Bucket List

The term bucket list has become ubiquitous in society.  It has spawned a youth offset “YOLO”, or “You Only Live Once”.  These mentalities are at the same time cohesive and contrasting.  The colloquial use of YOLO often encourages someone to perform something that is rather dangerous or ill-advised rather than a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Meanwhile, a bucket list is a list of things to do before someone kicks the bucket.   People now associate any reach outside of the norm as a bucket list item. 

This crossroads became obvious when a friend referred to starting something new as a bucket list item.   Though no such association had occurred, this person believed starting something new must be on such a list.  There was no such list, no such fear of dying and no such gravity. 

Society has adopted these ideologies.  A key example is popular music, having references in many different genres.  “Live Like You Are Dying”, country music.  The eponymous “YOLO”.  The rap “Live Fast, Die Young”.   Pop music’s “Live While We’re Young”.  Society has people living in both realms without diving into the meaning beneath them.  This results in each losing its potency and the point being lost.

The underlying purpose of both is the same.  The purpose of both ideas is to do things worth doing.  The point is to live each day realizing that you are not guaranteed the next.  Do the things that bring results, do the things that bring happiness, do the things that you would regret not doing, do the things that align with your values and goals. Do not act out of fear of missing out, do not act due to peer pressure, do not act out of fear of death.

Actions need to be in alignment with the desired identity.  Habits are the building block of who people become and actions are the building blocks of habits.  Do the things that bring joy, do the things that are challenging, do the things that help others.  Act in alignment with goals and values to achieve the desired identity.  If actions do not align with the concepts, values and goals, then these actions should not be done regardless of a bucket list or YOLO. 

Lives are the sum of days.  Days are the sum of habits.  Habits are the sum of actions.  The actions performed daily need to align with values.  Self-awareness, value and goal mapping help to ensure actions are in alignment.  These actions then are the habits.  These habits are the person.