Bucket List

“The Bucket List” is an amazing movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, if you’ve never seen it it is worth a watch. The write up on it is this “Two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die.” They have a list of things they want to do before they kick the bucket.

I laughed and cried in equal measure when I watched that movie. I just watched the trailer again and it set it all off – again! I’m a sucker for a movie like that.

BUT it brings home a point.

So, do you have a bucket list?

Stopping Short

Yes? If you have I’d love to know what’s on your list and if you’ve started it, drop me a response.

No?

If not, why not?

Are you waiting for the day they tell you you’ve got something major wrong with you and then you’ll go pack everything in that you wanted to do whilst you were relatively healthy but didn’t?

Or have you just never thought about it?

I’d never given it much thought myself in all honesty.

Until now.

And it isn’t as a result of “something”, although it just happens to coincide with “something”.

No, I’d been thinking for a while I’d love to have a go at surfing. My childhood holidays were spent in Cornwall and there are some fantastic areas there to have a go.

I remember watching people learning, from the lesson on the beach to slowly building up to getting in the water.

And I was fascinated by the whole thing. The balance required on the board once you were in the water (or should that be “on”?), the flow of the body as you and the board become one riding the waves, the smiles on the faces of those who’d managed to stay on the board, you could feel the energy off of them.

Yet, I’d never given it a go.

Until now.

Only I stopped short of doing the booking.

Why?

Thought.

My thoughts went on a trip and I disappeared down the rabbit hole with it.

“Seriously, you want to do THAT? What in the world are you thinking you’ll never manage to stay on the board, you’ll make an absolute spectacle of yourself....” the list went on, every negative I could conjure up came up and out.

Two days passed and it was niggling away at me. I really wanted to give it a go.

I went back to the website. Women only lessons, I figured I wouldn’t look or feel so much of an idiot but then again maybe they’d judge me even more harshly, but then again maybe they’d make me feel ok and give me girlie hugs if I did screw up.

See what I was doing to myself there?!

Cue the eye roll.

Freak Out or Wipe Out 

I filled out the online form, freaked out slightly over the injury and death waiver, filled in my payment details, hovered momentarily over the submit button then bashed the mouse in defiance as I clicked on submit.

I knew there was a no refund policy. I picked that surf lesson for very good reason. It was an investment as I’d booked for the whole weekend. I didn’t want to back out of it. If there was a refund policy my ego knew I had an out and I knew I’d use it.

A few minutes later my booking was confirmed.

And then something weird happened.

The excitement and defiance I’d had moments earlier left me and I had that sinking feeling “what on earth have I just done?” I am going on a weekend away with total strangers doing something I’ve never done in an environment I’m not entirely comfortable with.

Yes, I like the beach and I absolutely love the sea, especially first thing in the morning with no one else around.

It’s being IN the sea I have a problem with. I get cold – quickly. And I feel the cold for hours after. I knew all the equipment was supplied, I knew everything was catered for yet my thoughts were still steering me into the ‘what if’ scenario. “What if you get cramp in your ribs and can’t breathe properly”, “what if you get cramp in your legs and can’t swim properly”.

My problem?

My thoughts.

I started to scare myself stupid with my thoughts.  I may have said this before, I have a quote framed on my wall, it’s a Michael Neill quote:

“We are not afraid

of what we think we are afraid of...

we are afraid of

what we think”

I’m going next summer. I will go by train and will be collected the other end.

I WILL cross this off my bucket list you never know I may get completely hooked.

 What’s On Your List?

The next one on my list is a flying lesson or flying experience. I thought I’ll stick with an experience that way the pilot has total control and I can enjoy the flight. But then, that’s just sitting in my comfort zone, ok true I’ve never flown in a light aircraft so that’s pushing my boundary somewhat but why not go all in and actually TAKE control. What’s stopping me?

My thoughts. Like Alice disappearing down the rabbit hole again “what if you press the wrong button”, “what if the engine stalls”, “what if.....”

Also on my list is to stand next to a horse without freaking out. I don’t have a very good track record with horses. I think they are beautiful magical creatures but they can seriously freak me out.

Or is it really them that freak me out?

The absolute ultimate for me though as an aviation nut, is to do a fighter jet experience. It’s one heck of an investment but I figured if I invest in it I won’t back out. I’ve watched trailer experiences and it’s sent shivers down my spine. I’m not entirely sure what I want to get out of it other than to say I’ve done it. I’m not entirely sure I really want to do it BUT I really want to do it. It would be a dream come true.

How far will I go? I don’t know but there will only be one thing that makes me back out.

Thoughts.

“We are not afraid of what we think we are afraid of.......”!

So, do you have a bucket list now?

If not, why not?

Get in touch, lets swap stories.