If there is anything I love, it is crossing items off of a list. Now, to be honest, this may not be the number one love in my life, but it definitely ranks right on up there with some of my favorite things. It really doesn’t matter what kind of list it might be. Packing lists, to-do lists, invite lists – despite the content, I take special pleasure in knowing that I can cross off one more item. I was the kind of child that, when packing for vacation, would write outfit 1, outfit 2, etc., so that I could “complete” things more frequently. More recently, it translates into my teaching. My to-do lists don’t have items such as “grade tests,” but instead “grade period one, grade period two…” It is somehow more satisfying this way.
Potentially sprouting from my love of lists, I have always been interested in the idea of a Bucket List. Mine tends to morph and grow depending on my current location and fascination, and has been rewritten many times in many places, but there are some things that have lasted throughout.
The most complete list I have is as follows:
- visit all 7 continents
- see Mount Rushmore
- scuba dive the great barrier reef
ride an elephantvisit Chichen Itzalearn to water ski- visit all 50 states
- celebrate El Día De Los Muertos in Mexico
own a motorcycleclimb the statue of liberty- be in attendance at the Olympics
- partake in the largest watergun fight in the world (Thailand)
graduate from college- earn a Masters degree
- earn a PhD
learn sign language- run with the bulls in Pamplona
take dance lessons- run a 10K
Go to the LouvreGo to London- spend New Years Eve in Times Square
see the Sagrada Familia in Barcelonaclimb the stairs of the Eiffel Tower- experience the northern lights
skydivesee the Mona Lisaattend a show on Broadwaytour St. Peter’s basilicaswim with sharkslive in a foreign country for at least a year- take part in Spain’s La Tomatina
experience the grand canyon- go to Stonehenge, England
- visit the Sydney Opera House
- hike Machu Picchu
go white water rafting- visit the acropolis in Greece
find a job I love- hike the Amazon rainforest
- memorize a book of the Bible
- walk the great wall of China
- learn the 5 Romanic languages
tour the colosseum- learn to surf
- go to the Holy Lands
- visit Victoria Falls
- attend an opera
- bike across the USA
see the White Housetake a canopy tourbungee jumpbackpack Europe- see the Egyptian pyramids
cliff jump
Life tends to run away, dragging me with it. In keeping up with the ordinary, it is easy to push the extraordinary out of the way. My goal in having this bucket list is to seek out the extraordinary, to pursue those events that will make the incredible memories, the things that color life with big, bold strokes.
I encourage you to start your own bucket list! When you think of things that you want to do, don’t just wish that it would happen, but write it down and work toward making it happen! If any of my goals interest you, jot them down on your own list. And, sharing in the other direction, do you have any suggestions for me, things that I should make sure to add to my bucket list?
Just Go. 
I love, love, love your adventurous spirit and desire to live life big! This will fall under your Holy Lands Trip, but be sure to swim in the Dead Sea as well as go in the tunnels at thr Temple Mount. Both are amazing!!!
Thank you, Lisa! Those sounds like awesome experiences, I’ll make sure I do both! 🙂
Your bucket list (and love of lists!) sounds quite similar to mine! I would suggest going for a hot air balloon ride, hiking Pictured Rocks National lake front, and visiting the Globe Theater! (:
Thanks! Those sound like good additions.. I’ve always wanted to go up in a hot air balloon 🙂