Why my bucket list is completely empty

Having a bucket list, or at least, announcing that certain items are on it, is a thing now. "Before I die, I'm going to do the following." But I don't have a bucket list, and I don't really think other people should, either. Here's why.

I've seen a lot of death. Because I'm from San Francisco and am a lesbian and am in my 50s, I saw a lot of people die of AIDS at a very young age, with all their dreams and goals unfulfilled -- or even unacknowledged. That brutal period in history taught me many lessons, and one of them was simply this: If it's within your power at all, never put your dreams off.

That's a big "if," of course -- we all have jobs and responsibilities and financial constraints and physical limitations. But to the best of my ability, I've chosen to identify and live out my dreams as soon as I become aware of them, instead of compiling them into a pre-death to-do list.

I've moved from city to country and back again multiple times, changed careers more than once, moved from San Francisco to Michigan, had many wonderful dogs, traveled, formed new friendships in unexpected ways with people I couldn't have imagined meeting. I've had different kinds of cars, clothes, and hairstyles. I've become involved with a number of charities, learned to fundraise, and done pro bono work to help animals.

Your dreams may be more exotic than mine. I don't know. All I know is that putting off our dreams may mean never living any of them, so all you'll find on my bucket list is this: Don't wait.

Comments

[Portia]

I love this! And I subscribe to this theory too! Am doing things NOW -- if I run out of money I will have great memories and will stay home but traveling is incredibly important to me. Life is too short not to be enjoyed!

[Barbara]

Roger Ebert wrote that he hate, hate, hated the film "Bucket List" because when you are sick, you often cannot do any of the items on the bucket list.

[Cheryl Dodes]

I do not have a bucket list either. I have always sought out new challenges and new experiences. My life has gone in directions I would never have imagined or thought possible. A bucket list would be way too confining for me!