We are only given a limited number of years on this earth and you want to make the most of the time you have. Are you going to be satisfied with the life you’ve lived when you have reached the end of the road? Have you seen the things you’ve wanted to see, visited the places you’ve wanted to visit and done the things you’ve wanted to do? Have you developed the relationships you’ve wanted to develop, tried the foods you’ve wanted to try, been to the events you’ve wanted to go to and accomplished the thingsyou’ve wanted to accomplish?
To plan for your future and keep track of where you’ve been, it is essential to write a bucket list. A bucket list is a list of things that you want to do, experience or accomplish before you die. This is not designed to be a collection of unattainable dreams or goals, it is a list of things you are committed to doing before you “kick the bucket”.
Start your list by brainstorming. Think about all the things you want to do, all the places you want to go, and all the things you want to accomplish. Write down everything you can think of and don’t be worried if anything seems outrageous or far-fetched.
Next, revise your list. Make sure that you are only including things that you are really passionate about or that really mean something to you. Don’t include things just because they seem cool. The items on your list should really matter to you. Once you’ve finished, make a plan and start accomplishing your bucket list items. You don’t have to check off everything this week, or even this year, but start today and don’t stop. When you get to the end of your life and have a completed, or mostly completed bucket list, you’ll know that you spent your life exactly how you wanted and you got everything out of it that you put into it. You didn’t just spend your days working, sleeping and eating, you made your time count. Your life was well lived.
Your bucket list will simplify your life and keep you on track to accomplish your goals. You will be motivated to become the person that you want to become and are capable of becoming. Get started and take charge of your destiny so you can enjoy fulfillment and happiness everyday.
To get an idea of how to create your bucket list, here is a list of 100 items to get you started. Feel free to use any of these suggestions, but remember that these items are just to get you thinking. Make your list your own.
Places to Visit
- Paris
- London
- New York
- Sydney
- Hong Kong
- Tokyo
- Buenos Aires
- Vancouver
- Mumbai
- Madrid
- Rome
- Rio De Janeiro
- Moscow
- Las Vegas
Manmade Things to See
- Eiffel Tower
- Big Ben
- Eye of London
- Sydney Opera House
- Empire State Building
- Taj Mahal
- Great Wall of China
- Mount Rushmore
- Seattle Space Needle
- Pyramids of Giza
- Roman Coliseum
- Leaning Tower of Pisa
- The Vatican
- Stonehenge
- Monoliths on Easter Island
- Burj Khalifa
- Machu Picchu
- The Kremlin
- Petra, Jordan
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- The Louvre
- Statue of Liberty
- Christ the Redeemer Statue
Natural Things to See
- Grand Canyon
- Ayers Rock
- Mount Everest
- Niagara Falls
- Victoria Falls
- Great Barrier Reef
- Salar de Uyuni, the Bolivian Salt Flats
- Lake HIllier, Australia’s “Bubble Gum Lake”
- The Amazon
- The Giant’s Causeway
- The Galapagos Islands
Events in which to Participate
- Running of the bulls
- La Tomatina
- The Superbowl
- The World Cup
- The Olympics
- Wimbeldon
- The Kentucky Derby
- Monaco Grand Prix
- Carnaval in Rio
- Mardi Gras
- Indy 500
- Oktoberfest in Bavaria
- Loy Krathong, the sky lantern festival in Thailand
- El Día de los Muertos in Mexico
Experiences
- Skydiving
- Swim with Great White sharks
- Go on an African safari
- Take a Caribbean cruise
- Spring Break in Cancún
- See a Broadway production
- See your favorite band in concert
- Rappel into a cave
- Zorbing in New Zealand
- Surfing in Hawaii
- Disneyland
- Sunbathe in Ibiza
- Wine tasting in Napa
- Tango in Argentina
Things to Accomplish
- Start a business
- Write a novel
- Own real estate
- Have a diversified stock portfolio
- Run a marathon
- Win an award
- Graduate from college
- Get an advanced degree
- Have a career that you love
- Get married
- Raise a child
Things to Contribute
- Build a Habitat for Humanity home
- Join the Peace Corps
- Donate a million dollars to charity
- Mentor a child/ youth
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen
People to Meet
- The Pope
- The Dalai Lama
- The President of the United States
- The Queen of England
- Your favorite movie star
- Your favorite professional athlete
- Your favorite author
- Your childhood hero