What's on Your Bucket List?

Climb Mt. Everest.  Swim the Amazon.  Ride a camel through the desert.

What's on your bucket list?

I admit, I don't have one.  Since it seems so important to have one - and anybody with any hopes or dreams seems to have one - I feel like I should have a list of all the stuff I want to do before I die.  But I don't.  It's not so much that I don't have hopes for adventures and aspirations and goals for my life.  I think it's partly because I'm constantly at awe at the things that could be on there that I'm nervous about limiting myself to the possibilities of what's in my own head.

I saw a picture the other day of a line of camels crossing the Sahara in National Geographic. All of the sudden, I wanted to see these animals in the hot sand. And I'm not so sure that I even like camels.  Of course, I've seen camels before and I've heard of the desert, but this picture said to me:

There is so much in this world to do and see, you can't even imagine it all.

That made me a little bit excited, thinking of all that's out there yet to be discovered and explored. About the world, but also about ourselves.  We know what we think we want to do or be, but what is there outside of our imaginations?  What would we do or who would we become if we just allowed ourselves to be open to the experiences and opportunities that came our way?  What would we have done with our lives if we knew all the options out there?  How many times have you heard of someone's job - whether in person or on a news program or National Geographic - and thought, "dang! I wish someone would've told me that was a job!"  Like an ice cream flavor tester. Where was this career path in all those brochures at the career development office?  No, they just gave us the options of accountant, lawyer, teacher. All great jobs, but wow, if I had known every option in the world, I don't know that I would have taken semester after semester of economics.

With all this thinking, another thought hit me, too.

There is so much in this world to do and see, you won't ever experience it all.

So I'll admit, that thought depressed me a little bit. It was the reality that my life could pass and I will never see those camels in the Sahara.  And that I may be too old, now, to begin a career as an ice cream flavor tester.  I should keep up my zoo membership and enjoy my scoop of mocha almond fudge.

But that doesn't make me not think of things that could go in my bucket.  I also am excited to see what just happens to fall into my bucket, without me ever expecting it.

What's on your bucket list?

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances