Bucket List

What the hell is a bucket list?  It's a list of things you want to do before you die.  That's a good thing - right?  Not necessarily.  It depends if it's a list of thing you want to do or a list you have to do.  It depends if it's a list of things that makes you happy or a list that feeds your ego, gets you more money and/or enables you to control your outside world.


I don't have a bucket list.  The reasons are:

• I believe I'm going to live until the year 2038, but what if I'm wrong.  I could get hit by a bus right after I publish this blog.  What good is a bucket list if the bucket is going to be empty by the time you read this blog.
  
• I like living life hour by hour, day by day, year by year, etc.  My list starts when I wake up.  First, I'm thankful that I woke up and second, once I realize I'm alive, I decide what I want to do that day.
  
  You might believe there are things you have to do any given day, but it's not true.  You can do whatever you want to do as long as you're willing to deal with what might happen if you don't do what you believe you have to do.
  
  Do you have to go to work - no.  You can take the day off as long as you are willing to accept the risk (or the blessing) of getting fired.  You may prefer to go to work because you like your job or because you like the money it gives you so you can enjoy your after work life.
  
  Don't try to convince yourself there are things in life you have to do.  When you feel you have to do something, you lose control.  When you feel you have to do something, you will eventually begin to resent the things you have to do.   When you feel you have to do something, you will get angry and frustrated. 
  
  You don't have to do anything you don't want to do.  However, there might be a price to pay.  If you put yourself in first position, you should only be doing the things that make you happy or lead to your happiness.  You don't have to go to work, unless you like the things work gives.  You don't have to stay married as long as you are willing to deal with the emotional and financial problems that will occur.  You don't have to fix the plumbing as long as you are willing to deal with the leak.  You don't have to make your kids happy unless it make you happy to see that smile on their faces
  
  I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.
  
• I don't want a bucket list of wants or haves because, by definition, that list is things to do before I die.  When you have a bucket list you believe you have all the time in the world to get to the list.  That will stop you from doing those things NOW.  NOW is critical.  "I'm gonna do" doesn't work.  
  Not doing NOW makes you feel you missed something.  You could start feeling bad about yourself because you are procrastinating.  Time is not on your side, therefore the best way to not feel bad is to not have a bucket list.  Instead, have a today list.

If you are anal and have to have a bucket list, make sure it's a list of wants not haves.  Make sure it's a list of preferences not demands.  Make sure the items in the list are only things that will lead to your happiness.  

Make sure you will love yourself even if you don't complete the list before you die.