Why Kick The Bucket [List]?
Kicking the bucket [list]? Is this blog about dying? Sort of, but not really. This blog is actually about NOT dying. Or at least not letting your soul die through empty, unfulfilled travel.
So why kick the bucket list?
A street in Athens, Greece
I don’t believe in bucket lists. Yeah, I know. It sounds crazy. Forming a bucket list may seem like the logical thing to do in order to help organize your goals and dreams into a tidy to-do list before you die.
But when you really think about it, the physical list puts pressure on you to decide what you want your life to contain on just a few lines. our biggest goals and moments are boiled down to a generic summary of places you want to go and things you want to see.
The thought of NOT achieving something on your bucket list may become unbearable, putting further pressure on you to find meaning in those randomly assembled ideas on that list.
See the Eiffel Tower, go skydiving, buy a Range Rover… it all becomes less powerful when it’s in bullet points– even more so with bucket-list travel.
Making a bucket list builds your expectations for the places based on others recommendations, media and movies, or the latest Instagram-worthy spot.
Bucket list travel unfairly simplifies destinations, allowing you to essentially “check off” places from your list and consider your trip a success.
The Great Wall of China is on your bucket list? Great, you’re done once you’ve seen it, maybe walked it, snapped a photo for Instagram and moved on.
A list limits your experiences by putting blinders on your journey.
If you’re in a place to check off things you “must see” on a rigid schedule, you may be so focused on completing your task that you forget to enjoy the beautiful nuances of the new place you’re exploring.
I think travel should be about basking in the unexpected, the beautiful moments that could never be added to a list because you could never expect them to happen.
I believe in authentic travel, that is focused on getting lost and enjoying the wonders of a place through the eyes of the people that live there.
Embrace experiences and places beyond the tourist traps, popular sites, and Instagram spots.
Yes, going to the Eiffel Tower and other popular or historical sites is important, and can still be incorporated into your trip. But don’t forget to enjoy the less-worn path and put yourself out there to experience things beyond a list.
That’s what this blog is all about. Kicking the bucket [list] is a lifestyle, a commitment to authentic experiences and off-the-beaten-path excursions. Oh, and also all those things in-between that are too powerful to add to a list. That’s what travel is all about. So join me…
Traveling With Lola 