“Oooo, that needs to be on my bucket list!” What, maybe a trip to Paris in the spring? A girlfriends’ weekend in Vegas? The latest designer purse?
Or maybe not. The idea of a bucket list doesn’t have to be all about expensive trips or costly shopping excursions, it can be about very simple things.
Here are five DIY ideas to add to your bucket list without breaking your budget:
- Ever daydream about owning your own bookstore? You can experience some of that book world vibe by putting a Little Free Library in front of your house. Essentially a small cupboard in which you, your neighbors and your friends leave books, and anyone who wants one can take one home for free. You can find designs to build one yourself or even buy one directly from the Little Free Library founders. www.littlefreelibrary.org
- Make your own meditation room, or dedicated meditation corner in your house or apartment. No need to go to a yoga retreat if you have you own peaceful corner to retreat to. Amazing what a little paint and a few pillows can achieve…
- Become a superhero! Well, at least acquire the skills that will help you save a life should the need ever arise. Check out who is teaching CPR in your area and get a friend to take the class with you. That way you can be a superhero duo. Do you have a dog who could be a superhero too? Big breeds like German Shepherds and Labs make great rescue dogs, look for info at www.disasterdog.com.
- Vow to practice the art of letter writing. Make it a practice to send handwritten thank you notes to the people who have helped you along the way, or influenced you on your path. Not only is it a soul enriching lesson in kindness and gratitude, those who receive letters from you will be touched and reminded of your uniqueness. Who knows where it could lead…
- And where could it lead if you said “Yes,” to more of what life offers? All too often we say no reflexively. No, I can’t take that Spanish class on the weekends with you. No, I can’t change jobs right now… Try changing your default answer to “yes” this year and see where it takes you. Who knows, you might accidently create some incredible bucket list items in the process of saying YES to opportunities.
– Gin Sander has raced cars, dined in a medieval castle with the cast of an opera, and had her portrait painted three times. She is the author of The Big Bucket List Book: 133 Experiences of a Lifetime (Sourcebooks 2016).
