Death is an everyday thing in our lives. However, we do not know when it will be our time to leave this earth. So, we create lists—lists of things we want to accomplish before we, as they say, “Kick the bucket.” We make these lists as a way to secure ourselves to this earth and to give ourselves a reason to accomplish and do things that we cannot see ourselves doing in our regular lives. Even though we could accomplish these things on our own, we do not. So the thought of our own deaths motivates us to push outside our comfort zones and into the exciting unknown.
The problem with most of us is that we are too chicken to accomplish most of these things without death staring us in the face. While I am not personally facing the grim reaper myself, the man who has inspired me the most is on his deathbed due to cancer. But throughout his life I have seen him affect mass amounts of people through his words and deeds. He has inspired me not to wait until I don’t have the time to try and achieve some of my life goals.
Whether your list consists of small accomplishable items or large worldwide adventures, you shouldn’t have to wait until death is nearing to start living. Due to the recent decline in the health of my mentor, I have decided to start checking off my list. Slowly but surely, I am going to start accomplishing some of my smallest and my biggest dreams.
Growing up with a dad working in media, I have been constantly surrounded by someone who was unafraid to put themselves and their work on display for the world to see and judge. While that might make some people more comfortable with the idea of publishing their work, the idea made me fearful of the harsh judgment and potential criticism of others. I have always told myself that one day I would get over this mental roadblock and publish something for the world to see without hesitation, and this article is my push to do so. In writing this piece for all too see, I am coming to terms with the possibility of judgment from others, and even more, I am open to it.
I think that is the whole point of creating a bucket list: not to just create a list of things to do before you die, but to push yourself to go above and beyond anything you had previously imagined. By writing this article, I am not only crossing something off my bucket list, I am stepping out of my metaphorical box and declaring to the world, “Here I am, and I don’t care what you think of me.” So here is my challenge to you: put yourself out there this week, cross something off your bucket list, and smash those personal walls down. You wont believe what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it.