I just watched the movie, “The Bucket List” with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. You probably know the story….two terminally ill men decide to pursue the list of all that they want to do before they “kick the bucket” or as more delicately put pass on. One is rich, divorced multiple times and estranged from his only daughter. The other is a blue-collar working man who married young and has three grown children and several grandchildren. They are from two different paths in life and probably would not have otherwise met were it not for them sharing a room in the hospital where both were being treated for cancer.
It was a touching story that spoke to me on several levels. As we get older, is it just years of life or do we put life in those years? Are we doing the things that we really want to do or maybe just going through the motions? Are we living life or is it living us? Are we cultivating the relationships that are truly important to us? Are we making a difference? Have we found the joy in our life?
I am pondering on these questions. Just last night during our Christmas Eve family celebration we talked about death. My niece, Britney who recently turned 21 found the concept of death surreal. No one really wants to die so it is disturbing and sometimes hard to conceive. But what if we lived our life in such a way that we would be prepared…be ready when our time comes. The problem is that many of us are waiting to live out our bucket list. When you’re single, you’re waiting to get married. When you’re married, you’re waiting until you “get established.” When you have children, you’re waiting until the kids get grown. When you don’t have enough money, you’re waiting until you make more money. And the list goes on.
I didn’t have a written bucket list but after seeing the movie, I decided to write one. I have tried to do the things and have the experiences that are important to me and to make a difference in some small way for those in which I interact. I love to travel and after dispensing with the “waiting until I get married” thinking decided to go for it when I was in my mid-20's and took my first trip to Cancun, Mexico. I have never regretted it. And although I am now married, I am totally comfortable taking trips on my own. I’ve ridden an ATV and helicopter in Hawaii, driven a boat in the Caribbean, hiked the famous Kalalau trail, zip lined in Kauai and rode a horse on a mountain in New Mexico.
I work on a job that I love and that makes a difference for others. I get the opportunity to work on outside committees related to my work that broaden my horizon and help others in my job industry. I love to learn and have earned a degree, some certifications and am currently working toward my bachelor’s degree.
I have a small family with a loving son, a new daughter-in-law, a fabulous brother and a wonderful niece. We are all close. I also have a devoted husband that is unfortunately incarcerated. My parents have both passed on but I have many splendid memories of them and their legacy lives on through me, my brother and our children.
This Christmas Eve, we had our normal family along with my daughter-in-law’s sister and husband. They are a part of our new family. We also had two of my son’s godchildren whose mother passed earlier this year at age 29. Life can be short or long and it doesn’t depend on any specific number of years. A full life can be lived in 30 years and an unfulfilled life can be lived in 70 years. As we all celebrated I basked in the warmth of family. I asked myself how I feel at this point if I had to go tonight. I would be okay with it. While I still haven’t done everything I have done much more than some people. I hope I still have the normal 30 or so years left. I haven’t been to Europe yet and I haven’t finished my Master’s degree. I haven’t skydived yet which I am saving for my 50th birthday (maybe I shouldn’t wait….smile). But if the Lord called me home at this moment, I believe I can say “job well done.”
My Bucket List
Go to Italy and eat in an outside café at the location of the Godfather filming.
See the Coliseum and Sistine Chapel in Rome.
See the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower in France.
Ride a gondola in the real Venice…not the one in Las Vegas.
Go skydiving.
Spend a Christmas in Kauai.
Attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City.
Walk a marathon.
Gamble on the French Rivera.
Hike the Grand Canyon.
Fly in a hot air balloon.
See Mount Rushmore.
See the Empire State Building.
Complete my MBA.
Go whale-watching.
Go on an African safari.
Take a sabbatical.
Make a difference for seniors.
Make a difference for teen and unwed mothers.
Complete a 365 day challenge.
("Bucket List" photograph courtesy of er3465).
It was a touching story that spoke to me on several levels. As we get older, is it just years of life or do we put life in those years? Are we doing the things that we really want to do or maybe just going through the motions? Are we living life or is it living us? Are we cultivating the relationships that are truly important to us? Are we making a difference? Have we found the joy in our life?
I am pondering on these questions. Just last night during our Christmas Eve family celebration we talked about death. My niece, Britney who recently turned 21 found the concept of death surreal. No one really wants to die so it is disturbing and sometimes hard to conceive. But what if we lived our life in such a way that we would be prepared…be ready when our time comes. The problem is that many of us are waiting to live out our bucket list. When you’re single, you’re waiting to get married. When you’re married, you’re waiting until you “get established.” When you have children, you’re waiting until the kids get grown. When you don’t have enough money, you’re waiting until you make more money. And the list goes on.
I didn’t have a written bucket list but after seeing the movie, I decided to write one. I have tried to do the things and have the experiences that are important to me and to make a difference in some small way for those in which I interact. I love to travel and after dispensing with the “waiting until I get married” thinking decided to go for it when I was in my mid-20's and took my first trip to Cancun, Mexico. I have never regretted it. And although I am now married, I am totally comfortable taking trips on my own. I’ve ridden an ATV and helicopter in Hawaii, driven a boat in the Caribbean, hiked the famous Kalalau trail, zip lined in Kauai and rode a horse on a mountain in New Mexico.
I work on a job that I love and that makes a difference for others. I get the opportunity to work on outside committees related to my work that broaden my horizon and help others in my job industry. I love to learn and have earned a degree, some certifications and am currently working toward my bachelor’s degree.
I have a small family with a loving son, a new daughter-in-law, a fabulous brother and a wonderful niece. We are all close. I also have a devoted husband that is unfortunately incarcerated. My parents have both passed on but I have many splendid memories of them and their legacy lives on through me, my brother and our children.
This Christmas Eve, we had our normal family along with my daughter-in-law’s sister and husband. They are a part of our new family. We also had two of my son’s godchildren whose mother passed earlier this year at age 29. Life can be short or long and it doesn’t depend on any specific number of years. A full life can be lived in 30 years and an unfulfilled life can be lived in 70 years. As we all celebrated I basked in the warmth of family. I asked myself how I feel at this point if I had to go tonight. I would be okay with it. While I still haven’t done everything I have done much more than some people. I hope I still have the normal 30 or so years left. I haven’t been to Europe yet and I haven’t finished my Master’s degree. I haven’t skydived yet which I am saving for my 50th birthday (maybe I shouldn’t wait….smile). But if the Lord called me home at this moment, I believe I can say “job well done.”
My Bucket List
Go to Italy and eat in an outside café at the location of the Godfather filming.
See the Coliseum and Sistine Chapel in Rome.
See the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower in France.
Ride a gondola in the real Venice…not the one in Las Vegas.
Go skydiving.
Spend a Christmas in Kauai.
Attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City.
Walk a marathon.
Gamble on the French Rivera.
Hike the Grand Canyon.
Fly in a hot air balloon.
See Mount Rushmore.
See the Empire State Building.
Complete my MBA.
Go whale-watching.
Go on an African safari.
Take a sabbatical.
Make a difference for seniors.
Make a difference for teen and unwed mothers.
Complete a 365 day challenge.
("Bucket List" photograph courtesy of er3465).
