Monday, October 24, 2011

Bucket List


"Skydiving is one more thing I can cross off my bucket list."  I said this with enthusiasm as I chatted with my father.  
"Yeah, it's weird that your bucket list has things on it that could actually be the end of your list."  He responded.
My aunt had her thoughts on it as well.  "You are too young to have a bucket list."

I don't consider myself young, but I don't consider myself old either.  I actually started my "bucket list" when I was a young child.  I remember telling my mother that I was going to go to Europe one day.  I think I was probably seven or eight at the time.  I even wrote in my diary that one day I would do this or that before I died.  My list hasn't changed very much as far as the content, but it has gotten longer.  :)   

Why do I have a bucket list?  That answer is simple.

A long life is not guaranteed.  That sounds so blunt and harsh I know, but it is the truth.  We never know when our health may fail or when our time is up.  It is completely unknown.  We can only hope with all our hearts that we will live long and happy lives surrounded by our friends and family.  Shouldn't that be enough?  Well, keep reading...


Live each day as if it is your last!  Do things you want to do NOW while you can!  

Live, Laugh, Love

I don't know how many times I have heard or seen those words and phrases.  It seems everywhere we turn, we are faced with some message telling us to live our lives, laugh till our stomach hurts, and love with all that we have.  Do we do it?  Not usually.  We don't like to put ourselves out there for fear of being hurt emotionally or physically.  But fear is what is really crippling us.  We hurt ourselves and others around us if we don't open up to all possibilities.  

For example: Holding back on love can leave you unhappy or alone and hurt your loved ones.  Put your heart on the line!  Give all of it over.  You might be surprised to watch it grow.  

Jump out of an airplane!  Feel the power of the wind!  See what the Earth looks like from above the clouds--It is amazingly beautiful--breathtaking.  Trust in the person guiding you that you will land safely and unharmed.  Trust is a big word here...we all need to learn how to use it more in our everyday lives.

I don't know if I will live to be 100 or if I will die next week.  No one knows this.  What I do know is that I want to live, laugh, and love while I still can.  And just think of the stories I will may get to share with my grandchildren.  

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."  - Helen Keller 

“Almost everything–all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure–these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” – Steve Jobs’ Stanford Commencement Address

2 comments:

  1. Congratulations on sky diving! That's too scary for my bucket list! BUT...

    You're never "too young" to have a bucket list...I agree with you. I'm so glad you included the quote by Steve Jobs. It's true, remembering that you're going to die changes everything.

    This is my 40th year. I decided to start marking things off my bucket list in full force. My husband and I took our first flying lesson and when we were there I met an 80 year old man celebrating his birthday.

    He said flying lessons was on his bucket list. "Funny, mine too", I replied. His wife started to say, "You're too young to have a bucket list"...just like your aunt said. But she rebutted herself saying, "That's great!"

    It turns out that my husband and I had booked reservations for the same restaurant that evening that they had booked reservation for. Eating at this particular restaurant was on all of our bucket lists! (City of over a million people...what are the odds?)

    No matter where you are in life, young or old...it's never too late or early to live life to the fullest!

    The funny thing about a bucket list is that you can put anything on it. It's surprising how many things you can accomplish by just taking the little steps to do them; whether is running a marathon, learning a language, getting a degree, or sky diving.

    Next on my bucket list is to travel back in time to the glamourous part of the 1960s. My hubby is on board and we'll be hosting a very authentic 1960s posh cocktail party for Christmas this year. Aluminum tree, vintages dresses, and fancy food & cocktails here we come!

    Isn't life grand?!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Themed-Party-Ideas.com, what a great story! Thanks for sharing. That is quite interesting that you ran into the same couple again at the restaurant.
    And I completely agree, no one is too young or old to have a bucket list.
    Have fun with your party. It sounds fabulous!

    ReplyDelete