Wendy Deacon
DestinationU Video Podcast The 1 Reason Your Bucket List is Lame
I don't know about you but I love the movie with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicolson titled The Bucket List. The term you're familiar with I'm sure. A list of activities, experiences or destinations you want to try or visit yourself before you kick the bucket. It's a great concept but unfortunately it's not resonating with enough of us early enough. Maybe you think it's something to do when you retire, which could be 15-25 years away - feels like a lifetime.
Maybe you have different priorities right now - and please note here that I did not say these priorities are wrong, just different - in that either you need to really focus on your career or work for better overall financial health, you're still raising your kids or have other health or family issues to manage.
What I do know is that we may NOT have a lifetime. We are not even certain if we even have 10 years or tomorrow. We never know what's going to happen when so why create a bucket list for something you'll do some time in the future?
join me as I share my thoughts today on why you shouldn't wait any longer and why even creating your bucket list is totally lame.
A bucket list sounds cool but yet many of us don't have one. Or worse - create one only when our time is limited. Like when we have a significant life event that shakes us to our core. And sometimes we create one too late to do anything about it or worst of all, we never get to create one. We instead choose to focus solely on our work and veg out in front of the television or social media until we eventually fade away.
When you think of a bucket list, you may immediately imagine people bungee jumping, riding a camel in the desert or visiting a beautiful exotic location like Tahiti.
You may be too busy to think about it and I talk about that on a previous episode of the importance of unbusying your life and making sure you prioritize and follow through with what is really important to you.
You may feel it's too big of a concept - that it's ginormous and you can't even begin to deal with this now. A friend shared that thought with me and it was unexpected. I didn't even think of that possibility.
For these reasons and possibly a few more I haven't thought of, I think your creating a bucket list, if done right, is not only not needed, but it's lame.
I'm sharing today, now, that especially if you're over 40 or 45, that you should abandon the idea of a bucket list and instead start figuring out a way to weave in new adventures, new experiences and new travel destinations NOW. Into your every day, every week or every month. To NOT wait until you get done with all of your current fires or 100% of your responsibilities.
There will always be responsibilities tugging on you and your time. Mini fires to keep putting out. Especially at this point in our lives, in our 40,50 & 60s.
So I'm here to share why I think you need to ditch the bucket list. Why you need to reframe your perspective and reprioritize what you can in your life to make way for more fun NOW.
There is so much joy to be had on a daily basis and so many places to really fill your bucket now; to make life more fulfilling. I truly believe our getting out more, our trying something new and our going after our fun is one of the best anti-aging and stress management tools available.
Any time you try something new - take a pottery class, start learning a new language, try hiking for the first time, you are intentionally living curiously, removing judgment and focusing on the fun, while also improving your overall health.
It's not expensive to take a few hours to catch up with friends as you walk along a beach, hiking trail, or local park. It's not expensive to hop in the car and drive 90 minutes to spend time at a favorite museum. It's not expensive to take a yoga class at the regional arboretum or public gardens or to try a painting class at your local rec center.
Now these may not rise to the definition of bucket list in your mind but if you weave more fun into your everyday living, you may not need the traditionally defined bucket list. Your life can be filling up right now with these types of soul-enriching activities and experiences and I believe trying new things and going on your own adventures will help you feel better and become your fountain of youth.
I am thrilled to share that this podcast is brought to you by our Inspiring Your Next VIP Community - a private community of amazing women leaders over 40 who are prioritizing and committing to live our lives with more inspiration, more creative and active adventures and way more fun. The community only opens up for new members a few times each year and an opportunity is coming up very soon with the 5 Day Challenge to Kick Start Your Next Adventure. Check it out at www.inspiringyournext.com
