101 Things To Do Before You Die

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“Every man dies — Not every man really lives.” ~ William Ross

“The only people who fear death are those with regrets.” ~ Author Unknown

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10th August 2017 

What’s a Bucket List?

If you haven’t heard about the term “bucket list”, it is a list of all the goals you want to achieve, dreams you want to fulfill and life experiences you desire to experience before you die.

Why Create a Bucket List?

If you don’t live your days by personal goals and plans, chances are you spend most of your time caught up in a flurry of day-to-day activities. Ever felt that your days are passing you by without any tangible output to speak of? What did you accomplish in the past 3 months? What are your upcoming goals for the next 3 months? Look at the things you did and the things you’re planning to do next — do they mean anything to you if you are to die today? Having a bucket list reminds you of what’s really important so you can act on them.

 

Even if you frequently live by goals or to-do lists, they are probably framed within a certain social context e.g. performance, career, health. A bucket list opens up the context. It’s a forum to set anything and everything you’ve ever wanted to do, whether it’s big, small or random.

It’s just like planning ahead all the highlights you want for YOUR whole life. Even though goal setting is already my staple activity, I still found many new things to do while I was writing on my own list. It was an incredibly insightful exercise. What’s more, coming up with my list gave me a whole new layer of enthusiasm knowing what’s in store ahead!

The objective of creating this list isn’t to instill some kind of a race against time or to create aversion toward death. I don’t see our existence to be limited to just our physical years on earth  — our physical lifespan is but a short speck of our existence in the universe.

The whole point of creating your list is to maximise every moment of our existence and live our life to the fullest. It’s a reminder of all the things we want to achieve in our time here, so that instead of pandering our time in pointless activities, we are directing it fully toward what matters to us.

Create Your Bucket List

If you don’t have a bucket list, I highly recommend you to create one. How much will it cost? Zero. How long will it take? Probably 30 minutes to an hour, or more if you get really caught up in the writing.  What do you stand to gain? Significant clarity and focus on what you want from your life. It’s an invaluable exchange. 

If you already have your list, take this opportunity to review it. See if there are new items you want to add-on. If so, add them in. Check if all the items listed are still relevant. If not, remove them.

Now, take out your pen and paper or open up a text document. Start writing down what comes to mind as you read these questions:

• What if you were to die tomorrow? What would you wish you could do before you die?
• What would you do if you had unlimited time, money and resources?
• What have you always wanted to do but have not done yet? 
• Any countries, places or locations you want to visit?
• What are your biggest goals and dreams?
• What do you want to see in person?
• What achievements do you want to have?
• What experiences do you want to have / feel?
• Are there any special moments you want to witness?
• What activities or skills do you want to learn or try out?
• What are the most important things you can ever do?
• What would you like to say/do together with other people? People you love? Family? Friends?
• Are there any specific people you want to meet in person?
• What do you want to achieve in the different areas: Social, Love, Family, Career, Finance, Health (Your weight, Fitness level), Spiritual?
• What do you need to do to lead a life of the greatest meaning?

Come up with as many items as you can. The items should be things you have not done yet. Don’t stop until you finish listing at least 101 things! If you find yourself stuck, chances are you are mentally limiting/constraining yourself. Release those shackles — Your bucket list is meant to be a list of everything you want to achieve, do, see, feel and experience in your life. Check out the next section for added inspiration.

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101 Things To Do Before You Die

Here are 101 items to consider for your bucket list. Look through the list — any item that resonates with you? Note that the list below is a sample list of things you can put for your own list — not all of them will work for you, and you shouldn’t do them for the sake of it. 

Take the items that resonate with you and use them for your own list! 

