That Bucket List

We know. Each of us has a “Best Use By…” clock ticking away.

We are all familiar with the term bucket list, maybe because of that J¬ack Nicholson movie, or perhaps you have written one of your own.

Sometimes, despite a carefully executed plan to achieve our goals and meticulously listing the steps to realize them, things do not always go the way we intended. Goals come with expectations; falling short often leads to disappointment and discontent.

Instead, some of the best things in life happen entirely by chance. The unplanned detour only to discover the most splendid scenery, the fantastic meal you had in an eatery you chanced upon, or a winning scratch card you bought unexpectedly to get rid of some change. Or that story shared by some random stranger that impacted you in more ways than you would realized.

These are often the more memorable moments that we reminisce about years later. The places, things, events, and people who made our day exceptional because they were unexpected and unplanned.

A bucket list should not be a simple box-checking exercise but a journey. Perhaps, our list should be a reminder to do things differently, to try new experiences, and to approach life as an adventure. With this fleeting time on earth, may it be a reminder that we have lived our best and made a positive difference to someone else’s life.

Go with the flow, enjoy the ride, and embrace whatever comes your way in life. In the movie “The Bucket List,” the most memorable story was not about the Wish List but, the 2 questions asked by the actor (Morgan Freemen):

1) Have you found joy in your life?
2) Have your life brought joy to others?


Seek your own answers.