The bucket list is about writing down the wishes you want to accomplish before you die. So that these do not remain in the state of dreams, here are some tips for making them come true.
The bucket list is about writing down the wishes you want to accomplish before you die. So that these do not remain in the state of dreams, here are some tips for making them come true.
What is a bucket list? What is its translation into French?
Have you ever heard of the “bucket list”? It’s about making a list of all the experiences you would like to have before you die. The bucket list comes from the English expression “to kick the bucket” which translates as “to kick the bucket”. This same bucket on which the condemned to death by hanging was mounted.
Why make a bucket list?
In today’s hectic daily life, it is rare to take the time to sit down and think about your desires and deep aspirations. Making a bucket list allows you to achieve this by putting your wishes in writing. “The bucket list offers a clear vision of what you want to do in your life to try to achieve your dreams and not have regrets.“, explains Marie-Odile Pirus, Certified Professional Coach and Gestalt therapist holding the CEP (European Certificate of Psychotherapy), herself a fan of bucket lists. It thus serves as a road map.
How to create your bucket list?
To create a bucket list, it’s very simple. Paper and pencil are enough. But it is also possible to write down your dreams on the notes on your smartphone as you go. These ideas can in fact come at any time, by reading an article in a magazine, by seeing a documentary on television, by chatting with someone, by listening to the radio, by reading a book… “This list remains alive and is not frozen in time. It will enrich and change over the years because we do not have the same dreams at 20, 30 or 50 years old.“, specifies Marie-Odile Pirus. This list is not intended to exist only on paper or on the telephone. For it to be truly useful, we must also take action.
Proceed in stages
When faced with your bucket list, you may not know where to start, make it a mountain and not dare to get started. To do this, the coach and therapist advises focusing on a maximum of five wishes from your bucket list each year. Some will be simpler and quicker to achieve, like having a parrot for example, others, like having a house or knowing how to play the folk guitar, will be built over the long term. Then, we divide each of these dreams into stages so that they are more accessible. To learn to play the guitar, you have to start by asking yourself what style you want to learn, then find out how to get one, take lessons…”I like to have the overall list of my wishes and the list of my already realized dreams. It allows you to see what has already been accomplished, to tell yourself that you have already experienced great moments and to be happy about it. It gives a feeling of accomplishment“, slips Marie-Odile Pirus.
Integrate items from your bucket list into your daily life
Marie-Odile Pirus advises combining your dream list with an ideal daily life. “Sometimes it can feel like we’re living the same day over and over again. In this case, if I am conscious about my choices and I treat myself by taking care of the little details, then I can make this day more and more ideal. For example, if I decide to take a break, I can choose a brand of tea that I really like, consciously grab that mug brought back from one of my trips from my bucket list, and choose the place where I I’m going to enjoy it, for example facing the garden or in front of my fireplace. This moment will then have a different flavor from tea taken in a hurry, without self-awareness. And, in the middle of this beautiful day, I can also slip my 15 minutes of guitar learning on my bucket list. Some of our dreams can thus be incorporated into our daily life… and make it more beautiful“, assures the coach.
Give up your dreams or dare to change
Sometimes, some seemingly simple dreams require more changes in one’s life. For example, wanting a German Shepherd when you live in a small Parisian apartment is difficult to imagine. The first possibility is to resign yourself and abandon this dream by agreeing not to complain later; the second is to ask yourself what to change to achieve this dream so as not to have this regret afterwards.
Good in his body, good in his head!
What can we do ? Examples of things to do, trips and dreams come true…
Looking for inspiration to start your bucket list. Here are some ideas for trips and things to do that can help you sort out your wishes:
- Swim with dolphins
- Horseback riding on the beach or in the pampas
- Have a pet
- Have a nice car
- Become a home owner
- Have children
- To marry
- Take a gap year to travel
- Visit the 7 wonders of the world
- To go on a cruise
- See the Northern Lights
- Sleep in a treehouse
- Learn to surf
- Take a hot air balloon ride
- Jet ski
- Go kitesurfF
- free fall area
- Dog sledding
- Parachute jump
- Go bungee jumping
- Visit a castle
- Sleep under the stars
- Attend a film premiere
- Visit an amusement park
- Go to a concert
- Organize a big family celebration
- Reuniting with childhood friends
- Sing in karaoke
- Write a novel
- Take part in a game show
- Take painting lessons
- Be a volunteer
- Helping a homeless person
- To tattoo
- Take a spiritual retreat
- Attend the carnival in Rio or Venice
- Travel the United States from East to West
- Visit the Great Wall of China
- See a sunset
- Picking rice
- Carry out humanitarian missions
- Pass your boat license
- Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland
- Take a road trip to Iceland
- Bathe in a natural swimming pool
- Learn to play a musical instrument
- Visit the Taj Mahal
- Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain in Rome
- Travel around the world
- Take a mud bath
- Discover the Thai Light Festival
- See the midnight sun in Norway
- Touch the glaciers in New Zealand
- Participate in the festival of colors in India…
