I know it seems like it’s been around forever but the term “Bucket List” is actually a relatively new one. It originally comes from the title of a 2007 movie starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, which started a lot of people thinking about all the things they wanted to do before it was too late. Now, it’s part of our common vernacular and almost everybody has a “Bucket List”.
Checking items off of your “Bucket List” doesn’t have to be dangerous…or expensive. You don’t need to jump out of a plane or ride a drive a race car or have a three-way with Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton. People work their wholes lives to be able to retire comfortably and to finally relax and just enjoy themselves. But by then, we have often spent so much of our time and energy invested in our careers and taking care of our families that we don’t have the physical abilities or financial resources to live out our dreams.
Most men over 50 wish they’d had more exciting experiences, gone the places they’d always wanted to go and done the things they’d always wanted to do. It’s only natural. But unless your Richard Branson or George Clooney, that’s probably not going to happen. Most of us have to settle for a more realistic and obtainable set of late-in-life-goals. Sometimes, the best way to satisfy yourself in your senior years is with a personal sense of accomplishment, a feeling of usefulness in your community or simply by having a change of scenery. These things can be achieved in ways that don’t have to break the bank or give your partner a heart attack. For example:
4 Great Bucket List Items
Foster a Pet
There are thousands of dogs and cats that desperately need homes. You can save a life by offering to care for these animals without committing to years of animal ownership. This could enrich your life in ways you can’t even imagine. And who knows? You might even fall in love and decide to keep one along the way. To learn more about fostering pets in your neighborhood, visit the ASPCA website.
Mentor a Young Person
There are thousands of teens and young adults that need guidance, and your experience could be just what their looking for. You could be a mentor in your career field and help to steer young minds in a positive direction. College students are changing their major on average of (three) times, and working in careers that have nothing to do with their major. By having an experienced mentor, they can job shadow, intern, or get real advice and assistance that can save them time and money while helping them achieve their goals even quicker. It feels good to give back and to share your success with others.
Move to a New City
Sometimes, a change of scenery is all you need. It could be someplace far away, where you have friends or family and a support group that could help you get a fresh start in an exciting new location. Or it could be a simple “over the freeway” jump. Even 10-20 miles can provide new surroundings, new people, and new experiences without feeling too far from the life you’ve always known. It can be exhilarating to get out of your comfort zone, without necessarily having to get far out of your zip code.
Take a Life Changing Trip (without draining your savings account)
If you’re determined to travel and see the world before you die – then do it! There are lots of ways to travel on a budget and there are lots of people older than you doing it. Here’s one couple who found a way to live there dream and travel everywhere on the cheap, partly by staying at Airbnbs where ever they go!
You don’t have to be young and you don’t need a lot of money to live your life to the fullest. Many of the things we wanted when we were younger are not the same things we want as we grow older. It’s actually silly to hold onto them and it’s important to recognize how you’ve changed over the years. A “Bucket List” was never meant to be written in stone. It’s an ever changing thing. Just like we all are.
So what’s on your “Bucket List?”
