Bucket List
Some of my favorite bloggers have “life lists” that they share. Honestly, I never even gave my bucket list a thought, even after the movie came out. The idea that doing fantastic things before you keel over and die seems like a mostly egoic endeavor to me. I mean, do I really want to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, or run a marathon, or is it just because I want to cross it off some list and give myself a proverbial pat on the back; as if that makes me that much more accomplished? What’s the purpose anyway? Live life to the fullest or some crap like that? And why is “living life to the fullest” often associated with physical feats?
The bucket list has been an inner conflict with me; between ego and egolessness and being remarkable versus being ordinary. Lately, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about it, especially as I am about to embark on a major life changing adventure to Asia; volunteering in India and moving abroad to the Philippines (countdown: three days).
Yes! I want to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and Run the Bataan Death March Marathon!
Ok, so I realize bucket lists are by nature, a bit selfish and self-centered, but so what? Lately, I’m a firm believer in taking care of the self (selfishly), as a whole, before you can give your whole self (selflessly) to a life partner or philanthropic endeavor. And what better way to accomplish this than the bucket list?
My bucket list hasn’t ever materialized in actual writing, but it’s certainly been floating around in the back of my head. Frankly, I’m not sure that I’m ready to write my complete bucket list, but I’m sure it will be ever changing and ever evolving. This year, I will embrace my bucket list. And start my “rough draft”.
The immediate bucket list for Asia 2010
(Ideas I want to start implementing this year)
- Learn Filipino Martial Arts: Eskrima (this is a weapons sport using sticks and knives)
- Go rock climbing – I’ve only done it once, at a rock climbing gym
- Learn how to swim
- Learn how to cook – Filipino cuisine!
- Start my own business – Pursue travel writing, web design and photography! (AKA: Take the Philippine tourism industry by storm)
- Become location independent
- Travel to the Chocolate Hills
- Visit Boracay
- Buy a handcrafted guitar from Cebu
- Meet some Filipino bloggers
- Try modeling – Or at least do photoshoots
- Lesbian sex
- Get back into painting and fine arts
- Learn my native tongue
- Volunteer at an orphanage – The reason why I’m going to India
- Add on to my tattoo
- Get my first marriage proposal(s) – Say no ^_~
The Rough Draft Bucket List
(Going all out; not limiting myself to “the impossible”)
- Get a black belt in martial arts
- Travel to Europe; particularly Greece
- Play fiddle in Ireland
- Practice yoga in India
- Join a Zen/Buddhist monastery – practice meditation
- Become fluent in another language – At least Filipino, but possibly more!
- Hike Mt. Kilimanjaro
- Hike the Appalachian trail
- Trek the Himalayas
- Travel to Machu Picchu
- Rock climbing and bouldering Smith Rocks
- “Make it” with my own design studio
- Participate in the No Pants Subway Ride in NYC
- Write and publish a book
- Get published in print!
- Become an activist (help change the world)
- See the Dalai Lama; visit Dharamsala where he lives in exile
- Run a Marathon – The Bataan Death March marathon is even more amazing because of the ties with my Philippine heritage
- Visit Japan, Thailand and China
- Have my own art gallery showing – sell paintings
- Learn flash, CSS, and php better
- Be able to do the splits – 3″ away!
- Be able to do at least 5 pull ups – I can do two!
- Stop eating meat long-term
- Go on an Alaskan cruise
- Volunteer at a panda conservatory
- See Tori Amos and Bjork live
- A New York City breaks for New Years
- Start my own non-profit project
- Pursue a masters degree
- Participate in the Day of Holi (Festival of Colors) in India
- Fiestas, parties, and celebrations throughout the world
- Complete my tattoo
- Have a Buddhist wedding
- Adopt a girl from China
- Perform in an orchestra again – Not since December 2006!
- Be in a string quartet
No, the bucket list does not have to be purely physical. Living life to the fullest does not have to mean conquering nature, but it’s safe to say that I have a bit of an adventurous streak in me.
What’s on YOUR bucket list?
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40 Responses to “Bucket List”
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Thank you for asking the question, And why is “living life to the fullest” often associated with physical feats? Been asking that myself.
Haven’t really thought of bucket list, but off hand – (it’s all see) See Galapagos Island, Machu Picchu, Ireland, English countryside.
And speaking of your bucket list, it appears to all be doable especially since you’ll do some travelling back to the homeland.
