For the majority of my life, I never considered creating a bucket list of sorts. I was a goal setter and a list maker but not the bucket-list type, as it seemed somewhat dark (ya know, things to do before ya kick the bucket). It wasn’t until I found myself in dire emotional circumstances that I realized that I needed to focus on the positive. It was at that point – just short of a decade ago – that I began creating a bucket list.
Recently, I was asked how soon I will check everything off of my bucket list. I said that it was unlikely that my bucket list would ever be complete because I continue to add to my list as quickly as I check something off when completed. Today, I received a request to share my bucket list with a new friend who is in the middle of creating her own bucket list. With some trepidation, I am sharing most of my list. As you read this list, please note that some items are quite general while others are quite unique to my own life. This list has taken years to produce, so by sharing it publically, I hope others will use it as inspiration to create (and complete) their own bucket lists.
This list is in no particular order. If further explanation is warranted on a specific item, send me a message. Most importantly, if you think you could contribute to helping me cross off an item, or if you have a suggestion for a new item, please let me know!
Put my bucket list in a bucketEarn my doctorate degreeVisit the intersection of Baublits and Baublits in Pensacola, FloridaWrite a tribute to my parents- Go skydiving
Run with a number pinned to my chestVisit New YorkGo on a mission tripVisit ChicagoTake a cruiseVisit Las VegasPlant a tree- Dance for hours with a strong lead
Learn to play an instrumentLearn a new languageStart a new traditionTest drive my dream carRide in a limoReach my goal weightGet a tattooGet hypnotizedDesign a family tree that traces my lineageSend a message in a bottleRide the cog railway to the top of Pikes PeakSurprise my daughter on her 16th birthdayRide in a helicopterMeet a celebrityRelive a childhood memoryStart a new businessGo to a concert of a favorite bandTake a day trip to a wildlife reserveGo on a safari in AfricaSee a play in LondonGo on a road trip with no specific destinationEnjoy a romantic picnic I didn’t plan- Get a part-time job as Santa
Join a clubSlide down a fireman’s poleComplete the Jesuit Spiritual ExercisesSend a secret admirer letterGo snorkelingVisit Boston- Attend a protest
Go white water raftingAttend a drive-in movieCelebrate the Dia de Los Muertos festivalMake a time capsuleStart a blog and keep it going for at least a yearHave a pen pal in another countryAttend a murder mystery dinnerBe in a playParticipate in a fantasy sports league(and win)Go on an all-inclusive vacation to Cozumel, MexicoChange my hairstyleLearn CPRGet dunked in a dunking boothVolunteer in a shelter/soup kitchenClimb the Space Needle in SeattleRide a steamboat down the Mississippi RiverVisit Philadelphia and see the Liberty BellTravel across the equatorBecome a registered organ donorGo repelling- Fall asleep under the stars with someone I love
Have a water balloon fight- Participate in an open mic night
Take a road trip down Route 66Ride a SegwaySki the Continental DivideSee the Liberty BellGo to Pikes Place MarketStay at the Marriott Marquis in NYCCatch fireflies in a jar- Start a weekly game night with friends
Ride in a hot air balloonHand out $20 bills at Goodwill at ChristmastimeVisit the Statue of LibertyBecome an ordained ministerFly first classSee the Nutcracker BalletGo geocachingTape money to a vending machineWalk across the Golden Gate BridgeDrink directly from a coconutSpend the night in a hostelVisit Pennsylvania Dutch countryDonate Christmas gifts to a needy familyGo up into the St. Louis Gateway ArchThrow myself a birthday partyEarn a medal or trophy in a competitionRide an elephant or camelVisit the local animal shelter and play with the animals- Experience the Northern Lights
- Try a martial art
Visit both Ellis and Angel IslandsGo to Holland during the tulip seasonTour AlcatrazTake a mud bathVisit a Mayan temple and villageSit in an empty church and talk to GodGo to the top of the Empire State BuildingTake my daughter to a Taylor Swift Concert in NashvilleClimb a mountain- Crash a wedding
Get my picture in the newspaper- Participate in a polar bear plunge
Wear a snake around my neckPay for someone’s groceriesGet an autograph of someone famousGet on a game showRide the NYC subwayJump in a bouncy castle as an adult- Dress up in disguise for a day
Go to a luauExplore a shipwreck- Attend a movie premiere
Post something to YouTube- Go to a floating lantern festival
Get into a VIP room/lounge- Try panning for gold
Successfully throw a boomerang in AustraliaVisit a vineyard- Get on stage at a concert
Purchase a gift from a wedding registry for a couple I’ve never met- Write and publish a book
Donate money to a worthy causeSwing from a trapezeKiss under a mistletoeGo to a rodeoThrow a dart at a map and go where it lands- Climb Pikes Peak
Go on a spiritual retreatGamble in Las VegasForgive JasonTry to be in two places at the same time- Shower under a waterfall
- Try yoga
Go on a journey of self-discoveryLearn to play the didgeridooWitness a geyser eruptingSleep in a treehouseHave a star named for me in the National Star RegistryMilk a cow- Get into a taxi and yell, “Follow that car!”
