How to build a KICK ASS Bucket List.
True Fact: Helping your loved one battle cancer, is an incredible honor. It’s also completely overwhelming! You can grab the FREE resource that my family used to help us find enough HOPE and PERSPECTIVE to get through the storm here…
A true bucket list is so much more than a few activities tossed onto a list… Here’s how to do it right!
When the cancer bomb explodes into the life of your loved one, your world explodes too. It makes you start to look at life a little bit differently. I never used to worry about time, I used to think that there would be plenty of time for all of the things I wanted to do… later.
That word…later is dangerous. We put things off until later because we think we have nothing but time. And then suddenly without warning, your time runs out. “Later” should be removed from our vocabulary.
My husband says I am a dreamer. I think my feet are planted firmly on the ground. But… I am not afraid to shoot for big. I mean really big.
Even before cancer exploded onto my family, I was the queen of bucket lists. I have tons of books and binders full of everything I want to do before I die.
14 Months ago, my dad was diagnosed with Small Cell Lung Cancer. Although he stopped smoking 10 years ago, it would appear the damage was already done. Even though, I have quit smoking 15 years earlier than he did (you can read more about how I quit here …) It’s totally possible that in 25 years I’ll be starting this same journey again, only this time, I’ll be playing a much different role.
Since I can’t control my future or my fate… I have decided to take control of my mortality and I am planning to get cancer at 65. You heard that right, I am planning to get cancer.
I realize that sounds strange, but that gives me 25 years to make sure everything I want in this life is accomplished by that time. (While I am totally hoping to get (WAY) more time than that- this is my way of making sure I have a solid plan to do the things I want to do so I don’t have any regrets when my time is up.
See a bucket list is not just a few cool places you want to see, a true bucket list should include everything that you want…to do, to see, to have, to try, to experience before this life comes to an end.
Your bucket list should include…
- Experiences
- Destinations
- Possessions
- Goals
- Dreams
- Cuisine
Anything and everything, that you want before this life comes to an end should be included in this list.
So, how do you make a bucket list that kick’s ass?
Figure out what you want…
If you’re going to plan for the future, you have to figure out what you want.
What do you want your life to look like? Dig deep and figure out the non-negotiables. It’s impossible to set any kind of goals until you figure out what you really want.
Most people have no idea what they really want.
And, once you figure that out, you need to write it all down… you will be floored by how powerful that exercise is.
Suddenly you will have a clear picture of what you want your life to look like, so you can figure out how you can make it happen.
Start by asking yourself what do you want your life to look like? What would the following areas look like?
- Career
- Personal Relationships
- Family
- Finances
- Travel
- Fitness
- Home
- Spiritual
- Personal Growth
Start a book…
You’ve now determined what you want,
Since I have a few different bucket lists (I’ve been creating them since I was a kid…) I have binders, scrapbooks, and notebooks that each have elements of my bucket lists.
Use whatever works for you.
Note: a binder will allow you to add organized sections to keep everything straight.
Organize the content…
Have separate sections, so you can find things. Organize things according to headings that make sense to you.
Currently, I have books for travel and destinations, culinary and cuisine, dream home, home improvement, dreams and life plans.
You can make a book for anything.
Use whatever method works for you…
- Do you prefer checklists that you can check off as you complete things?
- If you’re visual and that’s what inspires you, use pictures so that you can see what you’re working towards.
- Or, are you a scrapbooker at heart and love designing pages?
Yup, I have a few of those too.
Can’t stick with just one, use a combination.
Creating a bucket list is so much more than a few items thrown together. Everything that you want to do, should be added to this book. You can do it all at once, over the course of a few days or a little at a time.
Need ideas to get started?
Search “Bucket List” on Google and they will give you several starting points. Then start building your list.
Related Post:
How to live like you’re dying.
The Power of a Bucket List
5 Reasons a Bucket List Will Help You Keep Fighting
Build a Bucket List Challenge
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