Build your dream bucket list

Having a well-developed bucket list will make it easier for you to (a) stay focused on your savings, training, and goals and (b) take advantage of sales and holiday weekends. Rather than a list of countries or monuments (that are likely on everyone’s bucket list), I want you to dig a little deeper into who you are to build your bucket list. What experiences do you really connect with? What activities do you find the most rewarding? Is there a place, an animal, a part of history that you’ve always been drawn to? Have you read 1 book 764 times?

Here are some prompts to get you thinking about you:

What did you love to do as a kid?

Maybe you loved rocks or rockets or the beach or bugs… maybe you climbed trees or made crafts. Did you (also) want to be a dolphin trainer at Sea World? Maybe it’s been a very long time since you’ve thought about or done any of these things. Why not channel little you and make some of those dreams come true?

Whatever it was you loved as a kid, I promise you there’s a trip out there for you. They even have ADULT SPACE CAMP (yes, you read that right.). You can build your bucket list for you at any age or any part of who you are.

Have you ever seen someone else’s trip and been a little jealous?

You know that moment. You’re scrolling through Instagram or tiktok (or facebook) and you see someone on a boat or with a dolphin or at Machu Picchu, and you think- Damn (or Ugh Bitch). Rather than push those uncomfortable feelings away, write down or acknowledge what that person was doing that elicited that response in you. Turning towards these feelings will give you a better idea of what you actually want in life.

Think about how you want to feel on your trip and after.

1. If you go on vacation to run away from your daily life, I encourage you to take a hard look at your daily life. 2. The most successful trips aren’t just about the activities; they are also about the feelings. And not just alcohol induced dopamine hits – real feelings. What makes you feel alive or connected to your ancestors or proud? Where do you feel free or the most calm? Try to connect your feelings with activities, places, concepts, etc.

Story time. In 2019 I was working a very demanding big-law job, and my mom was battling a myriad of mental and physical health struggles. Every moment of my life was dedicated to work or my family. I was so stressed that at one point, I lost track of the days, started looking forward to Labor Day, and then realized it was Sept. 12. I tried dinging into my apartment with my work key card multiple times. Things were not good, but I didn’t really know how bad there were. In February 2020 I flew to Borneo to see orangutans and scuba dive. On my last day of diving, I skipped a dive and spent 20 ish minutes snorkeling with manta rays. Gliding through the water, the mantas swam towards me and under me. In those moments, nothing else mattered. With tears in my eyes, I realized that I was feeling joy for the first time in a very (very) long time. I had forgotten how good joy felt.

Even if it’s been a very (very) long time since you’ve done something that’s felt super good, I promise you can find that feeling again.

Save posts and articles and/or follow creators that post about things you want to go do.

Every time you see someone doing something that looks really cool or interesting, save it!

unrelated to work or family, When was the last time you felt really proud of yourself?

Figure out what’s holding you back.

Is it money, time, or lack of a travel partner?  General fear of the unknown? Is it feeling like you don’t even know where to start? When you’re 80 years old and looking back on your life, what do you want to see? What stories do you want to tell? Life happens fast and our time on this big, beautiful planet is short. Build your bucket list with future you in mind!

Hopefully these prompts get you thinking a bit more about what would be the most meaningful trip for YOU! Even if you only wrote down a few half-baked ideas, it’s the start to the adventure of a life time.