A typical bucket list contains places we want to visit and experiences we want to try—things like ‘ski the Alps’, ‘skydive’, or ‘visit Machu Picchu’. Bucket lists tend to focus on once-in-a-lifetime kinds of dreams. Things we hope we might get to enjoy someday.
Here at Live Intentionally I have talked about another kind of bucket list, one that focuses on more everyday attitudes and activities. I’ve called it a Joy List.
Today I’m taking a different twist on bucket lists: an anti bucket list. A list of things I don’t want in my life.
Why would I waste time pondering a list of stuff I don’t want in my bucket? Because I think it can help me clarify what I really care about, which helps me work towards the stuff I do want in my bucket.
Before I move on, let me clarify what I mean by an anti bucket list. I realize that life on earth is filled with stuff we’d rather not face, things like cancer, road construction, and cleaning doggy barf from the new carpet. These kinds of things aren’t under my control. They’re not the kinds of things on my list.
We can’t prevent the random unpleasantnesses of life, but we can control the attitudes and priorities we choose to adopt. My anti bucket list focuses on those aspects, the ones I do have come control over. Here are some thoughts on what belongs on the list.
7 Items in my Anti Bucket List
- Mindless living I don’t want to go through life merely existing, going through the motions, opting for the path of least resistance, or being satisfied with the whatever rut I happen to be stuck in. A mindless life defined by: Eat. Sleep. Work. Repeat. Not for me, thanks!
- Chaos Some people may thrive on living moment-to-moment, dealing with each situation when it arises and embracing the noise, unpredictability, and teetering piles of stuff that come with the territory. I am not one of them. I am far from a neat-freak, but I cannot function in chaos. My life and the lives of everyone around me are happier when I avoid unnecessary complications and stress by planning ahead, pacing myself, and maintaining at least a semblance of organization.
- A Quitter Mentality I don’t want to look back at the end of my life and see nothing but regrets because I was too chicken to pursue my dreams. I know I can’t achieve every dream my fantasies concoct, but I can pursue worthwhile goals, take reasonable risks, and stretch myself by facing challenges head-on.
- Busyness We are all busy. It’s the way our society operates. But there is busy, too busy, and w-a-y too busy. I function best when there is enough white space in my schedule for sufficient down time between the busy moments. I fight hard to keep my schedule from becoming overbooked because I know it will quickly lead to burnout.
- Wishy Washy Values Do others know what I stand for, or does it depend on what day it is and who I’m with? I don’t want others to view me as a pushover or a hypocrite. I want to earn their respect by being consistent, reliable, and sincere.
- Inauthenticity Do people know the real me, or do they only see the masks I wear because I fear they would dislike me if they knew who I really was? I’d rather take the risk of being rejected than accept a lifetime of hating myself for living a lie.
- Unnecessary Burdens We all go through life accumulating stuff (household items, experiences, attitudes, nicknames, reputations, etc). Some of it is useful but some of it isn’t. I don’t want to trudge through life carrying around a bunch of junk I don’t need, which means I need to be intentional about assessing, curating, and letting go.
What anti bucket list items resonate with you?
What choices can you make today to avoid them and instead pursue more of what brings joy, peace, and fulfillment in your life?
