i’ve become a bucket list control freak

Desert Springs sunrise

I’m at the gorgeous J.W. Marriott Desert Springs today, getting ready to do something that may be on my bucket list.

You see, whether itā€™s actually on my list will depend on whether or not I actually end up doing it.

I know. Iā€™m a bucket list control freak.

Iā€™ve realized that I can no longer make a real list because Iā€™m afraid if I donā€™t do everything on it, Iā€™ll be leaving unfinished business. That kind of freaks me out because it seems like something that would make you have regrets. Who wants to leave unfinished business for eternity? And who needs to feel regret over something that wasn’t even worthy of a true bucket list item in the first place?

Will you really regret that you never went skydiving? I can emphatically say, NO! But you can bet that if somehow I found myself landing safely after a skydive, I would definitely say I can now check that off my bucket list. And let me also definitely say that I am not skydiving today. Mom, you can relax!

My new strategy is to wait until after Iā€™ve done whateverĀ to say I’m checking that item off the list.

Iā€™m sure this was not the intention of whoever came up with the idea of the bucket list. But I like it. It makes me feel like I’m accomplishing more.

So stay tuned. If I do this thing today, Iā€™ll be reporting back tomorrow about the cool item I checked off my bucket list.

And if I donā€™t, well, it was never on my bucket list to begin with.

What might be on your list?

57 thoughts on “i’ve become a bucket list control freak

  1. It looks amazing there! I never thought to create one, but now I think I just might! Thanks for the inspiration. I also agree with your whole take on the bucket list thing. I like it!

  2. You have a great bucket list and I hope you do what you’re thinking of doing. (is it skydiving??) I’m really looking forward to reading about it in tomorrow’s blog. Have fun!

  3. Lois, I’ll relax when I read tomorrow’s blog.

    Love the picture of the J.W. Marriott Desert Springs. Will add it to my bucket list as a place to go to.

  4. I have never had a written bucket list, but, I have everything I want to do right here in my head. I just hope I get them all done before I get too old and forgetful.

  5. I love it! My hubs and I have what we call Our List! We don’t want to call it a bucket list, because there’s really no bucket involved. We’re not planning on kicking the bucket any time soon, but our list is an important part of our journey. I’d love it if you’d pop over and take a look! I wrote about our list at http://ow.ly/E4iLG! Love your blog! Can’t wait to find out what you did!

    Lynn

  6. I don’t have a bucket list. It’s akin to NY resolutions. I find that life throws me a ton of curve balls, so I end up getting frustrated if I plan too much. Have a good time at the resort. Pretty and mild climate. We’re buckling down for a winter cyclone (some fancy name for a dramatic dip in the temps).

  7. Like you, I don’t have an actual list, either. Who wants to fail at a bucket list, for heaven’s sakes?

    Still, there are several things I would like to do — skydiving isn’t one of them, though. šŸ™‚

    I can’t wait to hear what you’ve got up your sleeve!

  8. You are brilliant. And here I have been contemplating the whole, 52 weeks of living a more adventurous life (or something like that) Ha, it’s probably, 52 things that will scare the crap out of you! Anyway I was thinking of it for my 52 birthday. But after reading this? Hmmmm you have some great points. Hope you do it, whatever it is, with all your heart! Love you my friend!

  9. Oh I love this idea! Maybe there needs to be a “pre-bucket list” or “an items to consider promoting to a bucket list”. Some things are better on paper and when faced with the actual moment of truth, their importance/significance fades.

    I would like to create another kind of list – one that focuses not on tangibles – not the “nouns” and/or “verbs” but emphasizes how those nouns and/or verbs make us feel. Kind of like this potential entry: “I want to taste something that is so good it makes me want to cry!”

  10. I’ve thought of making a bucket list, but I’m like you and wouldn’t want to leave it unfinished. Still, there are a lot of things I want to get done before I die!

  11. Right now I am too tired to think of a Bucket List item. Mine would be to just finish unpacking all the boxes and be settled into our new home.

  12. I don’t have a bucket list, well not one that includes anything amazing, mine are just little things, things I once would have done without thinking but now take more energy that I wish to think about. But I will do them again one day. x

  13. I have heard of the idea of the bucket list and I like your take on it. I have never constructed a bucket list. In some ways creating a bucket list brings about the on the BIG existential issues of the human condition and the realities of how finite life is

  14. I’ve been known to write my “to-do” list at the end of the day, just so I can check off all the things I did. You have no idea how much I can relate to the control freak in you. šŸ™‚

  15. I have a list that I need to go through myself. I haven’t done anything on it yet but I plan on getting them done as soon as I’m done with work.

  16. Funny! I never have liked the term “bucket list”. I do however love adventures and love being spontaneous and living life to the fullest every single day! It’s never steered me wrong. Good for you!

  17. Good luck if you follow through and like you said, if you don’t…it wasn’t meant to be. Can’t wait to read a bit more about it. I do not have a bucket list. I just enjoy life.

  18. I have a Pinterest board bucket list where I stick things that might be fun to do someday, but like you I don’t have a real one for those same fears. The only thing I would really like to do in life is see my friends and family in Ireland.

  19. I have a travel bucket list on Pinterest, and a list of other things in my head. It’s definitely slow going getting things crossed off, but I hope to one day. A girl can dream, right?

  20. That place looks amazing! I would go visit in a heartbeat. I like your philosophy!! LOL. That’s my philosophy too. I would love to hipline but I am also horrified of heights so maybe it will never happen. In which case I never ever said that.

  21. That’s a great way to ensure everything on your list gets checked off. šŸ˜‰ I have a mental list too, but it changes as my whims do…except the travel, that always stays.

  22. I actually have two bucket lists. One that actually have attainable things & one that is made up of my wildest dreams. That way if I don’t get to it all, at least completing the more attainable one would be good enough for me.

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