Go to any social network and you’ll peruse a variety of New Years resolutions.  Some are deep, spiritual goals and others are centered in correcting bad habits.  Perhaps that’s what spurred on my sudden interest in writing a bucket list.  I started thinking about things I’d like to do before I leave this earth and thought, “I should write all of them down.”  I am however, not a very goal oriented person so this task has proven to be more difficult that I imagined.

I never lived in Florida before and I’ll be making my home here for a couple of months.  On New Years day I had the pleasure of spending the day on Sanibel Island, just off the coast of Fort Myers.  It was lovely!  When the people I went with decided to explore further down the stretch of shell strewn, white sand, I elected to stay where I was to watch the sun set on the Gulf of Mexico.  As I sat there I felt the salty breeze, smelled the marine air, listened to the seagulls, and tasty the occasional sand grain on my tongue.  What does this have to do with a bucket list?

Ten years ago if you would have asked me what I wanted to do I would never have said, “Sit on the beach on Sanibel Island and watch the sun set on the Gulf of Mexico.”  But I did it.  And it was glorious.  I might now put it on my bucket list as something I want to do again but with my wonderful wife Carolyn.  But the experience was something I  had never imagined.  Therefore, it’s something that I  hadn’t thought about.  And therein lies the rub.

I don’t really think.  I know that sounds funny but it’s true.  Oh, I think about your typical things.  I think about what I’m having for breakfast, what time I have to wake up so I can make it work on time, what I’m getting someone for Christmas, etc.  But when it comes to lifelong aspirations I tend to go with the flow.  I mean, I don’t make a lot of plans.  I like it that way.  When asked what I want for a present I like to say,  “Surprise me.”  I feel the same way about my life.  There are certainly things I’d like to see and do before I die, but because I’m not motivated by things I don’t think I’d make a lot of headway achieving any of them.

Will I visit my ancestral homeland of Glattfelden, Switzerland?  Sure, I’d like to some day.  Will I finally visit my good friend Dagfinn in Norway?  Perhaps one day I will.  But putting these things on a list aren’t going to make them any more or less of a priority for me.  I think it’s because my priority is strive to live in the moment.  And not cast my energy and thoughts on things that might be.  I like putting my energy and attentions on things that are right now.  Plus, I already have everything I always wanted.

By no means am I saying that Bucket Lists are not a good thing.  I just know for me, it’s very difficult writing one.  I find that when I put something down I think, “But if this doesn’t happen it wouldn’t bother me much.”  And I know they tell me I’m supposed to “think big” when I’m putting things on the list.  Well, I already believe everything is possible and achievable, and well I don’t think!  🙂

Perhaps that is my bucket list.  My one item to never forget to do.

1. To always follow my heart.  When I’m connected to my creator, when I realize that I already have everything I need, any extra’s that are thrown  my way are even that more appreciated.  Kind of like that day and evening on Sanibel Island.