make it happen. It gives life purpose and meaning. Your list doesn't have to include costly travel or outrageous expectations of being rich and famous. It just needs to encompass the things that you, with your own personality and resources, desire to do. One of my first bucket list items, before I even knew what a bucket list was, was to visit Walt Disney World. I lived in upstate New York at the time. It took a year of saving and planning. of garage sales and working another part time job, and researching transportation and accommodations, but in 1986 I made my first trip via Amtrak, staying off property at a cheap but clean hotel. My two children were 5 and 3 at the time and it made memories that will last them a life time.
I identified my actual bucket list about 10 years ago. At the top was visiting New Orleans. Hubby and I managed a four day trip and took enough pictures to fill a whole camera card. I have crossed off several items since that time including a trip to Alaska with my Dad who was stationed there in the 1950s and taking sunset photos from interesting places, some local, some afar. Chasing rainbows is always on the list, my daughter and I drive around during rain showers looking for them! Sunsets and rainbows bring me joy.
Find your joy, create your own bucket list, and get going! Life is too short not to!