Don’t Copy From Others—Make Your Own Bucket List

Bucket lists.

They are somewhat of a thing.

A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket.

Many people have them… on a crumpled piece of paper in their wallet, taped on their mirror or posted on their blog. The lists range from seeing the ocean to programing a game to skydiving to going to Yemen (hey, I’m sure it’s on someone’s list)

I think bucket lists can be cool, but I also think sometimes the true point of them is missed.

Bucket lists can help us think through what we want to do in life… hard things, easy things, serious things and funny things. Things for ourself and things to help others. So these lists can be beneficial to help focus, plan and achieve.

But the point of them is missed when people have items on their list just so they can tell others they did them, rather than doing things simply for the experience of doing them.

While I have a bucket list floating around in my head, I don’t have a written list. But one of these days, I plan to write one. And I encourage you to do that same… whether you write it down or not, at least think through some things you would like to experience before you die.

As David McCullough Jr, a High English Teacher said in a recent commencement speech…

Climb the mountain, not to plant your flag,
but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view.
Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you. 

Who are you? How are you wired? What interests you? What country have you always wanted to travel to? A meaningful life is about experiences that mean something to you. So while you can get ideas from other people and their lists, make your own list.

Then do what you can to take steps toward checking things off your list. More wise words from David McCullough Jr.

The fulfilling life, the distinctive life,
the relevant life is an achievement, not something
that falls into your life because you are a nice person.

Get busy. Have at it.
Don’t wait for inspiration or passion to find you.
Get up. Get out. Explore.
Find it yourself. Grab hold with both hands. 

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If you are liking the words of David McCullough Jr, take a few minutes to listen to his excellent commencement speech and then start thinking about and/or writing your own bucket list.

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What advice of his stood out to you?
And what is one thing on your bucket list that probably won’t be on anyone else’s list?

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