How to Use a Bucket List for a More Meaningful Life
If we did the things we were capable of, we would astound ourselves. – Thomas Edison
This week I got to check something off my bucket list- a great escape to the island of Santorini, Greece. Santorini is undeniably one of the most beautiful places on earth.
I’m not sure what first sparked my interest in visiting the Greek Isles. Was it pictures in 5th grade world geography or one of those jet way wall murals that haunts you forever? Maybe it was the setting of a movie I can’t remember, or a picture in my Greek textbook at seminary? (Wait, that book didn’t have pictures!)
I guess it doesn’t matter. For as long as I can remember I have had an Eden-echo in my soul, calling me to this place. Hence its high position on my bucket list.
Speaking of “bucket list,” where did the idea come from? The 2007 movie entitled, “The Bucket List” by Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson embedded the term in our social vocabulary. Two terminally ill men escape the cancer ward with a to-do-list to accomplish before they “kick-the-bucket.”
What about you- do you have a bucket list? Have you recorded a set of goals to accomplish or things to do before you die? If not, why not start one? If so, when was the last time you checked something off?
While basking in sunset of my Aegean paradise, I reflected on some of the steps I have taken to fulfill my dreams. And I thought about you- friends, acquaintances, fellow ministers, and anonymous blog readers. What is really required to propel us toward our dreams?
I sketched out a short blog series that I hope will assist you, whether you’re excited to start, ready to refresh, or even feeling too overwhelmed to think about the future.
Here are some upcoming posts…
- How do you get started with a bucket list anyway? In the first post I will overview five kinds of aspirations.
- Is it selfish to be a Christian and have a bucket list? In the second post I will share four ways to redeem your life dreams.
- Once you have bucket list, where is it easy to get stuck? In the third post I will cover the five obstacles to enjoying your life more.
- What can I do today to make the most of my bucket list? In the fourth post, I will reveal the four essentials to getting your list done!
Wherever you are this summer, I hope you have time for some rest, reflection and planning.
If this series interests you, I could use your help. How would expand this blog series and what question would you explore? What is one of your bucket list accomplishments that you would be excited to share?
