I don’t remember people talking about bucket lists when I was a kid or even as a college student. I’m hearing bucket list all the time now. I credit the Internet for a lot of that—for exposing us to far more places, activities, and people with shared interests.
For the most part, that’s probably a good thing. It’s healthy to be shown that there’s a lot more to experience than our myopic ecosystems and good to find worthwhile goals to pursue. In the age of the infinity scroll on Pinterest, Tumblr, and Google Images, though, it’s easier now than ever to daydream instead of chase dreams.
In case you want the plethora of the Internet sifted down to a bulleted list, bucketlist.org offers a clearinghouse of “10,000 things to do until you die.” I scrolled through the smorgasbord for a minute and found a wide range of goals—both in their category and in their ease of achieving. It was wild to see what diverse dreams we all have.
My 18-year-old friend, Max, recently showed me his bucket list—a note he keeps on his iPhone. It made me wonder what would’ve been on my bucket list two decades ago—besides losing my virginity and bungee jumping. I was such a different person then.
I’ve accomplished so many bucket-list items since my college years. You’d think that would’ve made my list shorter, but those adventures and accomplishments actually create a new normal along with a craving for a bigger hit, a grander trophy. Instead of getting closer to “bucket zero,” it just creates a bigger hole in the bucket.
In case you’re wondering, this is my current, non-exhaustive list (in order of my desire):
run out of a plane off an open tailgate
tour Antarctica by snowmobile
sleep at Sahale Glacier Camp [preview]
swim across the Chesapeake Bay at Kent Island/Cape St. Claire
backpack the Alta Via 2 in Italy [preview]
kayak off a waterfall
attend stunt driving school [preview]
dunk a basketball
fly and land something by myself (plane, paraglider, hang glider, etc.)
heli-hike in the Canadian Rockies [preview]
get launched from one of those lake blobs
traverse the Salcantay in Peru [preview]
jump (and land) a motocross bike
whitewater raft in Nepal [preview]
explore slot canyons like Arizona’s Antelope & Peekaboo
compete in a triathlon
The truth is, I’ve lived a full life. If tomorrow were my last day, I couldn’t complain with what I would have to leave uncrossed on that list. If you gave me 30 days or six months to live, I’m not sure anything would come off that list. I’d probably work on closing my business, selling my real estate, and enjoying—as much as my body would allow—smaller things like Blue Ridge Mountain sunsets and nights around a campfire, country roads and sunny picnics. I’d probably spend as much time as I could steal, transcribing my memories, writing notes to friends and family, and parking cars at church. I say probably, because I don’t know.
None of us do.
None of us know how much time we have left on this planet. We must include activities that infuse happiness and enrich our lives. Daily or, at least, weekly.
That’s part of why I absorbed the sunset again tonight and why I watch far fewer TV shows, movies, and sporting events than in years past. That’s why I escape to rain-swollen rivers on the weekend instead of working overtime to advance my career. That’s why I typically take my dad’s weekly calls, even when my desk is covered with deadlines. That’s why I’m seeing a counselor and listening to nonfiction audiobooks, working on evolving my worldview.
In short, that’s why I keep trying new experiences both big and small—to increase my catalog of memories and keep my exploration muscle from atrophy. My tendency has been to focus more on my grand wish list than on the daily opportunities for joy. The more I take inventory of my life and what fills me up, I’ve noticed that a series of small moments can adequately span the gaps between the lines on my bucket list.
How ‘bout you? What are the big things you hope to accomplish? Also, what are the small things you can do today and tomorrow to enrich your life?
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Stock image purchased from iStockPhoto.com
