Jun
12
What’s in a bucket?
Something a little different this week. When I write Green Tips, I try to take examples from what I am doing in my life in real time. Nothing was flowing smoothly for this post, so I decided to pay attention to the unusual amount of buckets in my life. First Joy & Tracy over at Homefries assigned a Summer Bucket List, and then I happened upon an amazing project called Bucket List Publications. This injected some vigor into this last week and got me excited about setting goals and making plans. Since I like to share what I am excited about, here goes:
live big, dream big, love big
Can someone please tell me why buckets have a special significance to our lifelong dreams? I could think of many more romantic or appropriate items, such as a hot air balloon or even a champagne bottle, that I would rather have symbolic meaning for my life. Yes I know we “kick the bucket” and all that, but again, why a bucket? What about a soccer ball? I’d rather go out with a goal…ok that is cheesy, but for god’s sake it has got to be better than a bucket?!
Either way, I have several “bucket” lists. I made one back during my birthday for this year of being 25. I’ll type up a little recap of that with the Summer Bucket List, because a few things overlap. But I’ve also decided to share my big kahuna of a list. I want a different name than Bucket List though! I’ve never been a huge fan of that term. Be Awesome List? Life Goal List? Maybe I’ll go with my theme for this blog – celebrating life through nature and food. So the Celebrate Life list begins…
Summertime, and the livin’ is easy
From the 25 Things for Turning 25 List:
#10 Volunteer at a nursing or assisted living home
#12 Family Grillsgiving 2012
#25 Get 25 bear hugs from 25 different people in one day.
Also for the summer ~ Do 17 random acts of kindness, start swimming to train for the triathlon, and continue to keep this zucchini plant alive.
The big kahuna - Celebration of Life list
2. Swim with dolphins in as natural environment as possible.
3. Go to Costa Rica and volunteer with baby sea turtles.
4. Go horseback riding in Mongolia
5. Experience the wonder of the Himalayas
6. Go on a Civil War tour in America and/or a WWII tour in Europe with my dad
7. Take an extended family – Team Johnson – cruise in Norway
8. Skydive by the time I’m 30
9. Do a Mudrunner by age 28
10. Take my great-godmother to Paris
11. Eat my way through North Africa and the Middle East, starting in Morocco and ending in Afghanistan
12. Kayak, dogsled, and take an eco-friendly small boat cruise through Alaska
13. Teach English on a Peace Boat voyage
14. Do a hiking tour of the national parks in Utah
15. Take a train journey from the Midwest through South Dakota to the Pacific Northwest
16. See the redwoods
17. Road trip up the 101 highway with my soulmate Kendall
18. Dance around the continent of Africa, experiencing and learning about happiness from as many people as possible
19. Ride an elephant. Hug a baby elephant.
20. Go to the Okinawan sweet potato festival
Yeah! I made the list! So happy, because, before that, I was already picking out the ones we should do together. Redwoods are totally doable, and I could probably make it over to Utah. What is the Peace Boat? Sounds intriguing. And if I come to Japan (btw, this is looking like more of a possibility – details soon), we can skydive together!
Both comments came up. I notice that usually happens with you – two comments that is. Let me know if it is a problem on my side and I’ll see how I can fix it…of course you made the list! Oooo skydiving…
Dangit! I wrote a long comment and then it disappeared. But here’s take two: So happy I made the list! Especially because I was looking through the list and already zeroing in on the things we should do together while I’m on the west coast – redwoods, Utah is doable. We should also do something in Mexico and Hawaii while I’m so close! What is a peace boat? Sounds intriguing. And your idea of an Alaska trip sounds totally bomb. If I come to Japan (which is looking like a possibility, by the way – more on that later), we can skydive there together!
Great bucket/25 yo list! Good luck with keeping the zucchini alive–that’s on my bucket list this summer too! (over from the Joy the Baker podcast!)
Thank you! My zucchini plant is actually a monster. I’m convinced that it grows at least a centimeter per day. Sending happy green growing thoughts your way…
This is one impressive bucket list! I especially like the idea of doing some random acts of kindness–I may steal that
Glad to have found you via homefries!
Well thank you! Go ahead and copy to your heart’s content. The world can always use more acts of kindness. Thanks for visiting – I’m glad we have homefries to share all our good & goofy thoughts.
Oh I love so much about this post! First of all, the random acts of kindness. Second of all, the “Celebration of Life” list – totally apropos. I mean, hugging a baby elephant?? Awesome sauce!
I know! It makes me happy just THINKING about it!
totally rocks my socks! maybe a new random act of kindness can be the chance to hug a baby animal, haha