Make Your Bucket List and Make it a Good One
// I’ve just dropped my kids off at school. The School year in South Africa goes from January to the end of November, so “Tis the season for final exams” around here.
Even more so because our second oldest, Joshua, is graduating from Grade 12 and is having to make some BIG decisions about what he wants to do next year.
Remember having discussions with your kids when they were little about what they wanted to do when they grow up?
I want to be a fireman.
I want to be a princess. (uh, I’m referring to his sisters here)
I want to be Zorro.
I want to be a superhero.
I loved those discussions, contemplating just HOW they could train themselves to be whatever they dreamed about today.
I personally think that schools are putting waaaaaay too much pressure on kids to decide these weighty matters at their age. It’s ridiculous actually. I read a statistic somewhere by someone that said that “Most men these days change their occupations 8 TIMES in their lifetime.”
What?! Are you serious?
That’s phenomenal… and actually quite comforting. Think about the options in that statement. Gone are the days when a kid becomes an accountant because his dad was an accountant because his grandad was an account.
WE HAVE CHOICES. WE CAN CHANGE OUR MINDS.
So why on earth do we expect our 17-year-olds to know what they want to do with the rest of their lives? //
Change is Good
I met a beautiful lady here in SA who seriously set my heart at ease on this issue of schooling and destiny. She was a homeschooler and a successful mom of five adult children. She simply said,
“You are not marrying a school. Try it. See if you like it. If it doesn’t work for you, then change.”
Dream Big and Make Your Bucket List
That’s great advice! But I’m going to take it a step further. I say,
“Make your bucket list and make it a good one.”
List ALL of the things you want to do in your lifetime. I’ve just re-read my list from years ago and am amazed that some of the things I wrote, I’m ACTUALLY DOING THEM now. I forgot they were even on the list.
- So write your Bucket List.
- Keep adding to it.
- Don’t delete stuff, just cross it out.
You NEVER know where your journey will take you. It may not be the right time for some of those things right now, but DON’T LOSE HEART AND GET DISCOURAGED!
You’re not dead yet. So keep dreaming! Click To Tweet————————-♥————————-
Every Friday, I join an inspiring group of writers to write for FIVE MINUTES on a one-word prompt. No editing. No revising. Just WRITE. This week, the word was JOURNEY.
// indicates the start and stop of the timer.
For more information on Five Minute Friday, check out Kate Motaung’s site!
Our school year in Australia goes January to November too!
These are great thoughts. I wanted to be a writer and bank teller when I finished school. Mainly because I wanted to fund the writing and I thought that would be the best high paying job I could get without too much training, turns out cleaning toilets is probably higher paying. I haven’t done the bank teller or cleaning toilets thing though, I ended up working as a vege delivery driver, a secretary, a governess and a youth pastor before having my two babies. Now I’m at home with them and writing at nights.
That’s awesome, Lizzy. I’m so glad you’re writing. Well done for following your dream!
And thanks for visiting today!
I like your optimism and enthusiasm in this Shauna!
Thanks, Debby. I am deep in this journey right now, so enthusiasm is crucial! I’m so grateful for Ephesians 3:20 that says that God is able to do “so much more than we can ask or imagine.” We often err on the side of imagining too small, don’t we?
Thanks so much for visiting!
Shauna, first of all, how did I miss the fact that you live in South Africa? Not sure. Sigh.
I love your thoughts about making a bucket list and only crossing out what you’ve done (not deleting them). What a beautiful testimony of living that can become. And thanks for the reminder that it’s okay for people to change their minds. Flexibility is a good thing when living this life.
Great post today!
Haha, that’s funny. And I was worried that I was ALWAYS talking about it. Maybe we should be introducing ourselves with our location each week… “Hi, I’m Shauna, the Canadian who’s been living in South Africa for 10 years.” Actually, that’s not a bad idea. I’ve often wondered about the background stories of the people in this community. So, Jeanne, where do you live?
Thank you for your kind words. I’m not a big fan of change, but it’s so comforting to know that we’re not trapped by our decisions. Have a wonderful weekend!
Great post, Shauna! I agree it is unrealistic for most people to know at 17 what they want to do with the rest of their lives, but it does take a lot of the pressure off to know that whatever choice we make we can change and it doesn’t have to be forever. Hope your son’s exams go well.
Thanks, Lesley! I’ll pass on your well-wishes to him.
It’s so true. Life is too important to waste time worrying about making the wrong decision. Sometimes, we just need to LIVE. Like I just replied to Jeanne, I’m not a big fan of change, but it’s so comforting to know that we’re not trapped by our decisions.
Thanks so much for visiting. Have a great weekend! 🙂
You have inspired me to write a bucket list now! Good luck to your son with his exams and choices about life- good to take the pressure off thinking that you have to have it all figured out now
Yay, I’m so glad. Bucket lists are so good for mental health, especially when it’s baby season and not career season.
Thanks, I’ll tell him. Have a great weekend! 🙂
Great post, Shauna.
Not much energy to write now, but I’ve come to realize, looking into the abyss across which lies Heaven…that if my bucketlist doesn’t resemble the life I am living now, I have a problem.
There’s no need for special stuff. I just try to enjoy each moment, because its riches are beyond Solomon’s wildest dreams. Even now.
Oh my friend, you are such a remarkable man. Thank you for always making the effort to visit and encourage. It means so much to me, especially knowing how difficult it is for you. You’re right, bucket lists take on different flavours and colours when Heaven becomes this close.
I continue to pray for you, my friend… strength, courage, and relief from the pain! God bless you!