The Bucket List
Have you ever thought about a Bucket List? A bucket list is basically a remarkable list of all one wants to accomplish.I have, but the term “bucket list” always slows me down. Frankly, it’s morbid in my opinion. The focus is on death, and all that needs to get done before the grim reaper comes calling. Literally, before the bucket is kicked! In searching for other writing about Bucket Lists, so many of the titles include “before you die.” I have to flip that to “so you live fully.”
The Remarkable List
I have always wanted to keep a list of wonderful, remarkable things I’d like to do in my lifetime. Not a brag list, but a don’t forget to experience this before it’s too late list…..I have a habit of forgetting, putting off, or letting life get in the way of living. With a list, there is purpose, focus and accountability of sorts. Studies even prove that writing goals down leads to higher odds of actually accomplishing them, due to increased motivation, focus, and tracking of incremental successes. So I’m applying research based practice to my newly dubbed Remarkable List. Why am I calling it the Remarkable List? This quote right here sums it up pretty well.
I could continue to draft, draft again, organize and arrange what I have on my list at this point. But that defeats the purpose. Sorta like planning to live instead of actually doing the living, in a way. “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans…” (Allen Saunders)
I do reserve the right to edit, modify or add to the list as more opportunities become known. There are a few things listed that I have already had the chance to do. I have included, so that small victories can be celebrated, and as a reminder of how fortunate I am to be able to do what I have done. And will I be able to do them all? Most likely not, but that’s no reason to not try!
My Remarkable List
Travel
- Italy
- Africa
- Visit the home of Karen Blixen in Africa
- France
- Greece
- Ireland
- Scotland
- England
- Spain
- Run with the Bulls
- New Zealand
- San Francisco
- See the Northern Lights
- See the Milky Way
- New England fall colors
- Boston
- Cuba
- Costa Rica
- Pick an Atlas Obscura featured location and go explore
- Go back to Haiti
Travel/Adventure
- See a Haka performed in person
- Hike a section of the Appalachian Trail
- Drive the California Coastline
- Stay in a Lighthouse
- Tennessee Williams festival
- Visit The Lost Generation haunts of Paris
- Bioluminescence Kayak Trip
- Sleep in a castle
- Tour small towns in the South searching for the best blues bars
- U2 in concert
- Bon Jovi in concert
- Aerosmith in concert
- Bruno Mars in concert
- Visit Hemingway’s house in Cuba
- Take a river trip on a houseboat
Physical Challenges
- Run 1/2 marathon in under 2:31
- Learn to use stand up paddleboard
- Learn to play golf
- Participate in a Mud Run
- Watch the sun rise from a kayak in the middle of bay
- Learn to surf
Creative/Professional
- Start a NonProfit
- Play washboard (on stage with Zydeco band)
- Start a blog
- Start another blog
- Get Published in a magazine
- Learn a card trick
- Write a childrens book
- Learn to sew a Christmas stocking
- Make beautiful bookmarks
- Become a competent photographer
- Participate in a Flash Mob
Personal
- Hot air balloon ride
- Participate in a protest
- Create a signature drink
- Perfect a personal style
- Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
- Grow my own food
- Collect signed first editions
- Take Grand T on his dream trip
- Attend Grand T’s graduation from college
- Dance with Grand T at his wedding
Book Related
- Finish Don Quixote
- Study more about New Orleans literary history
- Literary Tour of the US
- Complete my To Be Read List
- Attend Book Expo America
- Attend the Southern Book Festival
- Visit every small independent bookstore possible and make a purchase to support
- Have a long conversation with a noted author
- Build a Little Free Library
- Start a Book Club
- Read a Joan Didion book (am I the only one who hasn’t??)
This is just the first 70 or so. Trust me, the list will grow.
What’s your Remarkable List? Or how about a Do It Now List? Maybe a What are You Waiting For List? Whatever you call your list of dreams, write them down, make your plan and turn them into goals. A special thanks to Eric Gamble at The Bucket List Project, who inspired me to put my list in writing. He’s living the Bucket List dream!
