Your Bucket List
It's For Everyone
A bucket list isn't just something you create when you feel the end is near. It's for every age and every ability. I'd urge you not to wait until the last moment to suddenly realise that you desperately wanted to do something, see somewhere or meet someone. Wherever you are in life, it's never too late - or too early - to decide on a journey to something special.
A bucket list is a personal record of the experiences, achievements, relationships and goals you want to pursue in the time you have, at any age, not just when death feels close. The most meaningful ones go beyond popular templates to reflect what would genuinely bring you fulfilment or closure. Writing one down and reviewing it regularly is one of the simplest ways to ensure your life stays pointed in the direction that actually matters to you.
I started my bucket list in my late thirties. What I found was that writing it down changed how I thought about my weeks and my money, in a useful way. Some items have been ticked off, some have quietly dropped off the list as I've changed, and a few have stayed stubbornly near the top for years. Probably the ones worth taking seriously.
Beyond Skydiving and Swimming with Dolphins
Let's be honest. Most bucket lists look suspiciously similar. Skydiving. Northern Lights. Swimming with dolphins. Seeing the Pyramids. All wonderful experiences, certainly, but they've become something of a template rather than a genuine reflection of individual desires.
A truly meaningful bucket list isn't about ticking off a universal set of spectacular experiences before you kick said bucket. It's about identifying what would bring you genuine fulfilment, joy, or closure in the time you have, however long that is.
What's the Point of YOUR Bucket List?
Before listing activities, consider what you're actually trying to achieve before you die:
Is it about experiencing pure joy and pleasure?
Facing fears and overcoming limitations?
Creating lasting memories with loved ones?
Achieving something that feels significant?
Finding closure or healing in certain areas of life?
Expressing your authentic self in ways you've held back?
Your answer will shape what belongs on your list and what doesn't.
Beyond Experiences: Different Types of Bucket List Items
A well-rounded bucket list might include:
1. Personal Growth
What skills or knowledge have you always wanted to acquire? Learning isn't just for the young, and mastery brings deep satisfaction. Perhaps:
Learning a language you've always admired
Finally understanding how to read music
Mastering a craft that's always intrigued you
Reading those classic books you've pretended to have read
2. Relationships
Some of the most meaningful bucket list items involve other people:
Having that difficult conversation you've been avoiding
Reconnecting with someone from your past
Expressing gratitude to someone who changed your life
Creating a special experience with each of your children or grandchildren
3. Legacy Items
What mark do you want to leave on the world?
Mentoring someone in your field
Writing down family stories or recipes
Creating something that will outlast you
Supporting a cause that matters deeply to you
4. Simple Pleasures
Not everything needs to be grand or expensive:
Watching the sunrise from a specific location
Finding the perfect cup of coffee
Reading a book from cover to cover in one sitting
Dancing in the rain without caring who sees
Making It Happen: From List to Life
A bucket list that remains perpetually on the horizon isn't much use. For each item, consider:
Timeframe – Is this something to plan for next month or in five years?
Resources needed – Money, time, physical ability, help from others?
First step – What's the smallest action you could take to move toward this?
Obstacles – What might prevent this from happening, and how can you address that?
The Anti-Bucket List
Almost as important as what you want to do is clarity about what you don't. What experiences are others telling you that you "should" have, but don't actually appeal to you? What expectations are you carrying that aren't truly yours?
Permission to remove these from your list is hereby granted.
Evolving, Not Set in Stone
The best bucket lists evolve as you do. What seemed vital at 40 might feel less important at 60, and that's perfectly fine. Review your list periodically, celebrating what you've accomplished and reassessing what still matters.
Sometimes the greatest items are those you couldn't have imagined when you first created your list.
Getting Started: Reflection Questions
If you're staring at a blank page, try answering these:
What did you love doing as a child that you've lost touch with?
What would you attempt if you knew you couldn't fail?
What experiences do you find yourself envying in others?
If money were no object, but you still had limited time, what would you prioritize?
What would make you feel like you've truly lived your life on your terms?
The Ultimate Purpose
Remember, a bucket list isn't about creating an Instagram-worthy life or impressing others with your adventures. It's about ensuring that when you reach the end, you'll look back with satisfaction rather than regret.
As the poet Mary Oliver wrote in The Summer Day, "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Your bucket list is your answer to that question. Make it count.
Downloadable Bucket List Template
I've created a worksheet that guides you through a thoughtful process of creating a meaningful bucket list that really reflects who you are and what matters to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a bucket list?
It's a personal record of experiences, goals and achievements you want to pursue before you die, whenever that turns out to be. The term comes from "kicking the bucket," but a good one is about living intentionally now, not just ticking off items before the end.
Do I need money to have a meaningful bucket list?
No. Some of the most meaningful items on this page's own examples, a difficult conversation, watching a sunrise, learning a skill, cost nothing at all. Expensive travel is one category of bucket list item, not the definition of one.
How often should I update my bucket list?
Revisit it every year or two, or whenever a major life change happens. What matters to you at 30 often looks different at 60, and a list that never changes probably isn't being looked at.
Is having a bucket list morbid?
Not at all; if anything it's the opposite. It's a tool for living more intentionally, and plenty of people in excellent health keep one simply to make sure they're not drifting through life on autopilot.
Do bucket list items have to be big, dramatic experiences?
No. As covered above, some of the strongest items are quiet and personal rather than grand; a well-rounded list usually mixes both scales.
Should I do my bucket list items alone or with others?
Either, depending on the item and what you're hoping to get from it. Some experiences are more meaningful shared with someone specific; others are precisely valuable because they're yours alone.
“I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions of years before I was born and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience.”
Mark Twain (author)
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