I spent New Year's Eve Day with one of my favorite couples, and as they generously handed out lovely bottles of olive oil from their hometown to everyone, they made a joke that starting their own olive oil company should be on their bucket list for 2013. I asked them what actually was on their list and they mentioned a couple of countries they'd like to visit, some sporty goals, etc. It got me thinking that a bucket list might be a lot more fun than guilt-induced resolutions…
But first, let me tell you that I can't hear the phrase "bucket list" without thinking of Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) on 30 Rock, bemoaning his fate: "Wow, I can't believe I'm dead. There was still so much left on my bucket list. So many different kinds of buckets I wanted to own. Buckets!" And Patricia Clarkson in Easy A bouncing on the couch exclaiming, "The Bucket List! The Bucket List!"
Anyway, it seems that resolutions can often be rooted in the negative (I'll stop biting my nails, I'll lose weight, I'll stop procrastinating on whatever), whereas a bucket list is all about the positive: We'll go to Costa Rica! I'll learn to kickbox! I'll frame all my art! We'll learn to make tofu! Even if some of the things on the list might be a bit mundane (I'll set up a 401K! I'll start brushing my hair!), it's the attitude that makes a difference. These are things we're excited to do this year, things we'll be so proud to have accomplished, things that will make our lives better, more interesting, more stable, more fun.
What's on your list for 2013? My list is basically everything listed above — I've only tackled the hair-brushing so far, but it is going very well.
(Image: Glitter New Year's Candles DIY from Celebrations)


Sprout Side Table
mine is a mix - http://natureinsider.com/2013/01/resolutions-2013-some-link-love/ :)))
Prioritizing Travel (starting with Peru!), finally start contributing to my 401K (good one!), and start painting again!
See a whale in the wild. Chanterelle mushroom hunting in Canada. Listen to more live music. Visit a friend in Cinci, OH.
I have a list of 55 things I want to do by the time I turn 25 :)
http://living-with-lemons.blogspot.com/2012/06/55-by-25.html
Mine is to start using more reusable items! I saw this really cute slogan on a website, www.LiveESP.com. It says An Un-Fork-Gettable solution to Plastic Pollution haha. It inspired me to start using reusable utensils! Here's the image i'm talking about: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=410357345706745&set=pb.130037260405423.-2207520000.1358264077&type=3&theater
My bucket list stemmed from last fall's loss of my Mom unexpectedly whereby I realized I needed to bring some things back into my life, and to better my situation.
I needed to rethink how I am using my space and let there be room for my creative muses.
To cook more than I have (that one I'm actually doing), and to make a better life for myself through better paying work, as it is now, I barely get by from paycheck to paycheck due to how little I actually make right now as the cost of living has risen faster than my pay.
As it is, it is all about getting myself into a better place so I can actually save, and maybe partake in a 401K plan again, of which I've not been able to for several years.
Hope you achieve it all ciddyguy, we realise so much when someone close dies.
I'd love to go to Paris this year. I use to travel a lot when I lived in Australia but now that I live in the US, I feel guilty not travelling home to see my family. Maybe not feeling so much guilt should be on my bucket list.
My list includes traveling to Europe, cooking more & redecorating my bedroom. I've been lusting after Inhabit's Morning Glory bedding collection.
My 2013 New Year's Resolution is to continue trimming away the excess in my life so that I can have the time and energy to appreciate what I truly value: my loved ones, my health/wellness, my faith, my work purpose, and my hobbies. To prioritize those things will mean limiting time on distractions, half-hearted commitments, wasteful spending, time in front of screens, and uninspiring people.
My 2013 goals (and a link to my 30 Things Before I Turn 30 list are here: http://wealthnotmoney.blogspot.com/2013/01/goals-for-new-year.html
Europe. Learn to rollerblade. Continue to learn to sew and reupholster. Buy a bike. Get back to exercising.
When friends have mentioned looking for good deeds to do or good organizations to support in the new year, I've asked them to consider enrolling in the national registry to be a stem cell or bone marrow donor. You send in a cheek swab and are only called upon to donate if you're matched to a specific patient with a cancer or other disorder of the blood. I'm undergoing my second transplant soon and am grateful to have a match out there.
Do good in my new career and pay half of our total debt.
I don't have a Bucket List per-se (Im only 23!) But, I would really love to see Yellowstone or Yosemite this year. I've lived on the East Coast all my life but I really think I would fit in out west.
In fact I'd be happy to travel anywhere not along the freakin' Atlantic Ocean! haha
Since becoming a parent, I've found that my bucket lists are revised along with my children's development. While I was pregnant with my older child, I made it a point of seeing movies and concerts and going to the theater, knowing it would be a long time before I could do so again (at least, without shelling out $100 for a sitter.) When our son was born, we resolved to visit relatives overseas while he was still under 2 years, before we had to pay full fare for him. When I was pregnant with Child #2, we had a bucket list of activities for our son that would be harder to do with a baby around (go to a movie in a movie theater, stay up for the Fourth of July fireworks, that sort of thing.) Now that our baby is here and I'm on leave, my bucket list involves things I know I won't have much time to do--and will probably never get to do again, since we aren't planning on having more children. On my list? Creating a first birthday party for my daughter (born on Halloween) that is worthy of an AT "My Party" profile!
Since I'm recently engaged, my bucket list consists of doing all of the wedding related things I've dreamed of doing since I was a little girl! Wedding dress shopping with my mom and aunt, cake tasting, making tons of DIY decorations, agonizing over the perfect accessories, having fun! Most women get totally stressed out and turn wedding planning into a big frenzy, but since I have over a year to plan, I want to take my time and ENJOY every task! I've been waiting to do these items on my bucket list my for my entire life! 2013 is going to be great :)