Bucket Lists - To do or not to do -
Today, I made a new bucket list. My activity bucket list has resided in my mind for decades, and for some reason, I had not written it down like my other bucket lists. But today, I wrote it down.
Full disclosure, my bucket list is a compilation of several lists that I semi-annually manage using the notes function on my phone. The most extensive list is travel broken out by milestone wedding anniversaries and birthdays, countries to visit, camping trips to explore, and specific cities and wonders of the world to experience - FYI, there are more than 7 wonders of the world. Several shorter lists are epic books to read, movies to watch, and shows to stream. And now, my newest list for activities is documented, and may or may not correspond to the other lists.
In taking this action to write down my activity bucket list, my mind is excitedly thinking about many aspects of why I do this, why do others do it, why don't some people do it, and most importantly, what does it all mean in the end. As my mind was wandering through these questions, I realized there is something to learn and share. So, here I am writing a LinkedIn article - BTW, increased leadership and knowledge sharing on LinkedIn was a bucket list item I crossed off last year and continue to do today :)
Believing and investing in bucket lists varies greatly by person. Certainly there are extreme ends of the spectrum ranging from the longest bucket lists ever with not enough time in life to complete most of it to potentially life-ending activities to those that don't believe in bucket lists at all. While some may believe my compilation of multiple lists and semi-annual management is extreme, it's not. I say this with confidence because my lists do not absorb so much time that I cannot get anything else done in life, nor do they really take much brain power at all. A quick review a couple times a year, adding a new item to a list, or crossing something off does not take much energy or effort, thus not extreme but reasonable.
So, why do I make bucket lists? Well, the first reason is super practical - if I don't write down what I want to accomplish in life, I will forget. Yep, my memory for most things is horrible and writing down thoughts is a coping mechanism to overcome my forgetfulness. It also greatly increases my accountability to accomplish the goal. For this reason, I scrutinize what I put on my lists and not every idea finds it home on a bucket list. Not surprisingly, though, I have other lists for random ideas. And last but not least, I have always been a believer in bucket lists because I consider myself not just a life-long learner, but a life-long reinventor. I love to do, see, and experience new things. Overall, my investment in bucket lists are a means to achieve life enrichment through goal setting.
Other folks invest in bucket lists for many reasons. I gathered a short list of top reasons to create bucket lists using ChatGPT, and find that many are aspects I find fulfilling or integrated in ideas on my bucket lists, as well:
Facing fears and overcoming challenges
Creating memories and legacy
Bonding and connection
Escape from the day-to-day
Personal reflection and self-discovery
On the other hand, there are people that do not believe in bucket lists and maybe even do not believe in making lists at all. I can easily understand not all people are "list-making" people and that is appreciated. To get a better understanding of other reasons people might not invest in bucket lists, I gathered more information using ChatGPT:
Fear of failure or commitment
Preference for spontaneity
Feeling overwhelmed
Limited resources
Focus on the present
Wow, gathering and reflecting on this information was enlightening! Even though I invest in bucket lists, I recognize each of these reasons others do not create bucket lists are aspects reflected in my own bucket lists. For example, limited resources is a factor for most people to complete a bucket list, ensuring a balanced focus on the present and future is very important, and spontaneity cannot be muted. Furthermore, being truly honest with myself, the main reason I had not written down my activity bucket list until today is fear of failure. After some reflection, what gave me the confidence to write my activity bucket list today is realizing I will accomplish the hardest ranked physical challenge on my activity bucket list in coming months - doing a pull up. As a point of reference, other items on my activity bucket list that I ranked easier than doing a pull up are running a marathon (26.2 miles), hiking the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim (20+ miles), and walking the Camino de Santiago (35-day hike). Being a runner my entire life, the other activities ranked easier than a physical activity only a very small percentage of females have done in a lifetime and its a specific activity that might induce migraines leading me to bailing on the bucket list item. Whew, my mind is blown that fear of failure is the reason this list only existed in my head!
In the end, what does this all mean? There are great reasons for making bucket lists to achieve life enrichment, overcome fears, or any of the other reasons goal setting helps provide a sense of accomplishment and self-discovery. At the same time, reasons not to make bucket lists can be appreciated with great hope those individuals find life enrichment and accomplishments in other ways. However, what surprised me most in this exploration is not the why or why not behind making bucket lists, but rather, the reasons holding us back including fear of failure and feeling overwhelmed. While I had not stopped taking action on the activity bucket list, fear of failure certainly drove me to keep my activity bucket list top secret. That ends today.
Expect to see more about my activity bucket list accomplishments and lessons learned in coming weeks.