Lessons Learned From A Bucket List

Do you have a wish list of things you want to do in your lifetime? Some might call this list a bucket list, courtesy of the popular 2007 comedy-drama movie “The Bucket List”. I created a list of things I want to do in my lifetime before I actually knew the term bucket list even existed. In fact, I have two lists, one is called my “travel wish list” and the other is “things I want to do list”. But they are both basically a bucket list only the travel wish list has an “accomplish by” date.

I have been encouraged by several friends to share this idea and what I have learned as it might inspire or help someone else. I created both lists in my early twenties before I was married and had kids. While I realize not everyone likes to travel, I have learned the most thus far from trying to complete my travel wish list, so I am going to focus on that one and share with you my lessons learned.

As you might guess by the title, “travel wish list”, it contains all the places I want to visit, at least as of my early twenties. Over the years I have added a few new places to the list but not many. The goal was to complete the list by the age of 50, which at the time seemed pretty far away. Now that I am in my 40′s, age 50 doesn’t seem too far away. With that said, over the last couple of years I have become much more strategic in my travels in hopes to check a city off of my list as often as possible.

I included about 26 places on my list. The plan was to complete the cities in the United States and the Caribbean by the time I was 50 and leave the international travel with no “accomplish by” date. Here are some of my lessons learned from my travel wish list:

1. Writing your goals down helps to keep you focused. Having places I want to visit written down has made it easier when I am planning a vacation. The same is true for any bucket list. If you have it written down it makes it easier for you to know exactly what you want to accomplish so when you have the time you already know what you want to do. It is a big time saver.

2. Setting your intention is key. My intention when I created my travel wish list was to complete it by age 50. When we set an intention it prepares us and we are more likely to work towards the intention that was set even when we come across obstacles. I am happy to report that my intention of completing this list by age 50 looks pretty good.

3. Look at your list. This is a critical piece. If you write your bucket list and never look at it then you might forget what is on it which will lead you to not accomplishing it. In fact, if I would have looked at my list a little more frequently I believe I would have checked off a few more places sooner.

4. Have gratitude for what you have accomplished. I am very grateful for checking off so many of the places on my travel wish list and I am grateful for all the places that I have been in addition to my list. Have gratitude for yourself on things you accomplish, you probably do for other people, so why not for yourself.

5. Know that it is okay to add to your list. The list is not set in stone. There might be times you want to add something to your list so go for it. I added a few places over the years and I already have several new places that I want to add to a new travel wish list once this one is completed. We are always learning and growing and when you get excited about something new that you might want to try that feeds your spirit, so add it if you want.

6. Be flexible not rigid. I realized that the list I created in my twenties might not really be where I want to go now that I am in my forties. Because I have had the opportunity to travel to many places that were not on my list, I have realized some of those “not on the list” places have fulfilled me in one way or another and the need to see a few cities that were originally on my list is not there any longer. Here is an example- I had plans this summer to check off Connecticut. When I went to plan the trip I could not figure out where in Connecticut I wanted to go. I looked at maps and, I Googled places but I was coming up empty. The only thing I could come up with was Mystic, Connecticut and that was because I remembered an 80′s movie called Mystic Pizza that was filmed in Mystic, Connecticut. I decided, with the help of a friend, that it was okay to take Connecticut off my list. I had been to Boston and Rhode Island and visited a few cities in both and felt that might be part of why I was having difficulty figuring out where to go in Connecticut. I am sure Connecticut is also beautiful but at this point in my life I decided to take it off the list. It is important to allow yourself to be flexible. If it doesn’t feel right anymore then remove it from your bucket list and know that it is okay because it is your list. You haven’t failed you might of just changed a little.

7. Honor who you were and who you are now. This is a big one because all of our experiences in life make us who we are today. I can look at my travel wish list and remember why I put some cities on there and enjoy those memories of why that particular city made the list. In addition, if I truly feel like it is not a place I need to visit at this point in my life I will honor that too. So honor whom you were when you created your bucket list and who you are as you move through the journey of checking items off your list.

8. It is fun to have a bucket list. I cannot tell you how many fun conversations I have had over the years regarding my travel wish list. Most friends know that I have a love for travel but when I share about my travel wish list they always enjoy hearing more about it. It is a great way to share more about you to others by sharing your bucket list because it is not often we get a chance to share our dreams in today’s busy world.

If you have a bucket list share it with your friends and family as it makes great conversation. They will probably learn something new about you. If you don’t have a bucket list then consider creating one. Be creative and don’t put limits on yourself. Enjoy the journey of creating, accomplishing and checking off the things on your bucket list.

Carrie Saba, Holistic Health Coach, helps others see themselves in a new light and recognize their inner strength. She is a lifestyle change expert and her clients are energized by her insightful, upbeat coaching style. She is great at zeroing in on where their passions lie and has very clear and targeted advice and always has their best interest at heart.

She offers valuable insight & lifestyle tips with her free monthly ezine, W

Places to Visit Before You Die – The Ultimate Travel Bucket List

Like Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman did in the popular movie “The Bucket List,” many people take the time to think about the things that they would most like to see and do before they, well, “kick the bucket.” Unlike the characters in the movie, there is no need to wait until a health crisis strikes to start planning your dream travel list.