Attend a toga partyLearn to write calligraphyFly a kite- Read over 52 books in a year
Go parasailingVisit an island- Kiss an elephant’s trunk
- Sleep in a hammock
Visit Mt. RushmoreOwn my own homeVisit historic Williamsburg, Virginia- Build a treehouse
Get my name in lights- Try hang gliding
Make someone’s wish come trueFly in a private planeEnter a contest and win- Dance on a bar
Take my dream vacationAdopt a dog- Walk the red carpet at an event
Go to a nude beachGo camping- Create a children’s book
Volunteer at a homeless shelterDye my hair a crazy colorGive bloodMake homemade ice creamInvent something usefulClimb to the crow’s nest of a ship and take a photo of the viewVisit a ghost townVisit a tropical rainforestGive a commencement addressTake a pottery class- Learn self-defense
Kiss a strangerRide on a parade floatGive up 5 bad habits for at least a yearLearn a magic trickRide on a gondola in VeniceMake a difference in at least one person’s lifeHave a summer romanceCanoe down a riverBuy myself an entirely new wardrobeExplore a caveCatch a foul ball at an MLB baseball gameVisit 50 National ParksVisit a castle in IrelandBuild a greenhouse- Go skinny dipping without inhibitions
Eat street food in a foreign country- Go jet skiing
Have a candlelight dinnerWalk on stiltsHold up the leaning tower of PisaVisit the birthplace of my ancestorsVisit HawaiiCreate a new recipeVisit every state in the United StatesExplore the Grand CanyonVisit Stonehenge- Volunteer at a hospital
- Fry an egg on the sidewalk
See a lunar eclipseMake an investment in somethingHost a family reunionPay it forward every day for one weekGo off-roadingWalk across the Golden Gate Bridge- Submit a photo to National Geographic
Read a story to an elderly communitySerenade someone in publicVisit Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory in VermontPlay strip pokerRenovate an old piece of furnitureSee a shooting starGo to the top of the Eiffel TowerLine danceStay in a log cabin for a nightCreate a playlist for someoneRide on a double-decker bus in LondonAttend a cowboy cookoutSwim in the Dead SeaGive a lecture at a schoolBathe in a mineral springRoast marshmallows at a campfireDJ a partyGo to a food festivalGo on a zipline- Ride a mechanical bull
Take toys to a children’s hospitalTake my children to Disney WorldTour an ancient ruinJump on a pogo stickBuild an iglooTie messages on a bunch of balloons and let them goBe a part of a flash mobTeach a class in any subject- Learn to ballroom dance
Sit in the very front seat of a roller coaster- Try glass blowing
- Start a food fight
Attend any of the Olympic games (Semester at Sea Olympics!)Play spin the bottle with people at a partyGo on a blind dateWrite a letter to myself and open it in 10 yearsDrink water from a glacierGo to a live auction and place a bidCash in a winning lottery ticketPet a stingrayGet a license for something other than drivingSki the Continental DivideLearn how to surf and go surfing- Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Go horseback riding- Have a monk bless me
Write a message in wet cementBicycle across a long bridgeTarget practice and hit the bull’s-eyeFind my way out of a corn mazeGet a degree- Live in another country
Build something that fliesStart a collection of somethingPlay charades at a partyEnjoy and document a year’s worth of explorationTake a pottery classKiss someone at midnight on New Year’s EveClimb a treeGo to a jazz clubRead the BibleLearn to ice skateGet a book autographed by its authorGo to a theme park and ride every ride- Touch the Hollywood sign
- Go scuba diving
See a Broadway showVisit a wax museumVisit a volcanoTake an online course to better myselfMentor a young personHave a date in Central Park, New YorkRace a car on a racetrackWatch the ball drop in Times Square, New YorkGo to a formal partySunbathe on a yachtWrite a business plan for a company I’ve been thinking aboutWatch a symphony performTry to beat a Guinness World RecordBuild a snowmanHave a spa day- Visit Hollywood
- Swim with sharks
Make a prank call- Ride in a biplane
- Get backstage at a concert
Do a road trip across the USAWitness a solar eclipse- Go dog sledding
Sing at a Karaoke clubRide a train- Learn how to lasso
Collect honey from a beehive- Go night swimming in the ocean
SkateboardPlay a round of golfWrite a mission statementTake a pilgrimage to the Holy LandVisit a concentration campHike at Glacier National ParkShare a gallon of ice cream with a Nor’n Irishman on a bus in Kaposvar, Hungary- Walk on the Great Wall of China
Do a major random act of kindnessHelp all three of my sons become Eagle Scouts- Visit all seven continents
Go on a long tandem bike rideVisit the Alps in SwitzerlandVisit AustraliaTry car campingEat lobster in MaineVisit Niagara FallsLeave a note in a library bookSpend a week alone in complete silenceDonate to a Kickstarter campaignStand on the corner in Winslow, ArizonaBuy a stranger something from their wedding gift registry- Visit Machu Picchu
Order the 3rd and 12th items on a menu
Chasing Verbs 
Amazing list! I envy you for this: Race a car on a racetrack! I have driven at the speed of 150.3 mi/hour on German highway fast on my family car. Anyway, it was an experience. It was also nice to read that you have learnt a new language. In my country we have to learn many languages and some learn more languages when adult as I.
Have wonderful day!
LikeLike