Reading time: 4 – 7 minutes

Hi,

A few of us were talking. The conversation took an interesting turn when Sarah (I’ve changed her name) started rattling off what she’s up to…

… Like how she’s working on a novel, grows her own vegetables, has taken up painting as a new hobby, got a new puppy, and has made a regular practice of yoga.

And as if that hadn’t impressed us enough, Sarah, gleaming ever so much, goes on… telling us how she’s also looking forward to going whale watching this Spring (if she can talk her best friend into coming along), one day becoming a midwife, riding in a hot air balloon, and on and on.

In an instant, I knew it was a good time for us to revisit what’s on our “bucket list.” And since there were a few new people in our group, I first explained what is a bucket list.

For the uninitiated, a bucket list is simply those things you want to do before you kick the bucket (actually this expression doesn’t especially do it for me, and if you’re not familiar with it, the term means “before you die”).

Anyway, getting back to where we were in our discussion… Most of us have all had the odd thing or two or three we want to do “some day” that we toss around in our heads every now and then. Some of us carry as many as ten or twelve around. You may have more, or you may have less.

That’s why the first time I asked everyone to do the following bucket list exercise you’re about to read, you can imagine why it was quite a challenge.

My instructions were simple – and by the way you can do this yourself if you like:

1) Pull out a few sheets of paper and a pen or pencil

2) Ask yourself: “If I was given less than one year left to live, what would I make sure to do?”

3) Make a list of 100 things you want to do before you kick the bucket. Not 10 items, not 20 goals, not even 50… we’re talking a list of a whopping 100 items.

If you sit down to do this, you’ll discover that writing a list of things you want to do before you die is a way to really examine your life.

Realistically you’ll need to give yourself a fair amount of time to do this. That’s why it will help to even give yourself a deadline of completing the first list.

And let me add this…

Your list doesn’t have to be perfect. Remember that just because you’ve made a list doesn’t mean it won’t change. In fact, the very opposite is true, especially because of step 4:

4) Start crossing items off your list – today!

It’s a fact – your list will change. You might add to the list or you may change your mind and drop a few things. And most satisfying of all, you will check things off your list when you’ve achieved them.

Now let me ask you, are you spending your time and money doing what you want to do, things you really care about? Are you going where you want to go? Are you experiencing the life you want to live? Are you seeing yourself become who you want to be?

Most people putt off their dreams for “some day” – but not those who go through with the exercise.

I wonder where you dream of traveling, what thrills do you seek, what experiences do you want, what are your goals? Maybe it’s places to see before you die, things to do before you die and books to read.

.. Just imagine where your list will take you.

There are two more important points worth mentioning:

First, remember this is your life. Choose what YOU want to do. And what I mean by that is avoid adding something to your list for the wrong reasons. Like to try and impress someone else, because you feel pushed into choosing it, because you think you should (yes, there’s that “should” word again) do it, or because you feel it’s expected of you.

Second, realize that the dreams on your list can be simple or can be a huge undertaking. They can cost a small fortune, or they can be free. And forget neglecting to add something because you don’t think you’ll ever be able to do it. Who knows if you won’t? So if you have the desire to do it, just put it right there on your list.

Okay, here are some categories to give you a few bucket list ideas and help you get started right now:

• Family
• Health/Fitness
• Money/Financial
• Relationships
• Romance
• Career/Professional
• Contribution/Volunteer
• Spiritual
• Home
• Sports
• Books
• Hobbies
• Travel
• Adventure
• Education
• New Skills
• Entertainment
• Celebrity
• Music
• Events
• Food

Just as I finished going through the list above, I thought of the old saying you may have heard time and again:

“No man ever said on his deathbed I wish I spent more time at the office.”
-Unknown

So let’s have a little fun… Share five items from your “bucket list” right here. When you commit them in writing, you are more likely to focus on doing these things.

If you’re one of the first 10 approved comments, you’ll get a peek at a little something I’m putting together that will boost your goal setting and goal getting abilities.

Here’s to making your life a grand adventure.

Ciao!

Taylor