I never knew the concept of ‘Bucket list’. It was only when the movie ‘Bucket List’ was launched in 2018, I came to know about it. By now I think everyone knows what a bucket list is. Right? But today, I want to share with you something which I have started to do recently. This is called the Reverse Bucket List. 

Bucket List movie experience:

After two kids, I don’t even remember what kind of movies I really like. When my husband asks me for a movie plan, I keep a checklist in front of him. How much violence, how much entertainment for kids, is it little comedy, are there any intimate scenes etc etc. And with this, our plan mostly fails. 

But when the ‘Bucket list’ trailer was shown on TV, I literally shouted, “We are going for this movie”.  My husband gave me an angry stare. And reminded me of all the list of movies which he wanted to watch and I rejected. 

But I had no option. After all, it was Madhuri’s first Marathi movie. I had to watch. I somehow convinced him that it was family entertainment. And after a long discussion finally he agreed. 

When we came out of the theatre, I was very inspired. I had decided that I would make my bucket list. I was talking only about Madhuri. But my husband was not very happy and he teased me, “Madhuri looks very older than Sumit”

Oh! Now it was my turn to return the angry  stare back to him. And I said, “Where you have 50+ ages heroes acting opposite 20 years old girls, what’s wrong if a heroine looks a bit older than her hero ?”

And he laughed and laughed and laughed.

Anyways, the main point here is I became a great believer in bucket lists since then. 

There are so many positive things associated with bucket list. In a way, it’s a fun way to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and try new things.  In the process, it can lead to all sorts of great experiences. Isn’t it?

So , I made my bucket list and kept it as simple (???) as possible. 

In my bucket list I’ve mentioned that I wanted to travel to places like New Zealand, Rome, Egypt etc and learn a new foreign  language and learn two wheeler and then four wheeler. 

However, as years go past I haven’t yet checked a single item in it. This led to me wondering whether it is really going to happen? And why has it not happened yet?

Whenever I look at my bucket list, I get a feel like a shame-y reminder of all the things I haven’t done. It’s like I have so much left to accomplish. 

Reverse Bucket List

For me, a list of things to do seems like a lot of pressure that I don’t really need. In this time-starved modern busy world, more pressure is the last thing anyone really needs.

With a lot of thinking I realized that many of the highlights of my life weren’t planned and researched, they just happened. 

Thankfully, in the midst of a recent wave of bucket-list anxiety, I learned about something called a reverse bucket list.  This is a relatively new phenomenon that’s been growing in the past year or so.

It’s very simple. Instead of focusing on the things you haven’t accomplished (yet) it has you focus on the things “you have done”.

When the future seems far away, and we are feeling anxious about our big dreams, milestones and bucket lists, the reverse bucket list is really a solution. It helps us in embracing gratefulness and celebrating our past.  It makes us realize how amazing we already are, regardless of what the future holds.

Taking stock of what you have accomplished can create a feeling of progress, which can boost self-esteem and motivation. 

Writing a reverse bucket list

When I sat down to write out my own reverse bucket list, it took me hours! It’s not that I haven’t done awesome things in my life. But because I kept editing myself.

I crossed few things off thinking that “No!!  that’s not special enough” or “Everyone has done that“.

But I remembered that Perfection is an illusion. So I approached my reverse bucket list from a gratitude perspective. And it really started to take off.

I realized that just because an item didn’t sound like a big deal to others, that didn’t mean it was not special to me.

Once my list was done, I realized how grateful I am for the adventures I have had and how proud I am of my accomplishments.

In the spirit of looking to the future while honoring the past, make your own reverse bucket list. And Have a positive self talk !

Years or months later, you will look at this list when you are feeling like a failure or feel confused, and you will realize how much you have accomplished in your life so far.

I made my reverse bucket list as : 

• Having few best friends since 22 years
• Started my own blog in English(Never ever imagined)
• Made 35 donuts and 50 momos successfully
  
• Published my own book Law of Karma on Kindle, Amazon Platform.
  
• Accepted and completed 40 Panipuris challenge
• Performed on stage at the age of 38 (with my friends and husband too)
• Learned Android and developed android game on my own
• Completed 108 SuryaNamaskar (Only once in my life.)
• Giving Android training to Graduates till date

That’s it!

I get such a push when I read this list. It always makes me smile. Those ‘wow’ moments which I mentioned seem even  “more wow” now.

What’s great about this reverse bucket list is that I can keep adding to it.

It’s a great way to boost your gratitude. And make you see how much you have accomplished and experienced in your life, even if it’s small. Because life is wonderful!

Conclusion 

If you want to Feel More Fulfilled, I would highly suggest that you make one such reverse bucket list.