The Beauty of the No Bucket List

Bucket lists are something that are encouraged by society in order to lead a fulfilled life and encourage people to step out of their comfort zones. It can be a wish list or even a to-do list. Even though there are plenty of positives to bucket lists, I will offer another perspective – a no-bucket-list!

Bucket lists can be great and make you think that you have achieved something. However, it can also make you believe that you have not succeeded in life purely because you haven’t swam with dolphins! As well as this, bucket lists encourage people to always think forward. This is not all bad – people need plans and it is positive to know what you want in life, whether that is what takeaway you want at the end of the week, or how old you will be when you pay off a mortgage!

However, the issue that can stem from this ‘forward-focus’ if taken too far, is that we don’t always live in the present. We can live life moving from one goal to the next but then miss out on the things around us. I am not saying that you need to go out and smell the flowers in the garden to appreciate them but by just sitting in the garden and accepting that is peaceful allows appreciation of the present. In such a goal-orientated world with work deadlines and pressures from society to have achieved everything before 30 years old – we find ourselves even making death a goal, rather than finding acceptance and comfort in the final destination. The idea of a bucket list can link to the fear of the inevitable end and that by relinquishing control of all the things you ‘have to do’ before you die, instead you appreciate what you already have and can instead give yourself the power to reflect on past successes and also present ones. It takes some fear out of death.

I have always enjoyed making plans and having a full diary – like a bucket list for the year. I want to see friends, go to theatre, go to concerts, travel, etc…even brunch becomes something to tick off on the list! What that meant for me is that I am constantly thinking ahead and not enjoying the present. It is like being at a concert but then thinking about how you are getting home rather than being fully immersed in the actual event! By not having a bucket list, it allows flexibility and a chance to really appreciate the present. I am not saying I will never make plans again – I love those and need those to give me motivation and things to look forward to while washing the dishes. However, I will change my way of thinking….Instead of thinking I want to make sure I go to the theatre this year, instead I will allow some spontaneity and actually go to the theatre when I want (to see what I want) rather than because I feel I have to go in order to tick off my bucket list.

Final words to consider – life is the journey, not the destination and by enjoying the journey, rather than looking for all of the stops on the way you tend to have more fun with the people around you.