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A 'life' bucket list - do you have one?

4/5/2012

9 Comments

 
If you do a web search for the origins of this, you will find many references and several contradictions to a range of views on the origin of this phase and to its exacting meaning.  However, the general consensus falls within the view of referring to ‘a list of things one intends to do before dying’.  This implies consideration and thought has gone into the list and from the research I have conducted so far makes little reference to things like ‘tasks’ to be done.  No, most references are of a ‘wish list’ of things to do before dying.  Now that makes things much more interesting doesn’t it?  Now, depending on your age, background, financial situation, adaptability and flexibility; this will dictate the scope of the list that may be created.  Someone can be very young but still have a very focused and limited list and that could be due to the times we live and in developed cultures quite a few have already travelled fairly extensive with their parents, educational trips, gap years etc.  So, for them, an expectation of achieving certain things to do with travel is within their life expectancies.  Whereas, compare this to someone quite older, say in their 50's, 60’s plus, you may find their list is loaded with travel, because they did not have as many opportunities to do so throughout their lives due to technology, social norms, income and other grounding factors.

Thinking of this subject brings my mind to a fairly recent film The Bucket List is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Rob Reiner, written by Justin Zackham, and starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.  The main plot follows two terminally ill men (portrayed by Nicholson and Freeman) on their road trip with a wish list of things to do before they “kick the bucket”   (source Wikipedia). 

To kick the bucket is an English idiom that is defined as “to die” in the Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1785).  It is considered a euphemistic, informal, or slang term.  Its origin remains unclear, though there have been several theories.  (source Wikipedia)  

This brings me to a few questions

“Do you have a bucket list?”

“Have you completed your bucket list?”

“Have you put an end date to achieving your bucket list? I do not mean the end date of ‘death’”

“Can you give any examples of things on your bucket list?”

“If you do not have a bucket list, what is the reason?”

9 Comments
Paul Johnson
4/6/2012 06:42:25

I do have a bucket list consisting of one item; to go cage diving with Great White Sharks. I've had a fascination with sharks since I was very little and I've wanted to dive with them for many years, and I've set a goal to do this by my 50th birthday, so have a few years to save! I now live less than 10 minutes from the Indian Ocean and currently the stretch of coast where I live is the most dangerous for Great White attacks in the world right now, and yet I still haven't seen one!

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Maxine Smith
4/6/2012 09:14:14

WOW, shark diving, most definitely for the more adventurous! At least you will no longer have too far to travel for the trip. When the time comes and you manage to do this, would love to have a write up and pictures on how it was for you and if it met your expectations. Do you scuba dive Paul? Have you swam with dolphins before or viewed a school of whales?

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Paul Johnson
4/6/2012 20:28:34

There will definitely by video, pictures and anything else I can get hold of when I do this!

I have never scuba dived, but you don't need to have done this to go cage diving. If you have got a certificate though, you can go to the ocean floor in a cage and apparently the sharks are more plentiful there, so who knows, I have plenty of time to learn!

As for dolphins, I had an up close experience in Florida many years ago, but I've also seen them on the way to work a few times in the Swan River. I've seen whales in a plane before (on the same Florida trip) and I've seen them from a restaurant here in Perth, but they were a couple of miles away. Looking forward to doing a whale watching trip next spring, as we are on the humpback migration route. Though yesterday we had killer whales coming along the coast here, which is very unusual!

I feel very lucky; an unexpected bonus to moving half way round the world!

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Maxine Smith
4/7/2012 01:19:34

Paul, you are indeed very blessed to be where you are as there are so many beautiful adventures right there on your doorstep. Lucky it is you as I know you will make the most of everything and take your time to explore it all. Do you remember I used to scuba a lot and have been very lucky to have dived in some amazing waters and yes, seen too many sharks for my liking. They just scare the hell out of me so I envy your courage for the shark dive. If you get the chance you really should consider scuba as you will see things you could never imagine and reef diving can be spectacular!

I guess my question to you now is, "with so many beautiful things to discover all within your reach now you live in Australia, will you ever take a holiday outside of Australia? I ask as it will take the rest of your live just to explore a country of that size."

Paul Johnson
4/7/2012 03:57:01

There will certainly be holidays outside of Oz; Hawaii is somewhere we are thinking for a few years hence. I've not even scratched the surface of Western Australia, let alone the rest of the country, which is mind-blowingly huge!

