The Bucket List: Things to Do Before You Die

Hope. As one ages, one often looses the hope of youth, the hope that anything is indeed possible. Hope is what sustains the youthful spirit, and, quite frankly, age should not diminish ones hope. Sure, life might have kicked you in the crotch a couple of times, but guess what? The only person who is in charge of your destiny is, in fact, you. You are responsible for all your own misfortunes, but the other side of that coin is that you are responsible for all of your successes and all of the choices that you make from this day forward.

Make a list. A list of things you want to do before you die. It doesn’t matter how outlandish or silly or completely unattainable those things are on the list, just make it. Then find one that that seems like it could be doable, and do it. Then the next one. Then the next. Make your life about hope again.

Step One: Start Your List.

This seems like a simple thing, but if you have never done a list like this before, you might find it daunting. Start with a dream, that thing you have always wanted to do, but never thought possible. Lets go with something physically demanding.

• Skydiving.

• Mountain Climbing.

• Run a marathon.

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  Bungee jump off a tall bridge.

Okay, now lets go with something a little more dangerous, but could be exciting and fun.

• Swim with sharks (okay, personally, I find this terrifying. Gods, kill me first.)

• Sail a tall ship in the fjords of Norway. (My husband, the Viking, wants to do this one.)

• Run with the bulls in Spain.

• Hang-gliding. Closest thing to flying that I can think of.

Now for something a little closer to home. Your list doesn’t have to be all about you.

• Run a soup kitchen for a night.

• Make a difference to a child by being a mentor or a Big Brother or Big Sister.

• Volunteer at a retirement home.

• Reconnect with a family member that you have lost touch with.

Bettering ones self is enriching and so seldom do we make time for it in our busy lives.

• Learn how to throw pottery. (on a potter’s wheel, not just breaking stuff.)

• Take a walk everyday, rain or shine for an entire year.

• Paint a sunset.

• Help build a Habitat for Humanity home.

• Give blood.

• Learn how to make a stained glass window, then make one.

• Learn a martial art, not just to kick ass, but to build strength and confidence.

• Bake your own bread, make your own butter, and jelly your own jelly then share it with your friends.

Travel. Everywhere. Anywhere. Pick someplace that is close to home, and someplace far away.

• Stay in a haunted castle over Halloween. Several in Ireland and Scotland, and right now the rates are actually quite reasonable.

• Hike the Carpathian mountains.

• Visit Amsterdam and be naughty.

• Might I suggest the Wizard of Oz museum in Kansas?

• Visit New Orleans and see the wonders that still exist in the French Quarter, see some real Cajan music and taste some of the best food anywhere. You can also stay in a haunted bed and breakfast and do a Vampire and Ghost tour.

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• Go on a cattle drive in Texas.

Whimsical is never out of style.

• Write a love poem to someone, and then send it.

• Try a new food every day for a year.

• Be in a parade.

• Preform a puppet show.

• Make a toy for a child.

Make your list with some things you know you can do, but just haven’t yet, and then add some that you think are out of your reach and then reach for them. Make a goal and make it happen. Life is short. Don’t waste it, or miss it, or just watch it go by. Do something.

Other little bits by me:

http://gomestic.com/cooking/a-list-of-things-you-should-do-everyday-every-day/