.-= Photo Cache´s last blog ..Sagrada Familia Part Three =-.
I still don’t quite know the answer to that myself..
I think it’s because it’s a good way to physically measure what we’ve done. to engage in all the senses.. to really grasp memory in the best ways. since we’re spiritual beings having a human experience, why not use it right?
I like your list. I don’t think there is any rule that the bucket list items have to be physical, it’s just that they commonly are. However, the items should mean something to you rather than just being something that sounds good. In short, you have to want it, rather than wanting to want it.
‘Naw mean?
.-= Martin´s last blog ..East Peak of Mt. Tam – No Cigar =-.
Hmm. I guess I see what you mean. I wouldn’t want to go sky diving. Certainly not on MY bucket list. The things on my list are things I truly want to do, but at the same time, some are stronger ‘wants’ than others. Like, I don’t think I am going to actively try to complete my entire bucket list (or even completely write a bucket list), but I know off the top of my head that black belt, marathon, painting, publishing, solopreneurship, and rock climbing are big ones for me (at least for the moment!).
“but I know off the top of my head that black belt, marathon, painting, publishing, solopreneurship, and rock climbing are big ones for me”
All good, kickass stuff. Why do you want these things?
hmm, good exercise.
Painting and publishing.. sort of fulfills my silly childhood dreams (artist and author). I’ve always had a talent for art but nothing I’ve spent a lot of time developing. But then it’s one of those things that I haven’t gathered passion/motivation to actually start working towards. That’s my problem.. Rock climbing; it feels very zen to me, which is appealing. You have to be in the moment and present of the problem. Martial arts; I want to kick some ass! Martial arts is really empowering. Marathon; I’ve run a couple 5ks and 10k and one of these days I’d like to run a marathon.. Even though I don’t consider myself much of a ‘runner’. Solopreneurship; I’m tired of the 9 to 5, I’m too much of a freebird. I think “personal projects” are more my style. They excite me more and I’m happier. I have relatively low risk so now’s a good time as any to try!
I seriously laughed out loud at your first paragraph! Can’t say I disagree with it. Fight the bucket list mentality!
.-= Keith´s last blog ..The Career Crisis =-.
I bounce back and forth with the bucket list mentality. I don’t think I would consciously pursue an actual list, but I do have things I want to do in the back of my head that I’ll take ‘mental note’ of. Then do it
I could potentially think of ‘amazing, cool’ things I’ve ALREADY done just to have all these things crossed off 
The whole thing is a bit silly.
In reply to your question over at my blog – it’s Barcelona, I’ve been running posts from my Barcelona visit in November of oh nine.
.-= Photo Cache´s last blog ..Sagrada Familia Part Three =-.
Sweet list Floreta, I know what you mean about doing stuff for the sake of it ‘I climbed a mountain/skydived’, etc.
By the way – Will you marry me?
There’s your # 17 complete
.-= AdventureRob´s last blog ..Mid-Week Photo Essay: Adelaide Zoo Part 1 =-.
lol! Clever one! And NO I won’t marry you hahaha! And yeah, it’s still hard to figure out ‘why’ I want to do certain things except for the sake of it. Hmm.
Oh my oh my… The one for 2010 was good.. then I read the rough bucket list and I think: OMG!! That’s like things you need 2 life times and a fortune to accomplish all that. Wow. If you do half of those, I will bow in front of you and commend you, hehe.
Good luck! And be sure I will be checking this list. We’ll see how things look next January, hehe..
.-= My Kafkaesque Life´s last blog ..EVA Air, fly me to her! =-.
Yeah, maybe I’m being too ambitious? Even half will be good
I feel like I’m meant for great things; even if they’re not on this list!!
I haven’t got a bucket list (yet) or a 101 in 1001 because they’re all such enormous lists I usually get intimidated by them!! I like to make smaller and more immediate goals – new year’s resolutions are great because it’s a handful of things I have one year to set out and do. And then if I so happy to do something huge and once-in-a-lifetime, I’ll add it to an “accomplishment” sort of life list – things I have done, rather than things I’d hope to but probably won’t
.-= Emily Jane´s last blog ..NO DAVIDS ALLOWED! (Or “The One With the Wedding Dress”) =-.
Yes, I think I’m more like you in that regard. I would rather add things after the fact I’ve done them so it’s things I’ve already accomplished (the mental clarity of seeing all those check offs!). I’m not sure if I’ll actually post my bucket list up like Doniree or Nicole has done. I don’t think I’m the type to keep this big looming list in front of me in life. Not that I’m not ambitious, but I do it differently!
