Well, this has been one busy week and I for one, am happy it’s Friday! I had the most lovely day yesterday at our dear friend’s wedding to which there may be a couple of pictures of my boys shared later because I just can’t help it. I think they are the most handsome boys in the world! {gush over}
So for something fun to end the week, I thought I would share a reverse bucket list. I just recently heard of the idea from Erika and I loved reading hers! As you know, I’m a big fan of her blog and thinks she has some great ideas, so when I read this of course I was all in! I’m not sure if I can hit 100 like she did, but we will see.
In case you’re wondering what I’m talking about, a reverse bucket list is just what it sounds like; a list of what you HAVE done instead of what you hope to do. I think it’s a great way to realize just how much we actually have accomplished in our lives. For someone who is goal oriented and always looking towards the next accomplishment, this is a great exercise for me!
I hope you enjoy reading my list and if you decide to do one of your own, definitely come back and share the link with me so I can read it!
- Own my own home. It was brief, but I did.
- Get a college degree. I got three of them: my Associates, Bachelors and Masters.
- Go to the Bahamas.
- Parasail in the Bahamas.
- Go to Europe. (I’ve been to Germany, Luxembourg, France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Italy)
- Go to Portugal. (I’ve been to Lisbon, Sintra and Porto)
- Go to Washington, D.C. and tour the Capitol, see the Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial.
- Go to Berlin. I’m in love with the history of this city. I’ve been twice.
- See Alanis Morrisette in concert. Don’t judge me. I love her.
- See Incubus in concert. They are one of my favorites and I’ve seen them 5 times.
- See Fleetwood Mac in concert. Here’s one of the classics and I still have so many more to go.
- Go 4-wheeling through the sand dunes. (Nevada)
- Go 4-wheeling starting off in one city, along a mountain, through a forbidden area and ending up in a totally different city all the while in a Toyota 4-Runner, not an ATV. Awesome. (Nevada)
- Stand on the four corners in the US basically being in 4 states at once. (Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico)
- Go to Mardi Gras.
- Sing for the Pope.
- Stay the night in a convent.
- Find my soul mate.
- See a Cirque Du Soleil show. I’ve seen 4 so far.
- Take a fun weekend party cruise to Mexico.
- Go to Napa Valley and tour the vineyards with many wine samples.
- Go to a professional sports game. M and I saw the St. Louis Cardinals on his first trip to the states.
- Take a boat cruise alone The Seine River, France.
- Tour The Louvre.
- Tour The Vatican.
- Go to Cape Cod and put my feet in the Atlantic.
- Go to San Diego and put my feet in the Pacific.
- Try to snowboard; take lessons.
- Be on a bowling league.
- Be a Big Sister for Big Brothers & Big Sisters.
- Be a wish grantor for the Make A Wish Foundation.
- Work with terminally ill children. Best thing I have ever done.
- Take last-minute, spontaneous road trips.
- Be a bridesmaid.
- Have a child and become a mother.
- Ride a ferris wheel - this is huge for me because I’m terrified of them!
- Go to a zoo - my first was in Germany at age 32!
- See a wild horse while hiking to the top of First Creek in Nevada.
- Travel the Mediterranean Sea by jet boat from Naples to Capri.
- See the Blue Grotto while in Capri.
- Eat spaghetti in Rome.
- See the Red Light District in Amsterdam.
- Drink Belgian beer in the Grand Place marketplace in Brussels.
- Get a tattoo. I have 3 now.
- Piercings….well I have had 9 including the 2 “normal” ones on your ear lobes. I now only have 4, all on my ears but my not my ear lobes.
- Fly in a private plane. Definitely will never do that again. (Texas)
- Go jet skiing. (Nevada)
- Camp in the mountains. (Utah & Nevada)
- Camp in the sand dunes. (Nevada)
- Camp at the lake. (Nevada)
- Hike through Red Rock Canyon. (Nevada)
- Tube the Virgin River through Zion National Park. (Utah)
- Throw a massive Halloween party, turning your house into a scary, haunted scene, complete with “blood” spattered walls.
- Take the Rhein River cruise. (Germany)
- Meet my half-brother for the first time.
- Take a road trip by myself.
- Go to a movie by myself.
- Obtain legal residence in another country.
- See Hoover Dam.
- Ride in a limo….I’ve done this many, many times living in Vegas.
- Be a passenger in a VW 4×4 Beetle as it races through the desert and jumps over 6 feet in the air.
- Go to Disneyland.
- Go to Shedd Aquarium & Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago.
- Go inside the top of the St. Louis Arch and ride the crazy contraption to get up there!
- Learn how to change my own oil, tires and brakes.
- I have shot a gun at the range several times and used to own one.
- Go the NHRA drag races in the states and Hockenheimring in Germany.
- I’ve done my share of clubbing in Vegas, had VIP and table service, danced on the rooftops, bartops and after-hours parties.
- Spend the night in a log cabin.
