Do you have a bucket list? That is, a list of things you’d like to accomplish before you kick the bucket?
I never created one for myself — the truth is, my reverse-bucket-list is a lot more spectacular than any list I would’ve come up with 10 years ago. A reverse-bucket-list names what you’ve already experienced or accomplished. (If you’re curious, my list is here.)
It’s a fun list. And I imagine many people reading this blog would list incredible things about themselves. Things that I’d love to hear you tell me about over a drink or coffee. Experiences made possible by expanded opportunities for women and minorities and commoditized air travel, things that folks born two generations ago might not have imagined. (My father, born in 1921, did see much of the world during World War II, though it was via Navy submarine and it wasn’t a pleasure trip. My mother barely left the tri-state area.)
The next step, my goal for 2012, is not to necessarily to have more adventures. (Though, I’d rarely turn one down.) The next step is to foster something that a fast-paced lifestyle, born out in a digital age, has made scarce: Community.
Rather than using my spare resources (ie: money and time) to stack up concert tickets and passport stamps and fitness goals like poker chips, my goal is to strive for more in-person connection. To savor face-to-face conversations and tactile shared experiences.
I think we could all use a little more community.
Wishing you many blessings in 2012.
— ### —
If you liked this post, you might like:
We love consistency but need change: Voila, the seasons
Simplicity gains momentum, but at what cost?
Simple life lessons: Following a leadership pattern
Five ways to lead a more analytic life
An illustration: Smart phone goes here
Politics is just politics, not citizenship nor community
Have you thought about death today?
A paradox of modern life: Comfort is a noose
How to become a runner (inspiration for everyone)
Why the passage of time confounds us
Gracefully surrendering the things of youth
When the world underestimates you, keep showing up
Love the reverse bucket list idea! And wow, I never knew you were on Wheel of Fortune. 🙂
Hi Andrea!
I love your last goal. We should sometimes think what’s good for our community. And if we still have spare money, we should not waste it for something less important. Let us help other people, especially the less fortunate ones.
Happy New Year!