My Bucket List: A List Of Things To Do Before I Kick The Bucket - The First Item On The List...

To be honest, I had never heard of a bucket list prior to watching the movie The Bucket List starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. And at first I resisted watching the movie for reasons even today I am not sure of. But I finally caved and sat down to see just what this was all about.

It was a decent enough movie, maybe a little far fetched with some of the items on the list, perhaps even a little preachy at times but fairly good overall. I did like the premise, this desire to see or do or accomplish a specific set of items prior to death. But even then, I did not think of starting one for myself.

I am not sure why I desire to do so today, except to say that I realize Time passes, and with it each of us here on good ol' Earth will pass as well. And though I have been places, done things (some good, some not so good) and experienced quite a full life, there are still experiences I desire to fulfill, both as an individual and as a member of my family.

Prior to beginning this undertaking, I researched this site for other articles on the subject. One in particular caught my eye, and while it was on the subject, in a sense it wasn't. Hub author theraggededge detailed why one should not create a Bucket List, and I found her reasons both sound and fascinating. One of her reasons was that is was de rigueur to do so, an attempt at being fashionable. And, to a degree, I agree. When the film came out it definitely became fashionable to create a list of things to do before one dies, filled with outlandish goals that are perhaps not truly attainable. I decided that I would still create my list and share it with you; not to be fashionable but perhaps to inspire you, my readers, to live before you die; to set out and live beyond yourself in the moment with those you love.

To that end, I would like to write a series of articles on what my Bucket List might consist of, presented one item at a time, focusing on that item for the entire Hub. Explaining the reason for the item and expounding upon it for the duration. So, if you are still interested, let us begin.

Step One on writing this Hub is to determine just where it should be housed. I see no section, no location that really pertains to such an undertaking. Is it under Travel? Well, possibly because some travel will be required; but not every item may be travel related. How about under Health? Not really. Entertainment? Nope. What I feel would be a good location for it to be in might be Life. Because a Bucket List is not about anything other than choosing to live Life to the fullest, whether your time is short or not; it is about living, sharing, experiencing. But alas, no Life section on Hubpages to pigeonhole my series.

So, I chose to place it under Writing (because that's what I am doing!) with a subset of Essay, as I feel that, perhaps, this will be a series of essays written about a location, a thought, or perhaps something I have not thought on just yet. And so, I begin.

Should the first item on my list be somewhere I desire to go? Perhaps a place to take my family? Or maybe something esoteric, something one must believe in and attempt to explain to others? An adventure? Or something much simpler, something truly attainable?

Hmmm. I think perhaps something that is a combination of all or several of these goals would be best; and you know they say that well begun is half done, so a good beginning is important.

And so my first item will be a place, a place one can take others and perhaps assist them in achieving a goal of their own.

Specifically, Key West. This is not a location I have any desire to go, yet my lovely wife has her heart set on seeing this place before she dies (which better not be any time soon!!). She wishes to bury her toes in the sand, standing on the very tip of the island, the warm water washing over her feet as she knows there is no further she can go and remain in the country. To see the white sand beaches, to swim with dolphins, to turn her face towards the sky and feel that warm sun shining down on her face. Simply thinking of it brings a smile to my face.

There will be those of you who read this who will say "But if you don't care to go there, why go? A Bucket List is about going or doing something that you want to do!" to which I will answer: but I am.

I want, more than anything, to bring a smile to my wife's face; to fulfil, for her, one of her most treasured desires. And by doing that, by taking her to a place she desires to go, I am thereby achieving one of my goals. Get the picture? I win, I check off one of my items by supplying her with one of hers.

That, my friend, is what a Bucket List should be about. Not self serving, not grand and glorious, not beyond our reach, beyond our scope of attainment. Real. Within reach. Attainable. For without attaining the goal how can we enjoy it? The saying "Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" is in the same mold as my feelings on a bucket list. I would rather attain the goal of giving pleasure, of helping others enjoy Life than have a goal like, say hanging out with a Hollywood star/starlet or meeting a dignitary or climbing Mt. Everest; things that, while interesting (maybe) are not real to me. I can go to my grave having never met Harrison Ford or another actor; not standing atop the highest mountain in the world because I know that in the moment, I will find them lacking. A handshake and it is over. We have nothing in common, Harrison Ford and I; nothing to talk about because we live in different worlds and I have no interest in his world whatsoever (and I am pretty sure he has no desire to live in mine). And once the mountain has been climbed, the summit achieved there is nowhere to go but down and while the moment might be breathtaking, the memory will fade once the ground become reality again.

But to take someone where they desire, to help them achieve their goal or ambition, that will live on. Live on within me, within them, within us. Every time I see her smile it will bring that moment back to life. Every time I see a show, a commercial, a picture I will revisit that time, that place that moment.

It will live on. Eternally.

And so I have come to the close of the first installment of my Bucket List. What think you? Is it cheesy? Is it de riguere? Or is it more in line with what you feel a Bucket List should be? I am interested in your thought so please, share them with me.

And as always, be Blessed and enjoy life.