A couple of weeks ago I went on a helicopter ride. It was great fun and something I would do again if given the chance. A year or so ago I went hot air ballooning. A few years before that I went to Montreal and slept in the "Ice Hotel". Invariably when I share these experiences with people, someone pipes up and says, "Do you have a bucket list you're working on?" The short answer to that question is "No". Having a bucket list makes having fun sound like yet another duty to be added to my overflowing to do list. So, no I do not have a bucket list, but I do believe in trying to experience as much of what life has to offer while I can.
I am no daredevil by any means although I do enjoy scary roller coaster rides and in most situations fear does not keep me from trying new things. I am old enough now that I can recognize the level of danger inherent in most pursuits, but I am also wise enough to calculate the odds before taking the plunge (literally and figuratively). Optimism is one of my dominant personality traits and that is probably all you need to know about my risk assessment process.
Oddly enough the bucket list question has also come up in regard to less dangerous pursuits. Glass blowing? I have always wanted to try it and I have scheuled an introductory class. The few people I told that to have looked at me as if to say, "Where do you get these crazy ideas?" I often find myself wondering how limited their lives are if the idea of learning something new or facing a fear seems so foreign to them.
I took a friend with me when I went hot air ballooning. She is terrified of heights but she climbed in that balloon anyway. She barely opened her eyes while aloft, but she gave it a shot, conquered her fear (if only temporarily) and did something she never thought she could do. She is a richer person for the experience.
One thing I want to do that I have not yet tried is skydiving. The thought scares me, but I believe the experience will be well worth the fear. I am still trying to convince myself that it is how I want to celebrate my next milestone birthday. I have some time to work on that. Who knows if it will come to pass, but what have I got to lose by trying? Okay, I know what you pessimists are thinking, but I think I'll try it anyway. And if it turns out to be a disaster, use that bucket I didn't use for my bucket list to gather my pieces.