I'll admit to be being a bit wary of diving, as two divers have been killed off our coast in the last few months by Great Whites. Both were very experienced too, so that gives me even more pause! But we'll see!

Paul Johnson
4/7/2012 03:57:06

There will certainly be holidays outside of Oz; Hawaii is somewhere we are thinking for a few years hence. I've not even scratched the surface of Western Australia, let alone the rest of the country, which is mind-blowingly huge!

I'll admit to be being a bit wary of diving, as two divers have been killed off our coast in the last few months by Great Whites. Both were very experienced too, so that gives me even more pause! But we'll see!

Paul Johnson
4/7/2012 03:57:12

There will certainly be holidays outside of Oz; Hawaii is somewhere we are thinking for a few years hence. I've not even scratched the surface of Western Australia, let alone the rest of the country, which is mind-blowingly huge!

I'll admit to be being a bit wary of diving, as two divers have been killed off our coast in the last few months by Great Whites. Both were very experienced too, so that gives me even more pause! But we'll see!

Gail Hall
4/6/2012 10:50:07

I don't have a bucket list however, now that this has been brought this to my attention, I am going to start one. Before I do... Question...? Is this the the literal version of a 'Vision Board'? A couple of years ago I actually bought a cork board with the intentions of starting a Vision Board only to find it still lodged behind the arm chair in my living room. Alas:

I have never had a party thrown in my honour (sad, I know) so, before or for my 50th birthday I will have one. It would be regrettable not to.

My second could most probably to combined with my first point and that is to get married. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always dreamed of getting married and would never have guessed that I would get to my ripe old age without so much as wedding dress shopping. Therefore, a David Beckham lookalike is going on my board and together with an engagement and wedding ring.

I want to look at my bank balance and see at least 6 zeros after any figure higher than one. This would bring me great comfort in knowing that my future would be financially secure.

I also want to grow old with my dearest friends and family so I wish for them to remain in the very best of health.

This is a very provocative exercise and will say that this is not my definitive list. I can't say either that there is and end date to it. There is so much scope. I think the reason why most people will possibly state the age of 50 as their goal is due to their levels of fitness and freedom. Eg. Children would have flown the nest - there would be more disposable income (not that there will be a monetary value attached to every ones dreams in order for them to be realised). Also because, at present, there is not that special someone in my life, it seems to have put many of my ambitions on hold as there are several things that I want to do however, I want to be able to share the experience.


Reply
Maxine Smith
4/7/2012 02:16:07

Hey Gail, yes, vision boarding is when you cut out pictures of things you would love to do or to have, then you paste them onto a board and the final stage is to do them or get them. Years ago I would cut out pictures of things I wanted or when it came to cars, I would buy a model of what I wanted. Remember by M3, I had that model version, then I got my own. Well, I still have my Austin Martin DB5 metalic ice blue but at £200k I am still saving! I done that for years, but more for material things, car's, houses, holidays etc.

From your comments you have already started writing out your 'bucket list', so finish it off, print it off and put it up somewhere at home where you will see it every day so you can leave your house with focus and a spring in your step in the knowledge that each new day will bring you one day nearer to completing things on your bucket list. I can vouch for two things on your list, so they are pretty much half ticked!

It is funny what you say about the list being more applied if there was two of you. For me it is very different. I had a very active bucket list as a single woman and managed to achieve quite a few of them. Since being married I have found my aspiration to complete my list has waned somewhat and it is because in marriage I find myself distracted and also to consider another person it is no longer just about the one person! You have just prompted me to re-address my bucket list and the exercise I will conduct is to do a list individually with my husband and then compare our lists to see what common ground we may have as those will be the ones we do together, but will still have some things to do apart. Thank you for prompting that thought, it will be an interesting exercise. Let me know how you get on with your bucket list.

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    Maxine Smith
    ​I am a family focused practising Christian. I am entrepreneurial by nature with a few business interests, ventures and projects.  Having spent many years in business, international development and third sector communities, I spend as much time as I can catching up with the more creative side of life.   I enjoy spending time reading the scriptures, cooking, gardening and travelling.  I am also a gadget nerd! I love growing my mind and challenging my perceptions.   I keep an open mind and prefer to work with strengths in people and situations.


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