Bucket List

I’ve watched several movies since my last review, but none of them intrigued me enough to write an article about them. However, as the article title implies, The Bucket List gave me something worthwhile to write about. As always, I will not give any spoilers or ruin the film experience for anyone who may not have seen the movie. What I want to talk about revolves around the basic premise of the movie which is readily shown during previews and movie reviews. So, just to be clear, the Bucket List we are talking about is a list of things we would like to do or accomplish before “kicking the bucket.” This list can be anything as it is a very personal journey towards self fulfillment. Do you have a bucket list? Have you ever thought about things that you would like to achieve before you pass from this earth? Depending upon your distance from the finish line, this list could be something trivial to something as important as waking up the next day. However, the time we have on earth is often taken for granted, but is fleeting, so it doesn’t matter what age you are when determining how important your bucket list is.

I can honestly say I have never sat down and written down my bucket list. I’m pretty sure the majority of us fall into this category. It can be saddening to think about the remaining time we have on earth and become a depressing process. However, that is completely opposite of what the process is trying to produce. The creation of a bucket list is a process to bring into focus the necessity to do now, not later. We are never guaranteed another breath. Our next hour may be our last, our next week may never exist, or our next 10 years may just be a wish never spoken. How many of us are living for today and not tomorrow? Are we doing what we can to accomplish the goals on our bucket list or are we waiting? What are we waiting for, more time? We all know that’s not going to happen. I put myself in the category of waiting. I rationalize that at some point in the future, I’ll have the time, money, and energy to accomplish all the things I wanted to do through my life. Sometime, I’ll be able to do it.

That sometime however may never come. For the majority of us, I would say that sometime never comes. We proceed through our lives, waiting for the right time to begin living. Are we actually living or simply existing? I know I’ve said this before in a past article, but it is a very serious question. How important do you view the next few hours of your life? Is it time that you just have to get through or is it time that you can utilize to make the world around you a better place? While the bucket list for you may include many things that are self serving and downright selfish, other portions of the bucket list could actually be items that serve the greater good. Initially, each of our bucket lists will be filled with things WE want to do or accomplish. But that only goes so far. Over time, the lists will be filled with items that help others, serve the community, or create joy for others. There was a simple portion of the movie dedicated to this proposition. Two questions are asked: “Have you experienced joy in your life?” and “Did your life bring joy to others?” We all initially aspire to bring joy to our lives. Joy makes us happy and our bucket list will be filled with items to satisfy that need.

However, question number two is very important also. As you read this, has your life up until this point brought joy to others? If not, then your bucket list needs to change. With or without a written bucket list, we are all living one. The items on it may not be something as great as visiting Egypt and seeing the precious ancient history there, but they may be something as small as saving your money to buy the latest television you want. If you review your current bucket list, is it really making you happy? Or, is it actually taking away the time you have on earth away from the more important things in your life? Saving money for the latest gadget or item that makes you personally happy may be better spent purchasing something for your family. Sure, it may not satisfy that “me first” mentality, but in the end, the joy you bring to your family will live longer than any product can ever hope to deliver. I’ll also admit that my bucket list needs to change. I have far too many items that only serve me. Sure, they make me feel good when accomplished, but for how long?

How long do we feel good when we accomplish something self serving? Not long. It’s the equivalent of a sugar rush. We reach the pinnacle of achievement and we immediately turn to what’s next. Where is the next step, what else can we do, or what challenge can we focus upon now? Self serving bucket lists are one of the major issues we face as we live our lives. Can we turn this around and start creating lists that focus more on bringing joy to others? Sure we can. Do we want to? The simple answer is yes of course, but which direction is society headed? We are more and more self serving and individualistic. Society says no, we do not want to bring joy to others. Joy is our own. We make our own joy and deserve it. In turn, our bucket lists are about satisfying our own personal needs and wants. If everyone’s lists only focus upon themselves, how can you ever answer question number two with an emphatic yes? We can’t.

The two questions are really one question. It boils down to question two. If you bring joy to others with your life, your life will in turn be joyful. It’s that easy. It IS that simple. Focus your bucket list on bringing joy to others through your life. Not only will you fill your life with abundant joy, but you will never be left wondering “where did all the time go?” Live life with joy and bring joy to others and you will never be left with any regrets that most bucket lists are filled with at the end of our journeys. Never again wait, focus upon living now. Don’t wait for the next time, make that time now. Start living and stop existing. I’ll wad up and throw away my selfish bucket list and I challenge you to do so also. Joy through living and helping others, that’s the true bucket list.