At the end of 2007, I ended a long, toxic and stagnant relationship. I was young and unsure I if I could cope on my own. I had never spent long enough learning to be me; to be strong, independent and to find my own way in the world. I found strength in the support of my family and friends and discovered I was worth far more than I was giving myself credit for. Shortly after that awkward breakup and the subsequent moving out day of the removed party, my wonderful step-mum sent me a bucket list to guide me on my new adventures into the world. It wasn’t totally me; it was a bit America-centric and had a bunch of stuff I didn’t really identify with. So I changed it, and then changed it again, and then revised it again. In the last three years it’s had a number of revisions, and the book that I keep it in still has another 56 spaces for more ways to enhance my life. I love having a bucket list – it holds my goals, but is also an incredible way to reflect on my achievements and the experiences I’ve shared with so many amazing people.
So here it is…
1. Read all of Shakespeare’s plays
2. Learn to ski Japan baby!
3. Witness a solar eclipse
4. Maintain a journal every day for a year
5. Jump out of a perfectly good plane
6. Adopt an animal from a rescue shelter Harry the Arab kitty
7. Learn to scuba dive
8. Write a novel
9. Find the love of your life and get married
10. Sell artwork to a stranger
11. Trek the Nepal Himalayas A great physical feat
12. Complete a photography Project 365
13. Ride a camel in the desert
14. Live in a foreign country Dazzling Dubai!
15. Ride a gondola in Venice
16. Meet your favourite Hollywood star
17. Run a marathon One of the most grueling challenges yet
18. Donate blood Blood, plasma and platelets!
19. Go on safari
20. Celebrate Oktoberfest in Germany
21. Bungee jump in New Zealand
22. Appear as an extra in a movie
23. See the Mona Lisa From behind a crowd of hundreds
24. Learn a foreign language and use it shukran habibti
25. Visit the Vatican in Rome
26. Walk along the Great Wall of China
27. Spend a month without television
28. Learn to surf British waves don’t really count though, do they?
29. Watch the changing of the guard Awesome
30. Celebrate Carnivale in Rio de Janeiro
31. Swim with a dolphin
32. Visit Stonehenge Disappointing
33. Climb to Macchu Picchu
34. Ride an elephant through the jungle Amazing and humbling experience
35. Fill a hallway with adventure photos
36. Have $20,000 in savings (then spend it all travelling!)
37. Attend a stadium concert
38. Take a photography course
39. Ride in a helicopter
40. Be able to say “I’m with the DJ” Loves ya Travis
41. Own a piece of original art Picked up a Warli painting in an Indian village
42. Experience a white Christmas
43. Own a property
44. Go naked at a nudist beach
45. Bake red velvet cupcakes
46. Learn the language, customs, art and history of a country while you live there
47. Visit the Parthenon in Greece
48. Climb the Eiffel Tower Took the…elevator? I would’ve climbed it, personally…
49. Take a flight on the London Eye Well, I can say I’ve done it
50. See the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris Beautiful, like all of Paris
51. Get a Masters qualification
52. Write a travel book
53. Learn to bartend One of my favourite jobs!
54. Volunteer at a shelter or soup kitchen
55. Pass on a family heirloom
56. Eat a cheese fondue in Paris
57. Eat fugu in Japan
58. Visit the Coliseum in Rome
59. Cross a glacier on foot
60. See the Taj Mahal in India
61. Attend the Olympics
62. Take part in a Japanese tea ceremony
63. Gamble in Las Vegas
64. Go white water rafting Nothing like doing it with a bunch of students!
65. Shower under a waterfall Darwin baby!
66. Have your portrait drawn or painted
67. Travel solo for two months
68. See five movies in a week
69. Throw a party and invite all your friends
70. Go skinny dipping in the South of France
71. Tell someone the story of your life
72. Ask for a raise And got it!
73. Learn to play a musical instrument Everyone’s gotta do it
74. Spend New Year’s in an exotic location
75. Sleep under the stars
76. Spend a day reading a great novel
77. Reflect on your greatest weakness and realise it is your greatest strength Yeah, I’m awesome
78. Drive in a convertible with the top down and the music blaring Nothing like a BMW cruise
79. Fly in a hot air balloon My wonderful birthday adventure across the UAE sands
80. Teach someone to read
81. Don’t shave for a month I’m all about waxing in this country
82. Write an effective letter of complaint Effective AND appreciated
83. Get a tattoo that means something and put it on display for the whole world It’s there. I love it.
84. Learn how to take a compliment Getting better at it
85. Send a dozen roses to your mother
86. Be in the audience for a TV show
87. Send a message in a bottle
88. Get to know your neighbours
89. Plant a tree
90. Write a fan letter to your all time hero
91. Learn not to say ‘yes’ when you really mean ‘no’
92. Learn to understand someone totally alien
93. Ride the Trans-Siberian Express across Asia
94. Be someone’s mentor
95. Spend a night in a haunted house
96. Sing a great song in front of an audience You know it, Tim
97. Write your will
98. Make a complete fool of yourself Many, many times
99. Own one very expensive but fabulous suit
100. Ride the highest roller coaster in the world
101. Drive the autobahn
102. Spend Christmas on the beach with a pina colada
103. Find a job you love Brighton Beach, represent!
104. Donate money and put your name on something
105. Buy a round-the-world ticket, a backpack and use both to run away
106. Grow a garden
107. Spend 3 months getting your body in shape Everyone loves a gym challenge
108. Give a speech in public
109. Snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef Dedicated to the wonderful Turner family
110. Kiss someone you’ve just met on a date Ummm…yes.
111. Be able to handle your finances I’m awesome
112. Give to a charity anonymously
113. Let someone feed you A delightful part of Arab mother-types
114. Kiss the Blarney Stone for the gift of the gab
115. Go deep sea fishing and eat your catch
116. Create your own web site www.missadams.com
117. Reach the top of the Statue of Liberty
118. Create your family tree
119. Drink a Singapore Sling at Raffles
120. Ride a horse along a beach Andrew’s Peninsula birthday adventure
121. Stay out all night dancing and go to work without having gone home
122. Register as an organ donor Why haven’t YOU?
123. Ride a mechanical bull Everyone loves a BWC staff party
124. Ride in a horse-drawn carriage Someone’s incredible engagement plan
125. Go on a cruise
126. Send a card just to make someone smile
127. See the Northern Lights
128. Milk a cow
129. Change a tyre
130. Jump in a pool fully clothed
131. Quit your job Tough, but worth it
132. Go see a theatre production I heart you Melbourne
133. Visit the pyramids of Egypt
134. Go whale watching With my wonderful family on the NSW Central Coast
135. Get tipsy with good company Many, many, MANY times
136. Float in the Dead Sea
137. Take a cooking class
138. Learn to take photos using film and develop them in a darkroom
139. Eat tapas in Spain
Here’s to crossing them all off!
