I am innately a scaredy cat. Big time scaredy cat. To add to that I’m also a rule follower. Yeah… I’m the girl that wants to ask permission and always weighs safety into my decisions. Sometimes this is good but many times that makes me miss out on adventures because I’m too nervous to just go for it. So what do you do when you want to be adventurous but are naturally a play it safe kind of girl? You make a bucket list. I mean it! This is not just for older people! In my early 20s I sat down and made a bucket list, something that I could constantly adjust, add to, cross off of etc. Something that was going to hold me accountable for the dreams I said I wanted to see/do. My bucket list lets me look at opportunities that come to me and grab them. Instead of just passing up opportunities because of safety scenarios or timing, my bucket list encourages me to take the leap and go.
Odd isn’t it how a word document on my computer can have such a hold on me? I love it though! One because it feels amazing to cross things off my list but also because it is constantly evolving and making me live a more fulfilling life. I used to be a girl who was perfectly happy sitting by in my home and not seeing the world. I wasn’t interested in traveling and didn’t have the interest to experience anything beyond my current view point.
What changed? I traveled. I went abroad for a spring break trip in college to Ireland and thought, oh my gosh, the world is amazing! Cliche right? Well it’s true. I got home immediately afterwards sat down at my computer and wrote my bucket list. I became instantly hungry for more! I want to see everything, see all the beauties that God created for us to enjoy.
Currently I’m on my second cross country road trip. When I told people about my trip a handful said “Didn’t you already do that?” Ummm yes… but, there is so much more to see! Plus I get to adjust my bucket list with new things. This whole trip has been a combination of checking things off my bucket list and adding more things to it. To be honest, sometimes I cheat…. yeah. I’ll go do things that I love and never thought to do and then afterwards, I’ll add them to my bucket list and then immediately check them off…. not ashamed and let’s be honest it just feels good to check things off a list.
My most recent bucket list adventure? Monument Valley! Which is where the image below was taken, talk about a place that makes you feel so incredibly small. I mean, I know I’m short but… I think anyone standing next to these massive structures would just feel in awe. It’s a beautiful feat and will get it’s own blog post (another thing you can get excited about)!
My bucket list is below and you can check out my Pinterest Board “Oh the Places I’ll Go” by clicking the link. What’s on your bucket list? Don’t have a bucket list? Make one. Yes! Do it! Open a word document and just write down one thing you want to do before you die, you won’t regret it.
Places to See
- Great Wall of China
- Niagra Falls
- India
- Thailand
- Europe (all of it) 🙂
- Redwood Forest
- Costa Rica
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- San Fransisco
- Yosemite National Park
- Yellowstone National Park
- Angel Oak Tree
- Carlsbad Caverns
- New Orleans
- Nashville
- NASA space center (Houston)
- Monument Valley
- Four Corners
- Blarney Castle – Ireland
- Dublin -Ireland
- Cliffs of Moher -Ireland
- San Diego
- Kiawah SC
- Charleston SC
- Harry Potter World
Things to do:
- Ride a hot air balloon
- Hot Air Balloon Festival
- Ride an Elephant
- Castle tour of Europe
- Visit Brooksie in Amsterdam 🙂
- Sky diving (although I’m really afraid of heights so it probably won’t happen…)
- Drive the Coastal Highway through California
- See the pyramids in Egypt
- Run a half marathon (Disney)
- Watch the sunrise at the beach
- Go to Busch Gardens and ride the roller coasters
- See the horses of Assateague
- Ride a Camel
- Work with kids of low income or who are at risk.
- Work with a student teacher
- Get published for photography
- Go to the Click Away Conference
- Do a coaching session with an established photographer
- Get a dog
- Watch the sunset on a West Coast beach
- Rafting in the Grand Canyon
- Swimming in the Colorado River (dunking)
- Drive across the country
- Shoot a gun (skeet shooting)
