Do You Need to Kick the Bucket “List?”

What would you do if you knew you had 6 months to live?

I know that's a heady question, but we never take the easy road with our blogs.

If you don't know, that is the premise of an impressive 2007 movie, The Bucket List starring Morgan Freeman (a car mechanic) and Jack Nicholson (a billionaire). If you haven't seen it in a while, it's worth watching or re-watching. At a high level, it's about two terminally ill patients committing to doing the things they have always wanted to do before they die.

I don't know which came first, like the chicken or the egg. This thought-provoking movie or the desire to make a list of things to accomplish before you die. Since death often comes out of nowhere, the "do it now" mantra vibrates in my head.

So, what is a bucket list?

Basically, it's that "gotta do" stuff we have never gotten around to doing. A definitive plan, a blueprint. It is typically written down, executed, and added to throughout your life. Of course, the easy part is writing it down. I want to travel to Mongolia someday, to drive an Indy 500 car and experience the Kentucky Derby. These are personal ideas of accomplishments I want off my plate before I kick the bucket.

The more complicated part of the plan is finding the time to accomplish it. As "they" say, life sometimes gets in the way, and you never know when your time is up here, so "do it now" because "someday" may never come.

The question is whether this is a solo endeavor or something to be shared with family, friends, or grandkids? If the top-of-mind answer isn't grandkids, I will challenge you to ask yourself, why not? That doesn't mean that every bucket list plan should involve grandkids. After all, no parent will want their 3-year-old bungee jumping from the Verzasca Dam in Switzerland or running the Iditarod in Alaska. Look at each item on your list, your grandkids' age, and your completion timeframe. Don't tell yourself that you'll wait until your grandkid is older to accomplish this item. Just plan it and do it with or without grandkids. This is your personal bucket list. Your personal accomplishments to feel good about completing at the end of your life.

Now the movie is not all about travel and adventure, even though research says that 73% of the people surveyed believe travel was their #1 bucket item. A discussion ensues about standing at the gates of heaven and the questions being asked is, if you found joy in your life AND have you brought joy to others. Wow.

This, to me, is about the legacy and impact we have on others. How did you touch the lives of your grandkids and kids while you are here? Are you a role model? Put that on your bucket list and do it. No airline tickets, no cost, just planning, and action.

So, have you written your bucket list? What do you what to accomplish?

Now, it's time to boot up your computer or grab a pen and paper and start writing that bucket list or adding to it. Remember, we never know when our time is up here, so there needs to be a sense of urgency. Squeeze everything out of life while you can.

Follow us at cjcorki.com and share your bucket list, before you kick the bucket. If you need a little help getting started, take a look at some of the amazing goals we suggest.