This post is a response to the 30 Days To A Better Man project, Day 12: Create Your Bucket List. I read through the challenge yesterday and I’ve had a lot of real trouble coming up with anything. I’m not a huge thrill-seeker, so jumping out of airplanes or cliff diving or whatever sounds cool but I’m not going to have an unfulfilled life if I never get to do those things. There was a post a while back on Art Of Manliness about every man needing adventure… Turns out I’ve already done lots of things on that list, like
- Whitewater rafting
- National Park exploration
- Mountain climbing
- Horseback riding
- Camping
- Foreign culture immersion
- Crazy career changes
I recommend trying all that stuff out, and doing stuff that’s awesome and fun and manly, but realize that whatever adventure you have still won’t make you a man. However, reading this post on Seth Godin’s blog, I completely agree with his point. If you have no wish, how can it be fulfilled? One of my favorite films, Secondhand Lions, has a great quote that shows a real bucket list.
“I’m Hub McCann. I’ve fought in two World Wars and countless smaller ones on three continents. I’ve led thousands of men into battle with everything from horses and swords to artillery and tanks. I’ve seen the headwaters of the Nile and tribes of natives no white man had ever seen before. I’ve won and lost a dozen fortunes, killed many men, and loved only one woman with a passion a flea like you could never begin to understand. That’s who I am. Now go home, boy.”
If you haven’t seen the film, put it on your bucket list. Seriously. It’s perhaps a little overplayed, but there are some real lessons about manliness wrapped up in 111 minutes. My bucket list, taking all this into account, is as follows:
- Live a life of mutual love, loyalty, and dedication with the most beautiful woman in the world.
- Become a helicopter pilot.
- Visit all seven continents and the moon.
- Be debt free; give lots to charity (and own a helicopter).
- Own and run a cattle ranch (size and profitability not important).
Did you catch the last part of number 3? That’s my real bucket list. I’d like to visit the moon, to visit all kinds of places and times, but what I most want is to always have home to return to. What about you? What adventure do you want to go on? What is most important in your life?