1000 Things to do Before you DIE

 

“Dead people receive more flowers than the living ones because regret is stronger than Gratitude.” – Anne Frank

Planning a vacation, googling all the things that ‘just have to be done’ leads down the inevitable google rabbit hole.  What started out as the top ten best things to do, turns into 1000 things to do before you die.  

What is it you want to do before you die?  What is it that makes you feel that you are in your best life?  When you’re on your death bed and your life flashes before you, will you wish you had done something?  Will you have regret?  Will you wish for something different?  Or will you smile?

In my search for the top ten, I found a bucket list of 1000 things from a guy in Australia.  So, for fun, I downloaded the list and started checking things off.  There were of course items for a young guy (kissing a girl on every continent), and things that you have to live in Australia to even know about.  Even with these things, I was surprised to discover I had done over 450 things on the list.  Very impressive for someone else’s list.

But what would be on my list?  What is it we all really want to do?  If asked right now ‘what is it you want to do before you die’, would you have an answer?  Could you come up with just 10, 5 100?  Or would you just shrug and come up blank?

There are the simple/expected things, graduate college, sing in a choir, drink a $100 bottle of wine, circumnavigate the world, and have tea with grandma.  There are the exotic things, see Paris, go to London, sit on a beach in Acapulco.  Is the list never-ending, too short, or impossible to make?  We have become complacent on our couches.  Sometimes there is only enough energy to make it to bedtime.

What do you want to do before you die?  IDK, I just want a shower and nap.

Using this unknown Australian as a guide, I started making my own list.  Items range from kissing in the rain to skiing the Alps, Octoberfest in Germany, to buying my first house.  Yes, these are things already completed.  As I think more, I come up with things both to do and things that are already done.  Some of the things I have never heard of.  Some sound like fun, but I am not sure I really want to do them.  Some lead to more discoveries.

Run with Bulls in Spain, watch the cow chip chipping contest.  Start a blog, and climb the Eiffel Tower.  Do a keg stand, picnic in the Roman Colosseum, and take the bourbon trail through Kentucky.

If it were possible, what would the list of 5 years ago, 10 years ago, the list you made as a kid look like?  How does it change with age, experience, and circumstance?  How much does the situation, motivation, desire, adventure, and who you are, play a part?  Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone?

Are you willing to put in the work to make the list?  Or is it better not to?  Are you still waiting for someday?  Waiting for the perfect time, but there is always something else?  Waiting, excuses, ya buts, not now, the may-be next year.  The perfect time doesn’t happen and next year never comes.

Make the list.  Make the plans.  Make it happen.  May your list never end.