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Tag Archives: update

Analysing my bucket list

The PolyBlog
February 20 2016

As I was doing my personal development goals for this year, and working on a new version of my personal development model, I started thinking about my very large bucket list and realizing that many of them are way too ambitious. I’m just not likely to do them all in my lifetime. Same for my long-term travel goals. I need to be a lot more realistic than I have been, and it’s time to start figuring out just what it is I want to do for my bucket list. After all, there are only 846 days to go before I turn 50, I’m not a spring chicken anymore. 🙂

Let’s see how I am doing though as I go through each of them one at a time…

NumberGoalStatusKeep or Drop
COMPLETED
1Own a houseCompleted – June 2007—
2Finish my websiteCompleted – January 2011 (polywogg.ca, thepolyblog.ca)Completed – Revamped September 2015 (polywogg.ca)—
3See solar eclipseCompleted – Ottawa, 2008—
4Own my own telescopeCompleted – June 2013—
5Live abroad for 3 monthsCompleted – New York City, 2008—
6Develop a Top-500 Books To Be Read listCompleted – Developed the list, 2008—
7Get married for loveCompleted – September, 2008—
8Have a childCompleted – May 2009—
9Romance on a beachCompleted – September/October 2008—
10Help someone through universityCompleted – 2005+—
11Rent a theatreCompleted – June 2007—
12See Beethoven’s Fifth performed liveCompleted – National Arts Centre Pops Orchestra, 2006—
13Design a gameCompleted – January 2014—
14Write a short-storyCompleted – 2006+—
15Write a playCompleted – 2007—
16Learn to golfCompleted – Ottawa, 2007—
17Spelunking or cave tubingCompleted – Hawaii, September 2008—
18Climb a mountainCompleted – Gaspé. 2006—
19Swim under a waterfallCompleted – Hawaii, September 2008—
20Snorkle with sea turtlesCompleted – Hawaii, October 2008—
21Ride in a helicopter</t d>Completed – Hawaii, September 2008—
22Ride in a submarineCompleted – Hawaii, September 2008—
23See a volcanoCompleted – Hawaii, September 2008—
24Eat tropical fruit under a treeCompleted – Hawaii, September 2008—
IN PROGRESS
1Read the Top-500 BooksSlowly working on reading the items, reading challenge set for this yearKeep
2Write HR GuideSections have been completed in previous years, and major update and rewrite started in November 2015About 30% done (as of February 2016)Keep
3Write a novelPreliminary work done on Year of the Gods, trackers developedKeep
4Compile cookbook of great recipesPreliminary list startedTried to create “family” cookbook for Malcolms / Hortons but no interestFocus only on own recipes at this pointKeep
5Weight goalThis really isn’t a very good “bucket list” type item. It is a goal, but not a one-off thing. More of an ongoing health commitment.Drop
6See free lions, pandas, alligators, penguins, polar bears, dolphinsI saw dolphins in October 2008Rest are heavily travel dependent, and those goals were incredibly unrealistic both in terms of physical capabilities, time, and resourcesDrop
7See Northern and Southern lightsI saw the Northern Lights in 2008, but not very clearly.Would like to see Northern Lights in extensive clear show.Southern Lights are travel dependent, and I don’t see any opportunities where that’s going to happen.Drop
NOT YET COMPLETED
1Make a gardenI confess I like the premise of this one. Something earthy, something back to nature about it. But I don’t really have the room in the backyard for it, nor any place else for one. Seems unlikely.Drop
2Design a houseOn some level, I think this is about more creative than intellectual. I like the idea of doing a house, maybe just in lego even, that incorporates all the best features I would love to have in a house. But to what end? It’s not like I’m ever going to build it, or have the money to do so. An itch to scratch, but hardly important enough to sit on a shortened bucket list.Drop
3Have a cottageThe short version for this one is I would love to have a cottage but I can’t afford it. The only way this ever happens is if my writing career produces some cash, which I also don’t see happening to the level I would need to own a cottage. Saddens me to say, but this one won’t happen.Drop
4Learn photographyI’m keeping this one, but I don’t know if “learn” is the right verb. I’m not interested in winning awards, or even entering contests, or running a business. But I do want to be able to be good enough that I like some unique shots, particularly landscape, and where occasionally others would think it was borderline artsy. I have a few shots like that from the last couple of years, but more by happenstance than design.Keep
5Drive standard transmissionInteresting, but not important enough for a bucket listDrop
6Learn sign languageAttractive, but not important enough to me for my shortened bucket list, just more of a learning area.Drop
