Last updated on August 7, 2023
THE BUCKET LIST. The magic list of things you hope to have done before you “Kick the bucket” or “Handover the spoon” as we use to say in Austria. In about 90 days I will celebrate my 60 birthday and when I came across my old, outdated bucket list, I thought why not write a new one.
I don’t plan to HANDOVER THE SPOON (Den Löffel abgeben) or LOOK AT THE EARTH APPLES FROM UNDERNEATH (Earth Apples=Potatoes in Austria) anytime soon, nor do I have the feeling that I haven’t experienced anything in my life so far, quite the contrary but I haven’t done it all. The more I thought about it, little by little, I liked the idea but in order to write the new bucket list, I inevitably had to deal with the question of what I actually expect from the rest of my life. Is there much to be expected when you turn 60?
A bucket list, it’s like creating a to-do list for my life, so to speak. Small and big things. I have to ask myself who I am, where I want to go, and what I want to do with this precious rest of my lifetime given to me.
I have the tendency to kick the can down the road when it comes to my wishes and I forget things, or somehow decide that they aren’t important and the good old, “I really don’t need that,” comes in handy.
What do we still desire or want to try and want to achieve? Is it a question we that we should all ask ourselves from time to time and not just when the Grim Reaper is already waving to us in a friendly way?
When I think of a bucket list I naturally also think of all the travel destinations that are still on my secret wish list, and all the things I would like to experience in this regard but also more personal and special wishes quickly come to my mind.
Some things can be put into practice directly, others perhaps later -or never-, some cannot be influenced, and others I might never experience. Some points on my bucket list made me chuckle, others make me pause for a while and swallow. Will it put me down or will a bucket list motivate and adjust my focus in a wonderful way?
I actually had fun writing my new bucket list or Spoonlist. A lot of things came to my mind, silly little thoughts like the Moroccan lamp. I always wished for one. Why haven’t I bought one yet? I have no idea but secretly I always hope I will come across one on sale -somewhere.
And that’s why everyone should write their own little list. Call them whatever you want. Share it with the world, with confidants, or just with yourself. Write them down in your mind, on fine paper, or type them into your computer. But do it. Stop and remember who you are, where you come from, and where you want to go. Formulate your dreams and goals and don’t be afraid to dream big. Be aware of how limited and precious our time is and how important it is to use it wisely. What do you want to have done, said, seen, experienced and learned before you give up the spoon?
My Bucket List
Go Fishing, catch a fish, filet it and cook it
Send a flower bouquet anonymous to someone who seems lonely even if I don’t like the person
See the Northern Lights in real
Sleep in an igloo or ice hotel
Get the Moroccan lamp that won’t match anything
Change one persons life to the better
Take in a senior dog and let him/her spend one day or a couple of years happy
Write a about my mother in law, Charlotte
Finish the book “Losing it all”
Buy a long dress and go to the opera all by myself
Color my hair in peacock colors
Drink champagne for no reason
Learn Bridge
Learn a new language
Get a tattoo
Get a henna tattoo
Sign up for the chocolate run if they allow dogs
Visit Canada and eat at least three pounds of smoked salmon
Bake a cake with mirror glace even if it means I have to superglue a mirror on top of the cake
Go line dancing once
Watch Downton Abbey
Take an exotic cooking class
Learn to make Sushi
Learn to lose
Go skinny dipping in a lake
Dance in the rain
Sing one song in a Karaoke bar
Touch a snake
Hold a bird of prey
[…] Before I take my last breath, I hope I will have seen in person Multnomah Falls in Oregon. I love waterfalls and plan to see some in early October when we go visit my daughter in the hills, aka, piedmont section of NC. But the last breath thing reminds me of a blogging friend who wrote her bucket list. It was Bridget, The Happy Quitter! […]
I enjoyed your list and like that it had easy things as well as challenges. I too would love to see the Northern Lights in person. But I don’t think I would want to leave and might freeze to death. Maybe I’ll save that one for the end. I’m glad I went skinny dipping in the ocean once in my late teens. On the easier side, I would like to get a henna tattoo and fairy hair (strands that sparkle.) “Learn to lose” is interesting.
