“Everything. Everyone. Everywhere. Ends.” - Six Feet Under
Some day, something is going to happen to you and there will be nothing you can do to stop it. You can’t hide from it. You have no idea what will happen after it happens, you just know it will happen eventually.
Everybody dies. There’s no escaping that.
But not everybody lives, either.
So, put down that bucket list and stand up. DO SOMETHING!
I am decidedly anti-bucket list for anyone under the age of 70. The bucket list is meant to be a way to cope with mortality for people without much time left who want to prioritize the last few exciting things they may get to do before they shuffle off the mortal coil.
It is absolutely ridiculous for a 20/30/40 year old to sit down and compile a bucket list. I’m sorry if that offends you, please continue reading to understand my rationale.
If you are under the age of 70, a bucket list is meaningless for you. Don’t write things down, just go out and DO THEM.
You’re always told that when you turn 20, you think you’re invincible. That you can get away with everything and anything and no one will ever touch you because you think as such.
Why is that a bad thing? (Side Note: I don’t mean stupidity like drunk driving, drug use, etc. Anything you couldn’t tell your parents about makes you very vulnerable and not invincible at all. Its kryptonite. But you’re gonna do it anyway, aren’t you? Don’t say I didn’t warn you.)
Why is it a bad thing to consider ourselves invincible? As defined, invincibility is the thought “Incapable of being overcome or defeated; unconquerable.”
Is that such a bad thing to wake up every morning and declare ourselves invincible? We woke up, didn’t we? Death didn’t overcome us.
Is it wrong to go into every situation you encounter in a day with the thought that nothing will overcome you? Nothing will stop you from what you need to get done. (Again, barring extreme circumstances. By no means do I want you to step in front of a bullet or a speeding train just to test your invincibility. Within limits, true believers.)
It shouldn’t be.
Invincibility is fleeting though! It doesn’t last forever. Its like the star in Super Mario Brothers...it’ll only get you so far before it’s gone forever.
You only have so many years in your life to be invincible. You shouldn’t be wasting them thinking about the days when you will no longer have that invulnerability.
You should be out enjoying the fact that you have another day of invincibility. Use it. Speak to that girl/guy that you’ve always wanted to but never had the courage. You’re invincible! If she/he says no, do you die? Are you mortally wounded?
Nope.
Get off the couch and take a brisk walk around your block for a couple minutes. Feel the sweat dripping down your forehead and the air as it rushes in and out of your mouth. Feel your body fight against the exercise, but at the same time be SO ECSTATIC because you used it.
Did the sweat melt your skin off your bones? Did your lungs turn to ash?
Nope.
Take a crazy plunge. Go skydiving in California, or hang gliding in Colombia, or take a year in Africa to help with AIDS research, or Haiti in rebuilding after the earthquakes.
Big or small, trivial or monumental, the great thing is it doesn't matter. Just as long as you're out there appreciating the gift given to you and using it!
Go out there and don’t even think about your bucket list.
Think about your invincibility list. What haven’t you done that you should be doing? What haven’t you done that you want to do?
Here’s the trick. Don’t write it down. Don’t go near that pen or I’ll find you and smack you.
Just go do it!
I think bucket lists are great for people who are close to actually kicking the bucket.
But more than likely, you’re not one of them. So quit worrying!
Enjoy your invincibility. Just remember, capes get caught on edges and sharp things pretty easily, so stay away from propellers.
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