7-24-23 Batavia, IL
In a small, bustling café on a quiet street corner, I overheard a conversation that made me pause. It was a group of friends, discussing their bucket lists with an air of wistful longing. They spoke of grand adventures and far-off places, all neatly tucked away for “someday.” As I sipped my coffee, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own experiences and the conversations I had over the years.
I remembered a few people telling me they wanted to do the things I was doing because they were on their bucket list. Over the next ten years, I embarked on a journey that took me to twelve foreign cities, each one a new chapter in my life story. Meanwhile, those friends still clung to their lists, waiting for the perfect moment to start their adventures.
It got me thinking, is a bucket list just a list of dreams or an excuse bucket?
Many people comfort themselves with the thought that one day they’ll achieve great things, visit amazing places, and meet inspiring people. They dream vividly and passionately about their future adventures. Yet, that “one day” often remains elusive, shrouded in a fog of excuses and delays. They get so good at justifying why they can’t take that leap today, that they end up doing nothing and simply waiting.
Excuses become a part of their daily routine, a safety net that keeps them from stepping out of their comfort zones. It’s easy to get caught up in the cycle of dreaming without doing, living with the comforting notion that there’s always time. But in reality, time waits for no one.
So, I offer this piece of advice: empty your bucket a bit before adding to it. Don’t let your dreams become dusty relics of what could have been. Take that trip, meet those people, do those things now, not someday.
Life’s journey is meant to be experienced, not just imagined. Until next time, seize the moments and make your adventures a reality.
Joseph O’Brien