Tuesday, October 13, 2009

WRITING YOUR BUCKET LIST


At a recent tutorial, I was explaining to my students the importance of setting goals in life, and about effective goal-setting. Then it struck me. Goal-setting applies to the 50+ too. Just because we have passed the prime of our lives doesn't mean there's nothing left to achieve. There is a second prime in life, and we are just getting started.

Goal-setting for the 50+ is an euphemism for writing a bucket list. Let's be honest about it, there are many things we would like to accomplish before we kick the bucket. There's nothing like putting them down in writing to give it that quality of legitimacy. Having a bucket list adds meaning and purpose to our lives. It gives us a reason to get up in the morning and look forward to another new day.

We don't have to limit ourselves to one bucket list. We can have one every five years until we finally kick the bucket!

Here's my bucket list for the next five years, in no particular order.


  1. write a book and get it published
  2. be a guest on a radio or TV show
  3. attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics
  4. set up a 'Joy of Living' fun club for the 50+ in Malaysia
  5. visit the holy cities of the world
  6. learn belly dancing
  7. provide free English and computer classes for senior citizens
  8. start my own business
  9. have my own seniors column in the Star or the New Straits Times
  10. act in a play at Istana Budaya

Have fun creating your own bucket list. There should be an element of challenge and effort in achieving each item. Strike a balance between achieving things for yourself and for others. I have learned never to underestimate the power of the mind, so do remember to visualize and focus.

Now that I have shared my bucket list, I am committed to realizing it. Time to get cracking on the first item......



Can anyone tell me where I can get a DVD of the movie?

4 comments:

pokykim said...

Watch at YouTube :
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=videos&search_query=the+bucket+list++ismolaitela01&search_sort=video_date_uploaded_reverse

Bunny said...

that's a very defeatist way of looking at things. i don't intend to kick the bucket anytime soon.

Unknown said...

Neither do I! Still, it's a good to have some goals in place for the next 5 years, for example. It gives one some sense of direction and purpose. The retirement years can be quite depressing for some people who have no idea what to do with their time.

Would a basket list sound better?

Terry said...

Hi actually saw the movie with my girlfriend a while ago. Quite a good show. If you want, I have the DVD.