Bucket List

11 Things To Do Before I Die

I like the “reverse bucket list” idea of writer, researcher, and happiness guru Arthur C. Brooks—he makes a list of things he wants to achieve in the next decade, then crosses the items off as a practice in non-attachment. Doing this helps keep his goals and desires in proper perspective.

Below is my own reverse bucket list (in no particular order). Some of these goals are worthy of achieving, others are pure self-aggrandizement. Some are quite attainable. Others would be as unlikely as getting struck by lightning during a shark attack.

The point of the exercise is to recognize that most of the things on my list are not the keys to personal happiness or fulfillment. But if TED calls, I’ll probably answer…

—Travel to Europe

—Publish a novel

—Make the Times bestseller list

—Buy a nice studio space

—Go on a book tour

—Give a TED talk

—Win a Newbery or Caldecott Honor

—Be a patient, present father and husband

—Run a 5K in under 19 minutes

What’s on your list?

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