1. Travel all around the world

2. Learn a new language

3. Try a profession in a different field

4. Achieve your ideal weight

5. Run a marathon

6. Take part in a triathlon

7. Take up a new sport

8. Go scuba diving / snorkeling and experience marine life up close

9. Go skiing

10. Trek the Inca Trail

11. Go horseback riding

12. Do an extreme sport 

13. Climb a mountain

14. Learn a strategy game

15. Connect with past teachers

16. Let someone know how much he/she means to you

17. Give a heartfelt surprise to someone

18. Perform a kind deed without expecting anything in return

19. Make a difference in someone’s life

20. Be a mentor to someone

21. Pursue your passion

22. Start your business

23. Fly in a hot-air balloon

24. Sing to an audience

25. Do volunteer work

26. Befriend a stranger

27. Get a drink for a stranger

28. Walk/Dance barefoot in the rain

29. Run barefoot

30. Experience a sunrise/sunset

31. See the Northern Lights

32. Witness a solar eclipse

33. Go stargazing

34. Plant a tree and watch it grow

35. Get a pet

36. Publish a book

37. Do public speaking in front of 1,000 people (or more)

38. Throw a mega party

39. Get a complete makeover

40. Learn wine appreciation

41. Join a social etiquette class

42. Be a matchmaker: Introduce your single friends to each other (the rest is up to them!)

43. Go on a blind date! (for the singles!)

44. Further your education 

45. Play a (new) musical instrument

46. Win a lucky draw

47. Take up dancing 

48. Learn a martial art

49. Go on a road trip

50. Backpack across at least 10 locations

51. Pack your bags and set off for a random location with no itinerary

52. Protect dolphins and marine life

53. Live in a different country for at least 6 months

54. Act in a film (self-production or otherwise)

55. Get featured in the media for something you are proud of

56. Knit a scarf

57. Create your dream home

58. Whip a home-made meal for your loved ones

59. Bake a cake for someone special

60. Go deep into the heart of Mother Nature

61. See snow (if you haven’t before)

62. Live through 4 seasons of the year: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter

63. Read a book on a subject you had never thought of reading

64. Volunteer at a hospice

65. Fly a kite

66. Fall asleep on grassy plains

67. Contact a company you like just to thank them for their great product/service

68. Try out vegetarianism for 21 days

69. After that, try veganism

70. Then, try raw veganism

71. Fold 1,000 origami cranes and give them to someone special

72. Conquer your biggest fear

73. Tell at least 10 people about your bucket list and encourage them to join you!

74. Go on a meditation retreat

75. Experience an OBE (out-of-body experience)

76. Start a movement on a cause you believe in

77. See cherry blossoms in Japan 

78. Bury the hatchet with people whom you had conflicts with in the past

79. Get closure on any past unhappiness 

80. Organise a picnic outing

81. Do something completely crazy and out of character

82. Fly first class

83. Hit bull’s-eye on a dartboard

84. Visit a volcano

85. Fly in a helicopter

86. Meet someone you can only dream of meeting

87. Tell your parents and siblings that you love them

88. Ride a roller coaster

89. Go on a cruise

90. Try frontline jobs for the experience

91. Fall in love

92. Be in a conscious, fulfilling relationship

93. Go on a romantic getaway

94. Do a somersault

95. Visit a castle

96. Change the world

97. Help someone in need

98. Learn sign language

99. See the Mona Lisa (in Louvre, in Paris)

100. Go to a costume party and dress up as your favorite character

101. Gain enlightenment

Get Into Action! 

After you finish your list, here’s what to do next:

• Start acting on them! Plan out the successful path toward these goals.
• Be reminded of the list all the time. Use environmental reinforcement — put them up in a prominent spot where you will see them every day/very regularly. Put it in your life handbook, set it as your wallpaper, pin it on your noticeboard, print it out, stick it on your wardrobe/locker.
• Share them with your family and friends. Inspire them to create their own bucket lists too! This way, you also create accountability for yourself as you complete the items on your list.
• Don’t limit your list items to a certain definition. Sometimes opportunity presents itself in a totally different manner. Keep your eyes peeled! The universe will start throwing things your way. 
• Review your list regularly. Cross out the things after you do them. See if some of the items become irrelevant and if there are new things you want to add. Just as you finish the items, you’ll add new ones as they come along. There is absolutely no reason why your list should ever be empty. There is such an incredible wealth of things, events, activities, experiences to witness/go through in life that it’s impossible that you will ever be done with living. 

Source: https://personalexcellence.co/blog/bucket-list

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