Featured writer: Ian Cartwright [EagerExistence]
When Bucket List Publications opened up for guest submissions, I was ecstatic Finally, after following Lesley’s adventures for the past year, I could brag about a few of my own… and give you some ideas for your own list.
Now I can’t give you the entire list, since there’s several hundred items that I want to do… but if you’ve been following along with Lesley’s adventures, the list may not entirely surprise you.
I’m all about living a full and adventurous life: adventures — be they on a grand scale, or a micro scale. For me, if you are outdoors and (moving about) in the sunshine …well, there isn’t a lot that can beat that.
How it all Started
A couple of years ago I decided that before I turned 30 I would create a list of all the (travel related) achievements I would like to accomplish. Early last year I quit my job and bought a one-way ticket to Turkey to begin an epic solo adventure. It was a huge step, and there was so much anxiety and fear running through my mind. But I did it (and don’t regret the decision for a minute).
Keep an Open Itinerary
I’m not much of a planner, never have been, I believe that by keeping our options open we are able to say YES to so many more opportunities. And it’s true. It worked for me. I spent weeks with amazing people in interesting and offbeat places that I wouldn’t have even known about if I’d had everything planned out.
So before I went, I just made a vague list of things I wanted to accomplish, and rough dates of places and festivals that would be great to be apart of.
The First 10 Bucket List Items
Here are the first 10 things I put on my bucket list.
#1 “Run with the Bulls”, San Fermin Festival, Pamplona, Spain
#2 Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
#3 Visit (and Climb) Mount Olympus
#4 Canoe the Danube River (Hungary)
#5 White Water Rafting (Italy)
#6 Learn to speak Spanish
#7 Live in another country (Canada, Spain)
#8 Attend an International Music Festival (Sziget, Hungary)
#9 Tourist photos at the Leaning Tower of Pisa
#10 Visit the Eiffel Tower
And as I write this, I have crossed off all 10 of these bucket list items. For the full list, a work in progress, visit my website.
Get Started on Your Own List
The Bucket List isn’t a static concept. As I check things off, I keep adding new things. I don’t think it will ever be complete, but I’m happy as long as I’m actively doing something I’ve always dreamed of trying.
What about you? Are you really living? Or merely existing?
* photo credits (cc) IanJosephBrook
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Ian has travelled extensively across Europe and North Africa. Travel, Adventure, and BucketLists are in his blood. Check out his website for more laughs, tears, and misadventures from his travels. |
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Ian,
Thank you for sharing! Those are some interesting items on your bucket list AND completing them all is quite an accomplishment.
I personally don’t have a bucket list (that would mean to be organized and I’m not), but I love traveling.
Have fun on your next adventure and don’t forget to share it with us!