Great post! I particularly liked this part: “I’m a firm believer in taking care of the self (selfishly), as a whole, before you can give your whole self (selflessly) to a life partner or philanthropic endeavor.”
Thanks so much for reading and commenting on my latest post
.-= Alexandra Hemrick´s last blog ..A Draft (to be titled/re-worked later) =-.
Thank you! It really is true, isn’t it
You are going to busy ’til the day you die with that list! I am so excited for you to begin your adventure. Are you feeling nervous with just a few days to go?
.-= Mara J.´s last blog ..Music is life =-.
yes! i am feeling nervous! i can’t believe it’s happening yet. haha. i’m feeling pretty emotional.. like i’m finally just beginning to discover myself.
lesbian sex? can you tell me how that works?
i’ve always been kinda curious because well, you know, there’s like penetration but not?
my roommate in college turned out to be a lesbian and i asked her once and she said it was just like w guys but only second and third base…which wouldn’t really count as sex to me…i mean…yeah….
.-= imerika´s last blog ..How I deter my own hook-ups =-.
lol!! yeahhh it’s basically what we’d consider 3rd base.. oral. and yeah, i’m not sure if I REALLY count that either, but, unless you’re going for like a strap-on or something.. those are pretty much your options.
“Join a Zen/Buddhist monastery — practice meditation
YES PLEASE!!! This bucket list is absolutely positively wonderful! I hope you’ll accomplish all of it and more (the nice thing about bucket lists is that as we grow and change, so do our lists ;D)
Have a lovely trip and make sure to make contact when you return!
ps- I’d love to swim through some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world… Australia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji… someday
ah that sounds amazing but I have to learn how to swim first
You’re already one step ahead of me!
Will definitely contact you when I get back! Hope you feel better soooon! <3
It sounds like you wanna compete with the Dos Equis guy for his title of Most Interesting Man in the World. Good luck to ya!
.-= Andrew´s last blog ..Rant: Liberalism Double-Take =-.
looking forward to seeing you scratch off your list
.-= Chase´s last blog ..Why Theology Thursdays Matter =-.
ahhh! yikes; i think i’m being too ambitious! even just acknowledging a buddhist wedding.. haha. me married, what? >_<
i won't get upset if none of these things on my list happen.
Greece- would love to go to Greece. The history there alone would overwhelm you!
Haven’t seen any links to your designs yet.
Mt. Kilimanjaro- I think this would be an awesome opportunity to escape all the media (that we love so dearly) just for a while- very reflective time I’m sure.
Design- Are you online yet?
No Pants Subway Ride- Never heard of this… sounds chilly this time of year.
ah! that’s because my site is tied in to my real name and i’m hesitant to merge still AND because that site needs to be rehauled (hasn’t been updated since 2005 when I was presenting my graduate portfolio) and because I have weird self esteem issues linked w/ my design talent/lack of experience thus far… i’ll figure it out..
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by floreta cui and floreta cui, Bevan Bird. Bevan Bird said: .@solitarypanda Great draft for a bucket list! Really interesting and ambitious… http://bit.ly/7GKOts : ) [...]
Hahaha getting proposed to and saying no was probably my favourite.
.-= Cheryl´s last blog ..Is there some truth to this or is it just a huge double standard? =-.
lesbian sex lesbian sex!
I love your bucket list and I’m very happy for you on your trip. I’m sure you’ll have so many amazing stories and experiences to share. Amazing….have fun : )
.-= Write Girl´s last blog ..Fun and Games =-.
i am VERY excited!! i leave tomorrow morning.. (technically today.. it’s late/early AM) i can’t believe it’s finally about to happen!!
heck YES!
I’ve actually never made a bucket list, but yours is awesome for this amazing journey you have in store. I can’t wait to see how it unfolds and how much you accomplish.
.-= MinD´s last blog ..Mork & Mindy. =-.
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A bucket list can be more of a “live your life to it’s fullest” list. I made one such list and will continue to improve upon it. Something like;
1) Help friends, family, those whom I can in any way as simply as possible.
2) Increase my mental, and physical condition always.
3) Continue to follow my dreams and develop new ones.
4) Realize that no one is perfect, find someone that will put up with me and make a wonderful family.
5) insert other crap here,,,,,,
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