While the circumstances of the characters in this film make this particular Bucket List experience a tad bit different than my own, I think that the point remains the same: it's never too late to fill your life with meaningful moments and ambitions.
As a social media user in my twenty-somethings, it's all too frequent that I see articles from know-it-all wannabees stating that marriage, and even childbirth, are the end of what used to be an exciting, free-spirited soul who could take on the world and see it all. Too late for that, married 23 year old mommy-to-be. You're over the hill and will never be able to feel personal fulfillment on an individual level again. Shame on you for deciding to devote your life to your husband and children at an age where it is more socially acceptable to get black-out drunk and have a one night stand. Now that's living.
If you can't tell by my jestful sarcasm, I don't agree with this notion, and I personally feel that fulfillment in life is a personal decision, and comes in a variety of ways. I don't think- kids or no kids, spouse or no spouse- it is ever too late to follow your dreams and ambitions. As soon as we start to associate age and family decisions with the inability to be individually happy, we have sentenced ourself to more of a "Countdown to when my Life is no Longer About Me" than a real, meaningful life, and of course no one will feel enriched with an attitude like that.
I digress. For a little over a decade, now, I have been developing my own Bucket List, and while it's not yet complete, I sort of feel the need to dictate it in a more tangible form, so that I don't start to forget it. Some of the items on it have already been completed, and some will be completed sooner than others, but for one reason or another I have felt the need to do he following things in my life:
My Bucket List:
- Participate in a flash mob
- I was pretty close to actually doing this, but I don't count it as a "real" flashmob. I want to participate in a dance flashmob, and I'd love for it to be in a place where no one knows me.
- See Aurora Borealis up close
- This is so stunning and mystifying to me that I feel like I just have to see it up close. Some day I'd like to travel far enough North at the right time to make this happen.
- Go salsa dancing in a club in Latin America
- I LOVE Latin American music and salsa dancing. I feel like I can tag team this one with my foreign country item below
- Pick up a stranger who really looks like they could use a ride
- This sounds scary, but this falls under super specific circumstances. Sometimes where I live the weather gets soooo crappy and I see people walking to either work/school/their homes and I feel for them. One day, I'm going to pull over and offer a ride to one of them who doesn't look like they will kill me and wear my face for a mask.
Kiss someone in the perfect snowfall- Winter of 2010, I think, in Armory square. Done.
- Learn how to do a back-handspring
- I feel like I'm closer than I think I am, I'm just scared. I should also do this before I get too old and break something.
- Travel to a foreign country and try to communicate in the native language
- This can tag team with salsa dancing, if I play my cards right (pun intended, as you look further down the list)
- Learn how to tap dance
- This will happen. I already know some basics but it will happen.
- Take a ballroom dancing class
- I don't mean like a geriatric learn the basic step ball change move over and over. I mean like a hard core Dancing With the Stars type routine. Sign me up.
- Scuba Dive
- Freshwater first, please. Then maybe we can evolve to ocean waters.
Surprise someone by spontaneously breaking into song in a public place- This was in Utica in 2011, I think. Didn't quite go as planned, but for that reason it was arguably more memorable.
- Communicate solely by singing for 24 hours
- I almost did this last year to prep for the musical I was directing. Perhaps this year it will be a go.
Take my mother on a vacation- No one deserves one more than her. We went to Boston in 2010, I think, and I took her to Italy in 2012
Play Quidditch- Most epic Bachelorette party EVER.
- Learn how to do a split
- Came close. Pulled a hamstring. Will resume at a later date.
Meet a celebrity- In Kentucky last year, Matthew Morrison. I talked to him, and I didn't even creep him out. Boom.
- Play at a poker table in Vegas
- Coming to you February of 2015…so excited!
- Compete in the World Series of Poker
- Coming to you probably never, unless I win the lottery, but a girl can dream.
Travel to Ireland- In the Summer of 2008, and only for a day, but it was Ireland nonetheless!
Help an animal in need- Catnapped a cat outside of my apartment who was stranded and lonely and gave him to my mother-in-law to initially seek her advice, but it ended up being permanent. He couldn't be a happier cat nor could he have a better owner!
- Write a book
- One of my students actually solidified this goal for me recently, although I have mentally dabbled with this goal since I was in 9th grade. Someday, when the time is right, this shall be done.
- Perform in an opera
- Despite having gone to a school with ample opportunity for this to have happened, I shied away from all opportunities for personal reasons. I think I'm ready now, though, and hope to audition for one soon!
Attaining your goals requires sacrifice, time management, preparation to get them started, and ambition to see them through. Even the most ambitious and able bodied person, though, can't meet goals that they have not yet set.
As I continue to get older and (hopefully!) watch my family grow, I am sure my goals will change and evolve. I know that "life will get in the way" of a lot of the things on my list, and that for that reason I may not accomplish some of the items I had planned for myself. But that's ok. That's a part of living. If you don't let "life get in the way" of your plans, then are you really living at all?
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