A collection of goals and dreams that you want to accomplish or experience before you “kick the bucket.” Your bucket list. Everyone knows the term. Today’s message is one of encouragement. It’s brief and to the point. Actually, there are several points!
- Your list is your list. The situations and conditions that are meaningful to you, are unique to you. They relate to where you came from, how your life has taken shape, and your ever-present “why.” Embrace all of this because it defines who you are. There are drives which will remain forever essential and burn brightly within you. But your list may not be static. Sometimes your perspective will change as you go through life. That’s normal. Adjust as needed and never feel guilty about doing that.
- Give yourself permission to dream. Sometimes we inadvertently protect ourselves from disappointment by using self-talk or thinking that limits our potential. While it’s important to be somewhat rational as opposed to completely delusional…go ahead and dream BIG. Thoughts lead to actions and those become reality.
- Consider prioritizing the items on your list. But only if you want to do so. You may wish to rank your objectives so you focus most on what you deem to have the highest significance to your life vision. On the other hand, you may have several aspirations of equal value. Either way, here’s the thing. Be careful of multi-tasking. A little is OK but you’ll check off more items on your list if you focus on them mainly one at a time.
- Remember that hope is not a plan. A famous saying, yes, but also true. When a “thing” reveals itself to be meaningful, worthy, necessary for your best life…make a plan to go get it. Everybody’s different in how they might do this, but the key is having a process in place that moves you toward what is worthwhile. Utilize the amount of structure and application that feels like progress as opposed to stalling or “wheel-spinning.”
- Appreciate the journey as much as the destination. These are wise words we’ve all heard. Let the process of “bucket list behavior” excite, motivate, and empower you. It’s not so much “when you get there” as it is “you are on your way.” Recognize that there will be ups and downs along the way, but persistence always pays off.
- Savor the moment before moving on to the next thing. Eventually, the aforementioned mindset and behaviors will increase the likelihood of your checking off that bucket list item. Yet there are societal factors which can stimulate you to be inclined to jump right to the next item on your list. Instead, live in that moment for as long as you need to. This might be much longer than a moment. It might be the rest of your life. Find the mix of pride, satisfaction, humility, and gratitude that puts a bow on this accomplishment. You did it.
Obviously, this message goes far beyond health, fitness, or athletics. It speaks to life itself. But as a Lifetime Athlete, your odds of winning go up in every way. A being, or beast as we like to say, that is robust, resilient, versatile, and durable – both in mind and body – checks off that bucket list.