7See a meteor showerWhen I compiled my earlier list, I thought meteor showers were really interesting and fascinating. Then I realized the reality is that most of them are complete busts. Lying on the ground looking up for what is often a streak every few minutes, rather than several a minute. If it happens, it happens, but hardly bucket list worthy.Drop
8Learn to knitLike with sign language, this is an interesting skill to acquire, but more of an ongoing learning option rather than a bucket list item.Drop
9Learn to juggleThis is more of a one-off thing, not something I would likely use regularly, so not really a learning activity. Just not sure it will make my final bucket list, but I’m keeping it for now.Keep (pending final list)
10Learn origamiI have this as a bucket list item, for the “learn” side of things, but it is partly green for the relaxation side. I think it belongs more in my ongoing list than a bucket list.Drop
11Present to more than 1000 peopleWhen I created the list, I thought this was a good scary goal. Blue, but more “red” for dynamic leadership. But I’m a blue, not a red. And I can reach my audience through my writing, I don’t need a room to do it in person.Drop
12Teach a courseSame as for the presentation. I’ll reach my audience through written form.Drop
13Genealogy researchI did some basic genealogy some time ago, and even collected some info on my dad’s side of the family. Apparently my uncle did a bunch on my mother’s side. I love the premise, I do, but none of the research interests me. Partly as I’m not very good at it either, maybe, but the easy stuff is fine and I’ll dig up some stuff on my grandfather. But I am far more interested in the life stories of J’s grandparents and great-grandfather than I am in the stuff farther back.Drop
14Send a letter in a bottleRomantic almost, but hardly important enough for a bucket list commitment.Drop
15Read the BibleThis is already in my Top 500 list of books, so essentially duplicated here.Drop
16Attend a spiritual retreatNot really me, I’m a loner not a joiner. So why would I do this where I’m alone with others? Like the premise but more a one-off thing for me to do by myself than a formal retreat.Drop
17Learn to danceBased on lifestyle, physical shape, etc., I have no real need for this now or likely any point in the future. I can do basic stuff, good enough.Drop
18Learn to play a musical instrumentI honestly don’t know what instrument it would be…guitar maybe or some basic piano. I just don’t see myself making the time for this against the tons of other things I want to do with my life.Drop
19Attend Mardi Gras or NYE in Times Square-like eventThis is a great one-off thing to do, and I like the premise. Maybe not on the scale of MG or NYE, but something smaller-scale would be fun.Keep
20Play Pai Gow poker in a casinoI love the premise, just don’t see myself ever investing the time or money to do this.Drop
21Have a movie extravaganza weekendI’m going to keep this one. I keep planning on doing it, and even set aside some time once, but then did other things that weekend instead.Keep
22Watch Best Picture Oscar winners back to 1928This is the visual alternative to the Top 500 books, seems doable.Keep
23Be a film extraFun, but hardly important enough to keep as bucket list item.Drop
24Make a movieI love the idea, I really do. But the resource and time constraints seem unlikely to permit to do this the way I want to.Drop
25Read complete Shakespeare, DickensAlready covered by the Top 500 list.Drop
26Write a screenplayI originally thought I would go this route, but I’m more likely to focus on some fiction and non-fiction pieces. Not a priority.Drop
27Write a novellaThis one strikes me more as a happy accident than a plan — if I write a short novel or really long short-story, it will be novella-length. No need to keep as separate goal.Drop
28Attend major sporting eventI liked the idea of this when I created the list … going to a Super Bowl, Grey Cup, Stanley Cup final, World Series, World Cup, etc. But the cost would be prohibitive, I just don’t care that much about the outcome to justify going. Maybe if Jacob wants to go to something he’s really passionate about. Otherwise? Probably not.Drop
29Attend hot air balloon festivalI’ve done the hot air balloon ride thing, this was more about going up with a whole bunch of other balloons. But not important enough to me to include in a revised and shortened bucket list.Drop
30MeditationI’ve done the basics, and it is more linked to yoga and stretching now, calming the mind. Not really a bucket list item.Drop
31Slide down a firepoleFun, yes; important, no.Drop
32Give bloodThis one annoys me. I have tried a couple of times to give blood, and because I’m on blood pressure medication and reflux medication, no one has been able to tell me that I definitely CAN give blood or that I definitely CANNOT give blood. Given that I’m not a big fan of needles, etc., this is a major commitment for me to keep doing, and I’m annoyed that when I have got the courage up, the system failed me. I’m taking it off my bucket list, moving it just to my regular ongoing health stuff.Drop