- Ride the U-bahn in Germany, Paris Metro.
- Took my first real train ride when I went from Rome to Naples.
- Go to fasching among other German festivals. This is just my favorite.
- Go on a Port Wine tour and tasting in Porto, Portugal.
- Ride an ATV through the mountains.
- Toast in the worldwide Guinness toast.
- Try on some shackles while visiting a German castle.
- Be in a marching band.
- Go to the Notre Dame in Paris.
- Watch a scary movie by myself, alone.
- Be trained and certified in crisis intervention.
- Be a medical social worker in a children’s hospital.
- Try sushi. I did and I love it!
- Create and implement a whole new program into an organization.
- Make the Dean’s list in college.
- Go to the Detroit Auto Show.
- Learn to drive a stick. My first car was a standard, I’m proud to say.
- Go snorkeling in the Bahamas.
- Cook a Thanksgiving dinner on my own.
- Give food to the homeless.
- Go to a German football (soccer) game. I even wore the gear that M bought for me! So fun!
- Paint a room in my house on my own.
- Get Lasik eye surgery.
- Put blue streaks in my hair.
- Change my hair color.
- Pet a snake.
- Marry my soul mate.
- Own my dream car which was a Toyota Tacoma quad cab 4×4.
- Walk, dance and play in the rain.
- Stand in a church older than my home country.
- Choose to be a survivor, not a victim.
Phew! There you have it. They are in no particular order and I tried to share some photos along the way. I also kept it positive and left some of the “darker” accomplishments out by summing them all up in the last one. I also could’ve gone on about my travels, but I wanted it to be more than just the places I’ve been.
Let me just say, it was amazing to take this mental tour of my life. I know I am blessed to love the life I have lived, but to see it on paper makes it all the more real and all the more amazing. I hope you’ll share yours with me.
Wow, you’ve done A LOT! Believe it or not, I read the whole thing
I almost saw Incubus… I bought my boyfriend tickets for Christmas a few years ago but the concert was cancelled due to illness. Who knows if/when Incubus will come back to Europe…
Port tasting in Porto… I want to do that!
Not a reverse bucket list, but I did write a series of “things I have done before 30″ - here’s part 3: http://confuzzledom.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/things-i-have-done-before-30-part-3-education-and-skills/ There are links to the first two parts at the end of the post.
Haha! Thanks. I know it ended up being long but it was fun to do. Oh that’s a shame they canceled. Hopefully they will come back.
I’ll have to check out your list!
What a great list! I’ve done #2 #5 #7 #10 #18 #19 #28 #30 (equivalent to BBBS) #33 #34 #36 #37 #39 #42 #43 #45 #47 #48 #50 #60 #62 #70 #71 #79 #80 #82 #84 #88 #91 #94 #95 #96 #98 #99. Wow looks like we have a lot in common!
Wow! We do have a lot in common!
I see you also just did a post on Capri. I fell in love with that place!
Awesome list! You have done so much, that’s really cool! #15 made me say, “wow!”
This list idea is great, maybe I will give it a go!
15? Mardi Gras? Yah that was an experience for sure. You should definitely try it! I never thought I had done that much but when you start writing it really hits you how much you have done. It’s really fun.
Oh, maybe I looked at the wrong number, I meant when you sang for the Pope, although Mardi Gras would be an interesting experience as well
Haha. I was waiting for someone to comment on that. I went to private school until high school and was in choir. We were chosen to sing for him while he was in San Antonio.
That is so cool!! Wow, that must have been an experience!
LOVE this list!
Thanks!
Phew, what a list! Nice idea!
Thanks! It was long but fun!
Fun list!! I am definitely going to do this - it sounds like such a great activity to really make you appreciate what you have done, not what you haven’t done (yet)!
It really is! I can’t wait to read yours with all you’ve done!
Great Idea! So Cute!!! I may add some of yours to a bucket list!
Haha! I don’t have a bucket list. I’d feel too bad if I didn’t compete it. Hello, type a personality!
LOVE this list! Such a fantastic way to remember.
Thanks! You should try it!
This is a great idea, and man have you guys done a lot! I can’t believe you’ve been to a St. Louis Cardinals game. I’m from St. Louis! Were you in StL or was it a game for your own team and they happened to be playing the Cardinals?
I might have to make my own reverse bucket list because this is awesome.
You are? Awesome! Actually it just happened by chance. We had some friends of mine for Vegas going to that game because the Cardinals were playing their team and we decided to meet up with them. It was a great time and we enjoyed St. Louis. It is really fun to make this list. Let me know if you do so I can make sure to read it!
Wow! What a list. I might have to think a lot about it before I make a list.
That’s what I thought too but once I started it just flowed!
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What a great idea and a fantastic list. You have an awful lot to feel good about. =) And you certainly have an adventurous spirit for a lot of things (like flying the plane - even if you won’t do it again). Now I think I might “borrow” this idea from you and Erika and do one myself.
