" Bucket ... "

Sun's out! 

We got A beach day

Forget Yourself say

Why don't We people watch?

Kids all playing 

'Round in the sand ...

I don't know

How we're Gonna build

A castle now Do you want 

To start Again somehow?

I'll stay Until the sun 

Comes down

Down, down

Are you smiling?

Look over My shoulder

See Your laughter

Bubble over Lately 

You've Been working 

Too hard

~ Carly Rae Jepsen ~ Bucket ~

***

The other day Russell and I were talking about “bucket lists” and I asked him the question, why the reference to a bucket?  And since I am so curious, I decide to research and blog about it .... (of course!).

Starting with the saying to “kick the bucket”, the reference is to an English idiom that is defined as “to die” as in the Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, dated 1785.  It is considered a euphemistic, informal slang term with many theories surrounding its origin.

Well I will save you what I read in regards to the English theories, as it is depressing and quite gruesome!  Instead I prefer the pop culture Looney Tunes theory when Elmer Fudd “shoots” Bugs Bunny and Bugs says that he’s “gonna kick the bucket” before literally kicking a bucket next to him ... Elmer then replies “Hooway!  The wabbit kicked the bucket!" while doing a dance with Bugs until Elmer realizes that Bugs had tricked him.  

So what is where does a Bucket List come from?  It is a list of all the life experiences you desire to experience, dreams you want to fulfill and goals you want to achieve before you die.  Bucket lists are good for those that are caught up in the rush of life ... when you feel that your days are passing you by.  

You see, living your days by personal goals and plans reminds you what is really important so you can act on them.  So to develop a list you can ask yourself invaluable questions, without limiting yourself ... dare to dream and dream big. 

Questions like:

• If tomorrow was your last day, what would be the last thing you would do?
• What have you always wanted to do but have not done yet?
• If you had unlimited time, resources and money, what would you do?
• What countries, places or locations do you want to visit?
• What experiences do you want to have/feel?
• Are there any special moments you want to witness?
• What would you like to say/do together with your loved ones?

Once you have made your list, the next step is to start acting on them.  Plan out a path toward meeting these goals by reminding yourself of them every day.  Hold yourself responsible by sharing the list with your family and friends ... this may inspire them as well.  Review your bucket list regularly and cross out the things you have accomplished, see if some of the items become irrelevant and if there is new things you want to add ... our lists never end because there is such an incredible wealth of things, events, and activities to experience in life.  

It is impossible that we will ever be done with living.

The intention of a bucket list is to maximize every moment of our existence ... a reminder of all the things you want to achieve in your time here.  Planning ahead all the highlights you want for your whole life instead of some kind of a race against time or to create aversion towards death is truly living.  So instead of spending time in on pointless activities, we have focus and direction toward what matters to us.