33Skate Rideau Canal both waysI don’t know if this is a true bucket-list-type item, but I’m keeping it. Mostly it is just a proxy for being able to be strong enough and fit enough to actually do it, but I’m keeping it.Keep
34Ride a dogsledFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
35Whitewater raftingFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
36Kayak a riverFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
37Go fly fishingSomething I really want to try sometime.Keep
38Rappel or use a ziplineSomething I really want to try sometime. Okay, no, I really don’t, the whole “afraid of heights” thing, but I’m keeping it anyway.Keep
39Try surfingFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
40Try rock climbingFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No. Plus, I’m nowhere near in good enough shape to do it.Drop
41Try snowboardingFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
42Treetop sleepingSomething I really want to try sometime. Like having a treefort again.Keep
43Cross a rope bridgeThe whole “afraid of heights” thing, and I have other height things.Drop
44Cage diving with sharksSomething I really want to try sometime. I’ve done a simple reef dive with sharks, but need bigger sharks.Keep
45Upgrade SCUBA certificationI love the premise, i.e. that I would upgrade and therefore use it, but I’d have to be able to be in a location or travelling often enough to use it. Not likely.Drop
46Take athletic tripI’m not even entirely sure what this entailed. Hiking? Cycling? Kayaking? It was more a proxy than anything, that I would be in good enough shape to undertake such a trip. Not likely anytime soon, and not important enough to me to keep on the list.Drop
47Horseback ridingI love horses, I think there is something inherently majestic about them. But I’ve never gone horseback riding, in part because since I have had the money to go, I’m too fat for the horses (most people don’t know there is a weight limit at most horseback riding places, because it doesn’t apply to them, but there is a limit, and I’m over it). Plus not important enough to me to keep on the list.Drop
48Learn to sailFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
49Learn to waterskiSomething I really want to try sometime. I may completely suck at it, but I want to try.Keep
50Learn to play tennisFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
51Learn a martial artI can’t decide what to do with this one. It is a form of regular exercise proxy that I might actually do, but I’ve never found a form that really suited me. Ninjitsu was fun, but I’m not a Karate or TKD style person. Not sure about judo or jujitsu. Either way, not important enough to keep on a bucket list.Drop
52Learn archerySomething I really want to try sometime. I have wanted to ever since I was a kid. I had targets, did it a bit when I was younger. Always wanted to get back to it.Keep
53Learn to fenceFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
54Learn how to swim properlyThis one could also say “skate” properly. I took some swim lessons a few years ago, but got sick almost immediately after starting. I am just not in good enough shape for it, and trying to swim while you’re completely congested sucks. I might take some lessons, but doesn’t need to be on the bucket list.Drop
55Milk a cowFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
56Drive a convertibleFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
57Take a trip in an RVFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
58Go houseboatingFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
59Ride in a gondolaFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
60Ride in an airboatFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
61Take a cruiseFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
62Ride an elephantFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
63See an icebergFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
64Visit a haunted houseFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
65Visit a castleFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No. Drop
66Ride on a tall shipFun, exciting, different? Yes. Important? No.Drop
67Travel to Territories, Grand Canyon, Galapagos, Ortona, Iceland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Egypt, AntarcticaI think I need to take these off my “bucket list” and just have a separate sub-list for places I want to go. I’m pretty sure this list is completely unworkable.Drop

Well, that was a brutal undertaking!

Posted in Goals | Tagged bucket list, goals, personal, status, update | Leave a reply

PolyWogg's Bucket List, updated 2012

The PolyBlog
March 22 2012

So I’ve updated my overall bucket list goals, recognizing of course that I will likely not be able to accomplish all of them before I die. But it’s nice to have goals…

Continue reading →
Posted in Goals | Tagged bucket list, goals, personal, status, update | Leave a reply

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