THE Bucket List

 

Life is what happens to you while you are

 busy making other plans. --John Lennon 

You know, now that I've graduated, I'm old. I'm totally an adult or something like it. The big 22. Turned my tassel. Bid 'adieu' to studenthood. An alum. You get the picture.

I created a bucket list when I lived in NYC and I really think it helped me "stay on track" and accomplish things I've always wanted to do. It minimized regrets. I also created an unofficial bucket list for my senior year that included things like Holi Moli and eating at certain restaurants.

So I have decided to create one for....my adulthood. You know, the rest of my life. I mean, I don't want to be 92.5 years old and say, "You know,  I always wish I had done _____________ and now I can't because I'm scared of breaking a bone or traveling with a walker or my dentures won't allow it."

Now that'd be sad.

I've had this list for years in my head and have been adding onto it. I'm going to put it as a page at the top of the blog so I can always add/cross things off as they happen. Or make amendments when life happens or if I realize that "that ain't happenin'", which hopefully never happens.

So, without further ado, THE bucket list:
***If any of you can make any of these happen or want to tag-team, let me know!***

My Top Ten Places I want to Visit (In no particular order)

• Hawaii 
• Greece 
• Italy
• Portugal 
• South Africa 
• London 
• Ireland 
• Brazil 
• Australia 
• Spain  

Other U.S. Places to Visit: 

• Hershey Chocolate Factory 
• Seattle Space Needle 
• Charleston, SC 
• Go back to Maine (now that I'm older) 
• Go back to San Francisco (now that I'm older) 
• Go back to Chicago (now that I'm older) 
• Boston, MA
• Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard 
• Houston, TX/Austin, TX
• Great Lakes 
• Savannah, GA
• Napa Valley, CA 
• Biltmore Estate (now that I'm older).
• Nashville, TN
• Atlanta, GA

Things I want to Do (General) 

• Go to a Western bar and do line dances/square dances 
• Take photography classes/ Do something meaningful with photography
• Read all of Shakespeare's works. 
• Write something meaningful, either a book or article. 
• Attend NYE in NYC 
• Milk a Cow 
• Go to a TED conference/Give a TED talk
• Continue blogging/Grow from blogging
• Bike for a long distance down a coastline/mountainside 
• Ride on the world's largest Ferris Wheels (London Eye being #1)
• Run a half marathon 
• Go White Water Rafting in Colorado 
• Take horseback riding lessons 
• Ride a mechanical bull
• Go rock climbing (and not be scared of heights)
• Go on a cross-country car ride 
• Quilt something.... 
• Go to a murder mystery dinner/tour
• Attend a beer festival/wine festival 
• Open up my own business/begin my own charity.
• Attend a blog conference. (BlogHer) 
• Attend a leadership conference.
• Write a children's book (most likely about acceptance). 
• Go on The View or Ellen (or both).
• Attend the Sundance Movie Festival 
• See a psychic/Get my palms read 
• Apply or be on a reality show...or be on one if the application is good enough!
• Travel solo. 
• Move somewhere random and love it.
• See NYC at Christmas.
• Do something that absolutely scares me.
• Sit on a jury. 
• Throw a successful surprise party.
• Do something absolutely ridiculous (this should be easy if you know me). 
• Ride another roller coaster....the last one didn't end too well.

Things I want to Learn How to Do

• Play the violin 
• Sign Language (I've been wanting to do this all my life).
• Ballroom dance-- especially the tango and samba
• Photography 
• Tennis 
• Ski....or go skiing for the first time. 
• SAIL.
• Cook really well-- maybe take lessons.
• Become a doula.
• Become a reader.
• Go to bartending school...Just for fun. Or become a bartender.
• Indoor rock climbing

Languages I want to Improve/Learn

• Relearn Spanish/ Become conversational 
• Learn sign language/ Take Classes 

Personal Growth

• Conduct a happiness project.
• Gain confidence.
• Stop putting myself down/ Having little faith in myself or confidence in my successes.
• Overcome fear of heights, fear of being by myself, and fear of failure.
• Become a better public speaker. 
• Be financially independent/literate. 
• Experience spiritual growth 
• ALWAYS keep in touch with friends. Be a good friend.
• Make a difference in the life of one person.
• Be passionate about my line of work.
• Write down 5 things I am grateful for, every day for a year. 
• Become a better listener--without imposing my own thoughts, beliefs or advice.
• Limit my regrets.

Education

• Get a Masters.

Family/Love Life

• Fall in love.
• Have kids/ Be a good mom
• Have a golden retriever.
• Write a letter to each of my children telling them what I want them to know about my life and the lessons I’ve learned. 
•  Be good at documenting my kid (s)' life. 
• Research my family history/create family tree

Phrases to Use (In all seriousness)

• You can't fire me, I quit!
• You'll never find anyone as good for you as I am, to believe in you as much as I do or love you as much!
• I've been kicked out of better places than this!

What's on your Life Bucket List? Leave me a comment! And if you want to help cross any of these off, let me know!

Always,
Carrie

P.S. I CANNOT stop listening to this song. B.O.B.'s Both of US ft. Taylor Swift