My perception has changed. Once upon a time, I viewed bucket lists as action items that should require my attention before departing from this world. Travel destinations. The Northern Lights. Sky diving. Swimming with the dolphins. (Now, I’m beginning to sound more like an online dating application – haha!)
The truth of the matter is buckets lists should be taken more seriously. These lists are more than tidbits on any dating app or a title to a movie. So, my question is this: Is your bucket list current and, more importantly, in print?
Pins on a Map
I remember as an adolescent watching Cher portraying Rocky Dennis’ mother in the movie Mask, her courageous and compassionate son marking his desired travel destinations with pins upon a map. Even then, I could relate to his desire to travel the world. A bucket list of his own before the term was wildly popular.
Travel destinations are often associated as bucket list examples. An article I read recently in Forbes titled, “The Best Bucket List Experiences to Plan for 2021-2022“, recommends locations spanning from North America to Europe, Asia, and then to Australia as potential destinations. Of course, our current pandemic possessing much of the control over our desired travel plans.
What if we went beyond travel destinations or overcoming our fears as a finish line for a bucket list? What if we treated this as a practical proposal for how we truly want our lives to play out in 2 years? 5 years? 10 years? Etc.
The Bucket List Guy
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Trav Bell, the Bucket List Guy, on the July 28th episode of the Franze and Friends’ livestream podcast. Before researching and speaking with Trav (who hails from Australia), my perception of the bucket list was far from what he presented on our show. Personally, I had never taken the time to write down the items that have sparked an interest for me. Instead, I’ve chosen to store a few desires in my memory bank that I’d like to see to fruition.
After our interaction though, I reflected on what he had shared – not all inclusive to our podcast either. His 2016 TEDx talk broke down a very personal 12 steps acronym ‘MY BUCKET LIST’ which has also been more recently written into a book: My Bucketlist Blueprint. Without giving too many details away, there were a few that truly stood out to me. They were deep. The Y, K, and the L.
In brief and paraphrased, these letters stand for ‘Your achievements’, ‘Kind acts’, and ‘Leave a legacy’. First, what do you want to achieve? Next, what kind acts (service) can you perform for others? Lastly, what legacy do you want to leave behind when you leave this world? Although I felt all of his points were on-point throughout the TEDx presentation, these three resonated the most (to me) and translated to these concepts. Goals. Service. Relationships.
Live with Intention
By treating a bucket list as a plan both professionally and personally, and then actually communicating these ideas into print, we are making a commitment to ourselves. Regardless if it’s a list written initially on restaurant napkins or typed out and properly formatted, it is the content of the bucket list that truly matters.
According to the article, “The Benefits of a Bucket List” as published by verywellmind.com, creating such a list could prove positive and inspirational while potentially relieving stress. Even if everything on your list is not crossed off in your future, it is the celebration of WHAT IS accomplished that should be the focus.
So, whether it’s a writing out the ‘million dollar business idea’ you’ve had for a while as discussed in the Women On Business article written by Cassandra Rae, “Financial Stability and Entrepreneurship: How Do You Pay Your Rent?” OR typing out how you wish to nurture the relationships in your life, it is encouraged to organize these ideas and to live with intention.
Mindy Jo Rigel
Mindy Jo Rigel, M.B.A. & M.Ed. is a certified life coach, female entrepreneur, and the founder of worryaboutYOUtoday.com. She is also a mother, a middle school teacher with certifications in both special education and English language arts, and an introspective social butterfly. In addition to her passion pursuit of education & M.Ed. from Antioch University Midwest, Mindy Jo has over a decade of leadership experience in corporate management and previously earned her M.B.A. from Franklin University. She encourages others to proactively manage their mental health while becoming the best versions of themselves. Connect with Mindy Jo live every Wednesday at 7pm PT, 10pm ET on the Franze and Friends’ Coach’s Corner podcast via Facebook.
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