How to Build a Thoughtful, Joyful, and Totally Doable Bucket List
If you’ve ever wanted to create a bucket list but felt overwhelmed, unsure where to start, or turned off by versions that feel morbid or unrealistic —- please know that you’re not alone.
On this week’s episode of the Slow Living Podcast, Melessa and I dive into the art of crafting a meaningful bucket list that feels grounded, hopeful, and truly aligned with the life you want to live.
A bucket list should not feel like pressure, but instead Possibility.
🙂
Many people refuse to take the time to think about or plan for the future because they are worried that they will be “locked in” or they have a defeatist mindset and think “it will never happen.”
Slow Living is about making your dreams come true in a slow, steady, and sustainable way. You can ABSOLUTELY find a way to live out your bucket list dreams and ideals without hustle or hype.
Why a Bucket List Matters (and Why It Doesn’t Have to Be Extreme)
In this episode, Melessa and I talk through our three-year goals, our travel dreams, and the very different ways we each define adventure. For some, adventure looks like hiking mountains. For others, it looks like an RV road trip, a quiet writing retreat, or planting a garden you’ve always talked about.
A bucket list isn’t about doing the biggest, boldest, or flashiest things.
It’s about identifying what will bring meaning, joy, curiosity, or closure into your life.
That’s Slow Living.
Start With What Feels Possible
Melessa shares how revisiting the Peace Course feels easier this time around—proof that your perspective shifts as you grow—and how she’s been putting real life changes into practice. We discuss:
-
–bucket list travel
-
–realistic three-year goals
-
–aging and retirement
-
–long-term planning while raising a big family
Most importantly, we talk about starting with what’s actually doable. While it is fun to daydream about extravegant travel in a 5-star way if you won the lottery, it’s not a practical way to plan out your bucket list.
Structure With Flexibility
When it comes to long-term goals (including writing her book), I encourage Melessa to treat her creative life the same way she handles her real-life responsibilities.
We also dive into:
-
time blocking
-
decluttering as a form of future-self love
-
why flexibility matters when life doesn’t go as planned
You can still be spontaneous and Have Fun —- even if you took the time to plan and schedule. I promise!!
A Powerful Reflection Exercise: Write Your Own Obituary
Toward the end of the episode, I give Melessa a challenge: write her own obituary. I assigned this as homework not to be morbid, but to be really thoughtful. I want her to do the things she wants to be known for.
When you reflect on the story of your life—your values, your impact, your joys—it becomes much easier to identify what belongs on your bucket list for the years ahead.
