I stumbled across a great deal and took my husband flying helicopters for his birthday
As you all probably have figured out, I’m a huge fan of setting goals. Whether these are just a few small goals, a 101 in 1001 list, career goals, life goals, or area and lifetime bucket lists {which I’m still adding things to every darn day}, I love the idea of putting some solid thought and planning into what you would like to do with your life. To me, it’s not the accomplishment of the list that matters so much as the idea of taking control of your life. If you want to go and do extraordinary things, you should be able to do them with the right planning!
But recently, I came across a blog that challenges every one of my opinions about goal-setting. Okay, I’ve read a lot of those, but this is one is extremely witty and intelligent, and hits me with arguments that I not only can’t refute, but find myself nodding along with in agreement. But if anyone can sell you on throwing away your bucket list, lessons on life you just can’t learn in school, and embracing a little self-sabotage, it’s Erika on Chimerikal.
Erika asked a terrific question when she posted her Reverse Bucket List: Does what you do before you make your bucket list matter? Shouldn’t you count it?
Because who doesn’t want to drive a NASCAR stock car?
Why not make a Reverse Bucket List?
The idea is to keep a tally of the bucket-list-worthy adventures you’ve already accomplished, so that you can go back and really appreciate those memories! Maybe they’ll inspire someone, too. Honestly, I was knocked over by Erika’s amazing Reverse Bucket List. I’m so inspired by all the things she’s gone and done that I just want to crawl inside her brain for all the stories of her adventures and to find out how she was able to do all this great stuff!
And I love, love, LOVE the fact that she shared it. I love it for this reason, a reason she shared much more eloquently than I could have:
“Because I don’t think that hiding your experiences so that people don’t feel inferior is any better than broadcasting them to make yourself feel superior. And my intent is not to feel superior. My intent is to share and to open up. It’s kind of a fun, 21st century blogging way to express some gratitude for some great things I’ve experienced in my life.”
How awesome is that?
Making macarons at a cooking school in Paris
Why shouldn’t we be able to take joy in seeing someone showcase something cool they’ve done or that they’re good at? We should be inspired by it.
Maybe we can do better. Maybe we can’t. But maybe seeing that person do it is the push we need to try it out and experience something wonderful! Maybe we can even provide that kind of inspiration to ourselves.
Erika’s list inspired me to start really thinking about what I’ve done. Why not keep track of that along with the things that I’d like to do so that every time I’m feeling like I can’t do something or I’ve bitten off more than I can chew, I look back and remember that, well, I’ve done some pretty crazy things before! Somehow it all worked out then. Somehow I managed to find the guts or figured out the problem that kept me from doing whatever I was going to do, and I can do that again!
So I’ve taken the jump and posted my own Reverse Bucket List, but I’m calling it Challenges Accepted - you can read the whole thing at the link. I didn’t necessarily set out to do all of these things via bucket list or, frankly, via actual plan at all, but the opportunity to do push the envelope came up at some point and I went for it.
Sometimes I took a literal jump…
Maybe I’m not the biggest adventurer, maybe I’m not doing the most fabulous trips, maybe I’m not at the top of some list somewhere, and admittedly, though I’ve tried a lot of extreme sports and gourmet recipes and physical challenges, I got absolutely schooled by the folks who either got me into them or do them regularly, but hey, I did it. I tried it. And I think it’s okay to be proud of looking at something amazing, saying, “I’m gonna do that,” and doing it.
Chances are, there are a lot of you out there who have done some really cool things also. Have you thought about making your own Reverse Bucket List? Did you live or study abroad in school? Did you complete a difficult course or degree or certification? Did you travel someplace amazing? Did you overcome a personal fear or challenge that was holding you back from something you wanted? I bet you did!
I would love to hear your stories, whatever they are. Did you overcome a challenge or even make your own Reverse Bucket List? Please let me know in the comments below!
Wishing you all the best for your day, and keep pushing! Friday’s just around the corner and a fabulous weekend lies ahead!