Great ideas. I need to make a list!
An awesome choice, great bucket list! I also have many of these on mine
That’s amazing. You have some ideas similar to me.
I really like your list and its amazing to see that so many of these items feature on my list too.
Thanks for your bucket list, I need to update some place too!
I love your lists and your ideas. Much of your list would overlap mine.
I love that “What are you waiting for List”. Like you I have a lot of things that want to accomplish. The world is ours and we all have the possibilities to make it happen. I hope you accomplish your heart’s desires. Good luck! 🙂
what a great concept, a remarkable list! I have so many things I would love to accomplish in this life time, would be a long list for me.
Yeah, bucket list, wish list….. Is something i don’t like either….you’re right it borders to death .. Remarkable list will do wonder…..
i think i might have stolen some of ur bucketlist to mine because i havent even thought of all those wonderful things., and btw, u missed something . u forget to put switzerland as well, switzerland is incredible and called the playground of europe. do visit as well. thanks for commenting on my blog and supporting me. i shall do the same as well. and i hope u achieve all ur wishes in the list as well.
this one is nice..I ticked off surfing but skydiving is still on my list. goodluck with your list!
Truly remarkable bucket list for sure. And inspiring too. You have made and shared a perfect template for anyone who would like to make such a list for any sphere of life. Definitely for us. And would love to replicate some ( read most ) of the actions as well! Thank you for making it simple for us and inspiring us 🙂
Love it. I haven’t really thought about setting it out like that I guess I just set goals for the year in line with my overall vision and then go for it. Love the travel list though and the children’s book is a great idea too.
Wow! What a list. I do hope that you get to add the Philippines to your travel list. 🙂
Great bucket list, it inspires me! I should do some of these things!
I need to make a bucket list and these are some great ideas.
Thank you for inspiring me to make a bucket list! 🙂
you are remarkable list is pretty inspiring. Though I am one of those people who just take a day as it comes so I cannot really plan or make a list.
What a great perspective! As someone who had a chronic medical condition, I think a lot about my “bucket list” but that sounds on morbid. A remarkable list sounds like you are just trying to live life to the fullest!
These are all great for a good bucket list
What a nice perspective on the typical bucket list. I hope you get a chance to achieve it all!
I like the idea of a remarkable list instead of a bucket list. If nothing else it sounds more wonderful and like things you would love to do instead of just stuff to cross off a list.
I’m a fan of U2 and I love travel too my bucketlist countries are
JAPAN, FRANCE, MACAO, TAIWAN
and so far I have 3 concerts that I already Attend.
COLDPLAY
LANY
THE SCRIPT
PARAMORE IS THE NEXT.
I haven’t ever thought of a Bucket List. I just have so much to accomplish and to do that I just take each day as is. I do have a general idea of what I want to do or wish to do but it is isn’t organize neatly into a list. Maybe someday.
(But I do want to visit many islands, visit all the islands in the Okinawa Prefecture, visit more of Asia, go to England, go to the Czech Republic, transfer into a Japanese job, visit the rest of Japan’s prefectures, learn another language, and etc)
Ah the Haka!.. always have to stop and watch it whenever it comes on tv! Reckon I could steal a few of these for mine, at the very least blow the dust of Don Quixote.
This is a nice list. We have some similarities. Hot air balloon is also top of my list. I’d also like to write a children’s book, but I bet I have talent in that. Non profit – that’s interesting!
This makes me want to go out and check off all of the things on my bucket list!
Always wanted to make one of these! Definitely going to after seeing this
Nice list! I have a list also . I agree that writing down the things you want to do helps because life certainly does tend to get in the way! And i hope you don’t mind but I’m copying your “stay in a lighthouse” for my own list 😊
I have bucket lists of my own, but the items on the list are less specific than many of yours. I like how you have different categories, too- always good to be organized