Author’s Note:
We may not all take time to sit down and write a Bucket List, but
everyone has dreams and ambitions they’d like to go after in their lifetime, that
cross their mind on a daily basis. So, when Ms. McLauchlan introduced the
Buried Life Project, revolving around the idea of four average guys who set out
to accomplish items on their list, I was pretty excited. We have our whole
lives ahead of us, meaning the possibilities are endless.
As I began brainstorming items I’d like to add to my list, I noticed
that several revolved around the idea of traveling, and seeing the world. I
mean, who doesn’t want to travel the globe? Let’s be real here. With that
though, I learned more about myself as an individual. It’s not so much things I
want to see in other countries or
continents, but things I’d like to experience – particularly with people from
those places. I’m constantly becoming more and more interested in other
cultures and customs, always looking forward to learning about their ways of
life. That is why I added: Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, celebrate Diwali in
India, attend the Pingxi Lantern Festival in
Taiwan and simply ride an elephant in Africa.
Beyond
that theme, I also have simple items on my list that may be easier to cross off.
Like paying for someone’s groceries, cutting my hair for cancer, coaching a
basketball team to a championship, and skinny dipping in the ocean! The items I
added to my list on a daily basis almost depended on the mood I was in, whether
I was thinking of things solely for myself or for the well-being of others.
Anyway,
once that was all wrapped up, I seemed to be lacking creativity and decided to
format my twenty-five selected items into a slideshow. That way, the pictures can
do all the talking. Although it was still quite time consuming. The majority of
my visual representations are photos I took, and felt that they fit the item. Then,
I added a touch of word art stating which item from my list the photo
represents. I chose a presentation format that is very straight forward and
clear, yet still entertaining (I hope)!
Bucket List:
1.
Play ball
with Obama
2.
Skydive
3.
Climb a very
large mountain
4.
Skinny dip
in the ocean
5.
Learn to
play piano
6.
Live in
Africa for awhile
7.
Get up and
go
8.
See Kanye
West perform live
9.
Meet Will
Smith
10.
Run a
marathon
11.
Travel to
every continent
12.
Ride an
elephant
13.
Adopt a
child
14.
Build a tree
house, fully furnished
15.
Learn
another language
16.
Watch the
ball drop at Times Square
17.
Go to
Coachella
18.
Backpack
around Europe
19.
Make a big
donation to charity
20.
Coach a
basketball team (to a championship)
21.
Learn sign
language
22.
Set a world
record
23.
Sponsor a
child
24.
Send my
parents on a vacation
25.
Go on a
safari
26.
Volunteer in
an undeveloped country
27.
Pretend like
I live in IKEA
28.
Publish a
book
29.
Pay off my
parents’ mortgage
30.
Get locked
inside a store for a night
31.
Plant
a tree
32.
Drink
straight from a coconut
33.
Road trip
from coast to coast
34.
Cut my hair
for cancer
35.
High five
all of the Winnipeg Jets
36.
See Pay
it Forward
37.
Graduate
from university
38.
Go Christmas
caroling
39.
Volunteer on
Christmas Eve
40.
Surf in
Hawaii
41.
Learn how to
surf
42.
Read Pay
it Forward
43.
Use a Ouija
board
44.
See the NCAA
Final Four
45.
Go to
Tavarua (heart shaped island in Fiji)
46.
Become
left-handed
47.
See the
pyramids in Egypt
48.
Kiss a
stranger
49.
Pay for
someone's groceries
50.
Dine &
dash
51.
Meet Mickey
Mouse
52.
Take an art
class
53.
Be in India
during Diwali
54.
Be reunited
with the boy I love
55.
Open up a
bakery/cafe with my best friend
56.
Get my own
place - a cute, cozy place
57.
Messy
Twister
58.
Get matching
tattoos (maybe only temporary)
59.
Stay
overnight in a haunted house
60.
Learn to
crack eggs with one hand
61.
Go to a
church service, simply because I want to
62.
Make a
notable, long lasting change
63.
Celebrate at
the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro
64.
La Tomatina
in Spain
65.
Pingxi
Lantern Festival in Taiwan
66.
Panafest in
Ghana
67.
Have a
legitimate beach party
68.
Watch a
movie at a drive-in
Now what?
As I was trying to plan out how I’d find myself living in Africa for awhile, I
noticed a way that I can also cross off three or even four more items from my
list, at the same time! While in Africa, I can ride an elephant, go on a
safari, hopefully volunteer in an underdeveloped country, and I will be one
step closer to traveling the 7 continents! Not too shabby, I’d say.
First
though, how do I get to Africa? Like many things in life, it’s not opportunity
that’s lacking, nor ambition. Rather, it’s the money that keeps us from getting
places, from doing things. That’s the problem – money. So, I would evidently
have to save up a lot in order to get there. Plus, if I’d like to stay there
for awhile, I’ll need a way to maintain that income; meaning, a job of some
sort while I’m in Africa. Otherwise,
my money may run out, leaving me stuck. Also, a place to stay is preferred –
which is why I would bring along my good friend Cecely, who has previously
spent a month and a half in a few African countries. She would be much more
familiar with the surroundings and the culture, something that could be
difficult to learn and familiarize myself with on my own. It’d be difficult for
anyone, really. On the flip side, there are also some parts of Africa that may
not be the safest, so having someone with me would be comforting in that sense
as well.
Realistically,
there are so many details involved with temporarily moving to another
continent, like getting a visa, etc. Looking at the bigger picture though, this
is totally doable. Then once I’m all settled in, in my new home, I will get
into volunteering and accomplishing the more fun side of things.
Link to my video! http://animoto.com/play/jFe5PVsLKX1DVU44tGcJ3Q
