Bucket lists can serve many purposes beyond “what I want to do before I kick the bucket,” which is its traditional meaning. I have used my bucket list for a variety of purposes. For example, to add some extra fun into my life, to hold myself accountable to my goals, and lastly, to challenge myself to reach new heights.
One year, I took this quite literally. I put summitting Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free-standing mountain, on my bucket list. Mind you, I’ve never climbed a mountain before. Not even a tiny, tiny, little mountain. But, alas, go big or go home I always say.
The key to success with any goal is proper preparation. If you are anything like me, you overdo it with any task you attempt. So, there I was at the gym sweating like crazy five days a week for six months. I was determined I was going to be ready for anything that the mountain had in store for me. I built up my cardio strength so I was ready for the ascent, along with many hours on the Stairmaster so my legs wouldn’t get tired on the climb. I also endlessly strength-trained so that I could make it down the mountain in decent shape as well.
When you are leaving the country for three weeks to climb a large mountain word gets out. And you know the word is out. Everyone is going to know if you made it up the mountain or if you weren’t strong enough to make it to the top. Talk about pressure! Add that to the mix of challenges here.
At first sight, it was beautiful. Up close, it was huge! We started at a low elevation and to my dismay within the first five minutes, I was gasping for air! This was not a good sign! If I was struggling already, what did this have to say about my ability to make eight more days? What was I going to tell everyone – I failed on day one?
Soon though, thankfully I got into a rhythm and things got, well, I’m not going to say easier, but more doable. I quickly forgot about the friends at home and my focus solely became the mountain and supporting my climbing companions.
Spoiler alert: I MADE IT TO THE TOP!
What I learned in that nine days on that mountain has since carried me through the hardest of challenges of my life.
First, I learned how important it is to support each other. If one person is struggling, it’s imperative to jump in and help. We all have our moments – on the mountain and in life. If we work together, we can all make it.
Second, all that physical training helped me dearly with just 50% of the ascent and descent. The rest was all mental strength. If I didn’t keep myself mentally strong on the mountain, despite being so physically fit, I would have never made it. I’ve found this to be the same on subsequent challenges I’ve encountered in life. All the preparation in the world isn’t enough if you don’t get yourself in a good mental place for the task at hand.
Lastly, bucket list items are great for so many things. In this case, every time I come against a challenge, and there has been many since, I always think back and say to myself, “if I can climb the world’s tallest free-standing mountain with no experience, I can do this too.” I can’t tell you how many projects, presentations, and life challenges this has gotten me through.
So call it your bucket list, resolutions, goals for the year or whatever suits your fancy, but there really is something to them. They push you to not only achieve new heights, but ones that you can carry with you your entire life. If you haven’t created one yet, I encourage you to give yourself a few bucket list challenges.
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02 March 2021
That’s amazing! I bet it was such a great experience.
Lauren | http://www.laurenyloves.co.uk
It was – a trip of a lifetime! Thanks!
Lisa
I’m a big fan of the concept of a bucket list to push yourself into doing more and trying new things. I don’t have a proper written bucket list but I do have a mental one x
Sophie
Mental ones work great too! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
What a cool story! Glad you made it to the top!
Thank you – it was quite the adventure!
Lisa
I’ve never made a bucket list so this is hella encouraging! Well done for getting to the top!
Katt
https:/kattwritescontent.com
Thank you! I’ve found bucket lists to be very inspiring and it also holds me accountable to make the time for things I really want to do! 🙂
Lisa
Congratulations on the successful climb. With a fit body and a strong mind you can achieve anything.
Thank you Je! So true – its amazing what a fit body and strong, focused mind can achieve!
Because my depression makes me deeply nihilistic, I don’t see the point in doing stuff like a bucket list, because when I die, I know longer exists, and the joy of doing it at the time will be fleeting. Plus, the stress do doing these kinds of things would lessen the chance of that fleeting joy. But that’s just me, and my bleak world
Perhaps it could be more of a “living in the moment” type of thing rather than a planned out event? Just a thought. 🙂
Thanks for sharing,
Lisa
Thank you Je! It was an experience of a lifetime! I completely agree – anything can be possible!
Lisaa
Truly inspiring! Though I would never climb a mountain, breaking your process down makes it applicable to anything
Glad you found it inspiring Vera! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Lisa
Wow, what an amazing achievement. Well done for completing the challenge. I have a bucket list with lots of things on it, although, none as challenging as yours 🙂
Thanks – that definitely was my biggest one to date. Not sure I can “top” that but who knows! The options are endless. 🙂
Good luck with yours Laura!
Lisa
Wow! You made it to the top! I think having goals is always important to keep you going. But sometimes I get overwhelmed and put too much pressure to accomplish them all. I just need to remind myself: baby steps! ????
Yes, I completely agree Ney. Step by step and each goal will get completed (and not be so overwhelming! :))
This is such a fun post! I have a mental “bucketlist” that’s really just a list of things that I’ve heard about and are interested in doing. It’s basically a bucket list, except there is nothing pressuring me to do any of the things. I think preparing for a task and pressuring myself to actually do it would be incredibly helpful. Thanks for the motivation!
You are welcome Anna – I’m glad you enjoyed the post!