Bucket List for women

I am woman; hear me roar. If you’ve heard this expression before and almost laughed out loud - thinking that’s for others, not me with my boring life - then you’re probably in the “I’ll do it one day” camp.

As women we’re often so focused on meeting everyone else’s needs. Next thing we know, the children are all grown up or we’re retired; regretting the things we longed to do but never did.

To have a life that’s truly worth living we need to take responsibility for living out our own dreams too; NOW not ‘one day’ -   that Neverland where dreams go to die.

With a goal in sight of say jetting off to Tuscany, every step in the process of turning your dream into reality will feel great. Even saving up, because the anticipation you will feel knowing you’re heading for “destination awesome” cannot help but colour your perceptions of how you see yourself and your life.        

And we owe it to ourselves to invest in our lives in this way. Because dreams that come true show us that the world – with all its problems – can still be a magical place.

Here’s a list of 20 larger-than-life things you could do if you really wanted to. We hope it will inspire you to dream bigger than you ever have before and to start living a more exciting life.

 

 1. Climb a mountain
Or all of the world’s seven summits

2. Memorize a poem and pass it on
The most obvious choice is to your children. As one of the world’s favourite poems, Kipling's "If" is a good choice. And the memory of you reciting it by heart will never be forgotten.  

3. Make a pilgrimage
The destination could be anywhere – Jerusalem, Mecca, Rome, Machu Picchu, or the Amazon jungle. The point is to visit a place where you can feel part of something larger. 

4. Eat a meal good enough to be your last
Or visit a destination renowned for its cuisine. When the end comes, there is a risk that you may be in no position to enjoy Beluga Caviar. (Think of the price of those rare black truffles as death insurance and just ignore that scary restaurant bill.)

5. Make an enemy for life
Our enemies define who we are as much as our friends.  Stand up to a bully. Blow the whistle on a crook. All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.  
 
6. Forgive someone

7. Defy gravity
Everyone should do this at least once in a lifetime, whether it involves abseiling, sky diving, bungee jumping or parasailing. (At a push small aircraft, helicopter and hovercraft flights as well as giant roller-coaster rides also qualify as gravity defying. But they just aren’t going to impress as much as the first 4 in the retelling.)

8. Become a world traveller
Getting to Antarctica may be a slight challenge, but only once you’ve reached all seven continents can you truly call yourself a world traveller. Fortunately round the world tickets are often offered at discounted rates.

9. Learn something new
Take painting or writing classes. Learn to play a musical instrument or speak another language.

10. Swim with dolphins
Or dive with a whale shark or go whale spotting.

11. Get published
It doesn’t matter if it’s a poem, book or article. They say everyone has a book in them.

12. Volunteer abroad
If Greenpeace is not quite your thing, offer to work for free for a do-good type organisation or someone you respect during your annual vacation.   

13. Cross a glacier on foot or in a plane
This is something your grandchildren may never experience.

14. Visit the source of one of the world’s great rivers
See how even great rivers like the Nile can have humble beginnings.

15. Photograph an endangered species
It will remind you of how fragile life can be.

16. Meet your favourite (living) celebrity
Or visit the birthplace or gravesite of an icon. It could be anyone who influenced your life from Elvis to Mother Theresa.

17. Stand at the North or South Pole

18. Go the Olympic Games
Or attend some other major live event.  

19. Follow your favourite music group or performer on tour
Or go and see a famous ballet, Broadway show or symphony.

20. Visit your idea of paradise
Perhaps one of the 7 Wonders of the Natural World; Aurora Lights, Grand Canyon, Great Barrier Reef, Mount Everest, Victoria Falls, Paricutin Volcano, Harbor of Rio de Janeiro.

I am woman; hear me roar (song by Helen Reddy 1970’s) http://mszindzi.com/2010/05/29/i-am-woman-hear-me-roar-helen-reddy-circa-1975/