While a lot of the specifics will vary depending on the person, here are a few suggestions to get you started:

*The Pyramids of Egypt: I’m pretty sure this one makes a lot of people’s lists, for both their historical value and the fact that most of us just think they would be pretty cool to look at.

*Berlin Wall: While most of the wall is now gone, this is still a major tourist draw since the significance of its construction and, later, its fall had a major impact on the eventual reunification of Germany.

*Great Wall of China: Travelers flock to China to see the stone and earth-composed wall that stretches about 4,000 miles across and took centuries to build.

*Ayres Rock in Australia (Uluru): This spectacular rock formation stands at 1142 feet high and has a circumference of 5.8 miles. Visitors report that at any given time of day and in different weather conditions, the rocks appear to change color – from a glowing red at sunset to a silvery-grey during rainfall.

*Sears Tower: This towering skyscraper is the tallest in the United States and the Sears Tower Skydeck is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Chicago.

*Statue of Liberty: Long representing freedom and friendship, this world-famous structure remains an important symbol to the United States and the world.

These are only a few of the many places you should consider visiting in your lifetime. Reserve123 has many more suggestions whether you are looking to take a trip in the near future or if you are still brainstorming for sometime down the line.

Jamie Siegel is a travel writer originally from upstate New York. She currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia and is passionate about all things related to music, pop culture, and, of course, travel.

Completing a Bucket List for the Entertainment of Others

These kinds of shows are all over TV now, but there are very few that can compare, at least in my mind, to those done by Michael Palin. If you are not sure of the name, it may well be because he is best known for his part in the Monty Python comedy team. Palin may be a legendary name in comedy circles, but he approaches his travels with an everyman type mentality that is very endearing. He started off his tours with a show called “Around The World In 80 Days” where he tried to take the same route as the character in the book of the same name, without the aid of flight. The concept was magnificent, but rather than delivering a shoe that felt rushed, which you might expect, Mr. Palin took time on his travels to show the sights that many of us can only dream of ever seeing.

During his travels, Michael Palin often speaks of how the places he is visiting are those that he has always dreamt of going to. In short, he is getting to live out his travel bucket list, while the rest of us get, in some small way, to come along for the ride. With so many viewers entranced by the pictures that Palin painted, it was only a matter of time before he was asked to do a little more travelling. His next trip was “Pole to Pole” which took him to the opposite ends of the Earth in the space of a few short weeks. Sure, they may be cold, but the Poles are very much on the bucket lists of many people that want to travel.

I’m not sure how Palin and the producers of the shows came up with the destinations, but you have to imagine that there was some level of input from the viewing public. If you ask people who do have a bucket list complied where they would like to travel to, you can almost bet that the places they mention are found in one of these shows. Further shows saw Michael Palin travel through Europe, cross the Sahara Desert, and explore the world that lies at the base of the Himalayas. Palin is not a young man and the toll that these journeys take on him is clearly visible by the time he reaches the end. There are no 5-star hotel stays on these trips, with much of his time spent slumming in all manner of roach motels, but it all adds to the realism and I think he knows it.

The viewers of these shows likely wouldn’t be so enamored with the journey if he spent his downtime living in luxury, simply because the vast majority of us wouldn’t be able to do so if we were given the opportunity to travel there. Making your bucket list happen sometimes means cutting corners and saving on a little bit of luxury, which I believe explains why the Michael Palin shows are such a huge hit. If you haven’t seen any of them yet, you really should try to do so. You might even be able to feel as though you can scratch some places off your bucket list, so vivid is the experience.

by Morgan K. Taylor

How To Fulfill Your Wishes With A Travel Bucket List

Are you a travel enthusiast? Do you earn so that you can travel around the world?

If you are saying yes to all these questions, then you must have a travel bucket list too. A travel bucket list is one where you jot down everything you want to do, from visiting the one country to another one.

However, sometimes, fulfilling your list may not be so easy as you also have to manage your job and other day to day things along with it. So, here are some ways in which you can tick off all the things on your list.

Prioritize Your Bucket List

There may be a lot of things on your list but you have to put the ones that are most likely to get fulfilled first. Think about which places you would like to visit first or the things that you would like to do. Then find out how much time you can afford to spend on your holidays. All these things will help you narrow down your list. Once you have done that, use the next filter to further narrow it down.

Prepare a Budget

Your budget will influence your bucket list a lot. So, sort this out first thing after you have prioritized the places you would like to visit. Also, make sure that your budget includes everything from travelling to accommodation and also factors any other additional expenses. This way, you will be able to come at a more practical.

Find Travel Partners

Travelling solo is fun but exploring new places with your friends or like-minded people can be even more fun. So, find out people who would like to join you in your adventure. Once you have found your travel partners, start the booking process. For instance, if you are looking for flights, you might want to start early. Remember that if you are going to a place that usually experiences a huge tourist footfall, then you will need to start booking your tickets and hotels well in advance.

Pack in All the Necessary Things

Once you have booked your itinerary, it’s time to pack in all the stuff that you will be need on your vacation. For instance, if you are going to a beach locale, you might want to pack in beach wear, sunscreen lotion, hats, and sunglasses. Discuss this list out with your travel partners so that some of the big or expensive things can be shared between the group.

These are some of the ways in which you can make your bucket list wishes come true.

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