This is a very cool list! I have done a few of them and some of them are not something I’d like to do, but good for you figuring out what YOU want! I’ve done shorter lists of things I want to do in the next year….(not resolutions, but things I want to do or see), but not for my whole life. I did accidently figure out that in 23 years I’ll be 90 and that seems sooooo old, but I know that 23 years will fly by so I need to get going on stuff I want to do! Thanks for the kick in the behind.
Just for the heck of it, I looked at Amazon and Ebay and you can find lamps from $20 up to $390. Such pretty lamps! So what if they don’t go with anything… maybe the truth of the matter is they go with everything? Great list! Hope you can achieve all you wish for! Oh, and a note on the tattoo… make it personal, make it mean something. Maybe as basic as you grandmother’s signature as she was such a big part of your life, an upholstered chair, a dog you miss, something that gave you inspiration when you were homeless… make it a part of you as it will always be with you.
I love your list! I’ve done a couple on your list, but there are others on there, I would put on mine, too. 😀
If you have a Moroccan lamp I don’t want to hear about it 🙂
That’s a great list and I have done several of them. Turning 60 is just the beginning of the next chapter. I’m several pages into that chapter and there’s still a lot of book to read and write.
What a wonderful list Bridget. The great thing about getting older is that you can change your mind for no reason at all and you don’t have to ask permission. We have given up all thoughts of travel as we both have health issues that preclude that, but we are happy with being able to travel locally as there is plenty to see and do.
I am sorry to hear about your health issues but glad to hear you guys can enjoy travelling locally. As for changing my mind. “What? Was I supposed to wait until I got older to do that?”
Don’t worry, all misdemeanours are cancelled when you get to 60!
Oh good, only three months and I am out of the dog house (is that a phrase you use in the UK too “in the dog house” when you are in trouble?)
Yes, been there many times!
I hope 🤞 this materializes for you. 👏🏽 👏🏽
Not sure about the singing and the snake 🙂
Want it hard enough and it will happen. Blessing.
You’ve inspired me, Bridget! I’ll be turning 60 later this year too, and recently I’ve found myself considering how I got here, how I feel about it all, and where I’ll be heading next in life. I’ve never actually written a bucket list so far, but maybe it’s time I thought of creating one for myself after all? 🙂
I never thought a bucket list was necessary but writing it showed it that there is quite a lot I haven’t done or tried, because I always thought I will get to it later. I want an Moroccan lamp for years and they are not even expensive. Why haven’t I gotten one? Beats me. I always wanted to go fishing but never put it in action. Now I have a reminder on all the big and little things I still want to do.
I really loved turning 60! In fact, I have never regretted growing older – only slower 🙂
we don’t mention the word ‘slower’ in our home, it slowly disappeared.
I haven’t heard the German equivalent of buying the farm (den Löffel abgeben)…cool. I need to ask my mom if there is a Swiss expression I’m unaware of…
How come I don’t have a bucket list? I’m going to make a bucket list. 😀
It’s a fun thing to do, so many things came to my mind. It took me a bit by surprise but will eventually be a reminder to ‘do’ things.
Downton Abbey is a must- just binge watch! I believe you have already changed someone’s life for the better through your volunteer work- the students, collecting bras, etc. And color your hair in rainbow sounds like a great thing to do for your 60th! Go for it ! 😀
It’s on our binge-watch list.
As for volunteer work, not sure if I changed someone’s life or just made it a bit easier. Perhaps that could be considered as changing as well?
Definitely! You made a difference and that is a form of change to me
It’s good to have you as a friend 🙂
You should efinitely finish your book “Losing It All.” I’m going to include some of your benevolent wishes on your bucket list on mine! 🙂
A fine list, except for the tattoo; Downton Abbey is worth seeing; some are beyond me now, but I can assure you there is much to be discovered and enjoyed after 60. I like the spoon phrase
I am not into tattoos either. I think here in the US I am the only one who doesn’t have one. 🙂
🙂
A great list and all doable. Between 60 and 70 I did so many things on my list. Of course, I keep adding things.
The adding part, I think that might happen here as well.