Thank you! I’ve never been told I have an adventurous spirit. That’s such a compliment. I always feel like a big chicken! I hope you do! Can’t wait to read it!
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The Pope? What the??? Also, I want more details on you granting a wish… sounds like great karma.
Haha. I went to private Catholic school all the way until high school. While there I was in choir and we were one of the few children’s choirs selected to sing for him in San Antonio. The wish granting is mostly just like it sounds. I worked with dying children and their families and you make their wish come true. It can be a trip, meeting a celebrity, a bedroom makeover, shopping spree. It depends on how sick the kiddo already is and what would be best as well. I don’t know about good karma.
I do know that I’d love to work with terminally ill children again. It’s hard work but the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
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WOW, I could never. Even thinking about it makes me well up. Those jobs are for special people. God Speed if that’s you Deanna as those kids do need it.
Awww thank you. It definitely is me, but not sure I have that opportunity here, but if I find one I’ll take it!
phew - what a list - great idea - I like it - however, I wouldn’t be able to get to a 100!
You’d be surprised!
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Wow, you have done a lot of stuff! I am loving the reverse bucket lists, I really want to do my own but I can’t even remember half the stuff I’ve done. Haha.
I actually looked through some old photos and that helped a lot. Then, since I move a lot I tried to remember things by where I lived. Haha
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This was fun to read and I think it is great that some people are making these reverse bucket lists. I think we focus so much on what we are going to do or what we wish we could do that we don’t focus on all the fun and significant things we’ve already done in our lives!
Thanks! I agree and that’s what prompted me to do it. I spend a lot of my time focusing on my next goal or dream, thinking I have so much to accomplish, not realizing how much I already have!
Impressssssive! I love this idea. It was fun crossing off my own list from yours…things that I’ve forgotton about! 16? neat!! and 43 - is every time we have visitors! way cool. we did 23 last weekend!
Thanks! It was so much fun to do this. Yep, Brussels is always a fun place to take visitors!
I love this! I can’t wait to visit Washington DC. What a great list!
Thanks! DC was great from what I remember. It was a long time ago but maybe again someday!
Ooooooooh! I love this! Especially #16, where you say you sang for the Pope, because that’s the age at which Celine Dion sang for the Pope … Ironic ????? And # 35, because that’s the age when we both became moms! I want to steal this! Full kudos to you if I do. Not sure I can come up with 100 though!
Wow! You know, you are always able to point out things in my posts that I didn’t know or didn’t notice and that’s so awesome! Ha! I didn’t even realize I did that on #35….creepy subliminal moment I guess.
Blechhhhh! I’m now the creepy subliminal blog stalker!
Seriously, I was reading this post, and your next on postpartum depression, and thinking how much your blog has evolved in such a short time and how you touch on so many relevant topics. And then #16 made me realize that just like Celine, love her or hate her, you are destined for something great. Keep on writing, you make reading fun
Wow. I don’t even know what to say, but that is such an amazing compliment coming from someone whose writing I hold a very high respect and admiration for. Thanks 3B.
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Reblogged this on My Muted Voice and commented:
I’ve mentioned a few times lately in the comments of those I follow about writing a reverse bucket list. I thought I’d share the one I wrote over on my expat blog, From Casinos to Castles. It really is amazing the sense of accomplishment you feel when you write it all down. Let me know what you think!
I dunno. 18 and 96 are pretty close to being part of the same thing. };-)>
Great list. Nice to see that you’re living life.
Haha! Yes, I realized that today actually when I decided to reblog it. Thanks Nav!
You’re welcome, Deanna. I suppose this proves I read the whole list.
I notice that your list does not include “getting into the single malt whiskey and then phoning up the Admiral commanding a navy to invite yourself over for a chat.” You haven’t lived…
Haha! Yes it does prove that. Did you do that?!
Yep. Vice Admiral Jim Wood, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy. It’s in my non-fiction book, which hopefully will be out in a month or two. Let me know if you’re ever interested: [email protected]. Getting great feedback from the test readers, who say it’s a gripping read. If you hurry, you can beat Aussa Lorens - she has it but hasn’t had a chance to read it yet.
No worries if you’re not interested. Cheers.
Oh, I’ve been to Munich and Oberammergau twice. NATO school. Ah, sipping a 500ml Koenig Ludwig on sunny September afternoon in front of a live ompahpah band. And then another. And…
Ich spreche Deutsch nicht sehr gut…
That list is amazing (and I’m EXHAUSTED just reading it) - my first thought was about writing a post about each of those AMAZING experiences!! I loved the shackles picture
Glad to have found you!
Ich auch! Haha! You know, I never thought about it, but I should! This is blog is more about expat and mom life, but feel free to check out my other site at http://mymutedvoice.com for more writing pieces. Thanks for reading such a long list!
YOU. ARE. AMAZING!
Aww, thanks Lindsey!
What a phenomenal list!!
Thanks, Sarah!