We hear a lot these days about having a bucket list, ever since the movie with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson came out in 2007. Many people have long lists of things they want to see, do and experience before they die.
I was thinking about that the other day as I sat on my sofa, basking in the leaf-filtered sunlight pouring in through my patio doors. I think I’ve had a subconscious bucket list before it was a thing.
As a young girl, one of my dreams (I suppose a “dream” can pass as a bucket list item) was to marry a man who loved me.
Check. Almost 44 years later we’re still enjoying married life!
Having lived in basic bungalow style homes throughout my childhood, I always wanted to live in an old two-storey home.
Check. The one we’re living in now is the second of two.
One of the books I read as a child featured a house where every bedroom included an ensuite. Wow!
Nope. As Mark Twain said, “You can’t have everything. Where would you put it?”
As a child, I would lie in bed and dream of having a tree that leaned over the house and peeked into the second-floor window.
Check. A large birch tree leans protectively over my patio. (My dream did not include all the detritus this beloved tree sprinkles on the table and chairs much of the year.)
And wouldn’t it be lovely to have vines growing up the side of the house?
Check. Hops current cling to the rail fence, and Virginia Creepers grace part of the east wall of our house, and have totally taken over the south side of the garden shed.
These are a few examples of retro-bucketing.
You could also call it acknowledging God’s blessings.
Without my asking Him, God has graced my life with many beautiful and lovely things and people. I’m so thankful for these blessings and how they have enriched my life. I don’t have anything against a bucket list, a lineup of things still to be experienced, but in the anticipation of these oft-lofty goals, I don’t want to lose sight of all the things God has already gifted me.
If you were to make a retro-bucket list, what are some of the things that would be on it?
2 thoughts on “Retro-bucketing, anyone?”
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I love your retro-bucket list, Janice. Thanks for this reminder that for all the mountains we may not have climbed, there were lots of wonderful views from the hills we topped and are still topping.
That’s exactly right, Sharon. I suppose it’s another way to say, “Look back and be thankful.”