After my sister read my blog the other day she posed a question to me that I really hadn't put much thought into, she asked me if I had a bucket list. I have always thought of the bucket list as in the movie and not exactly a plan to experience things in life. The idea of it is really good and it would give you something to strive for.
I have unrealistic ambitions, and I'm cheap, both of those things will be hindrances on the whole scheme of things when it comes to writing up a bucket list. For instance, the thought of space travel has always intrigued me, traveling through the galaxy and seeing different planets and life forms is wholly unrealistic and will never happen for me in my lifetime. If I wanted to put it into more of a realistic dream then I would say that experiencing weightlessness would be a lot closer to my grasp and it is also something that is feasible and obtainable. I imagine it would also be extremely expensive, and I'm not about to throw my hard earned money away on a thrill.
While the bucket list seems like a good idea, a disturbing thought occurred to me, what happens when you finish your bucket list? Lets say you finish it way earlier than you thought possible, what happens at the end? Do you get to die in peace? Is your reason for living over? Do you make a new bucket list?
With those types of questions in my mind I can't help but ask why even have a bucket list at all? Next week I am off to Arizona with my wife to visit her parents, while we are there we are going to go see the Grand Canyon, and do some sight seeing. I have never really wanted to see the Grand Canyon, but I think it will be an interesting experience none the less.
I'm leaning towards not having a bucket list, and instead, how about just trying new things in general? Doing new things also with a completely neutral attitude, I'm not going into something new with the idea already in my head that I'm going to love it or hate it, I'm going into it to see what happens with an open mind and accept whatever happens, be it good or bad.
Having a bucket list does give you something to strive for, but it also limits you as well, it could prevent you from experiencing something completely foreign and unknown. When you make a path for yourself you rarely want to stray off it.
Scott Goerz
