Everyone has something they want to do before the inevitable happens. As we hope the inevitable will come as late as it possibly can, the activities on our bucket list go unchecked. 

Most people hesitate to do something they always wanted to do. The main reason is that they can’t afford it or they can’t find the time and so on. However, you cannot live your life to the fullest unless you do something for yourself. 

Therefore, you must take a leap of faith, or you’ll end up regretting not doing something. So, live a little will you and give that bucket list another go. That said, here’s why you should check things off your bucket list as soon as possible.

Time is running out.

No, it’s not but the window of opportunity when you can actually do something doesn’t appear very often, so if you don’t take the chase now, you might never decide to actually do it. 

A good example is that lots of guys want to attend an NBA game, in person, of course. They will often browse the best US sportsbooks and perhaps place a few wagers but never actually go to the game. 

The main reason is that tickets are expensive, and they get sold out almost immediately. So, if going to the NBA Finals is on your bucket list, you should plan a guy’s road trip to wherever the finals will take place, on time and actually commit to it. 

In life, something always comes up that makes people hesitate when chasing their dreams. But time is not promised to anyone. See why you should check things off your bucket list as soon as possible:
Click To Tweet

Life is a box of chocolates. 

Most people spend their lives grinding through the system, never actually doing anything they like. So, when you’re old and retired, you no longer have the energy or the will to do the things you wanted to do when you were younger. 

Don’t wait to be burdened by regret when you’re old and wrinkly. As they say that life is full of surprises, you’ll never get a chance to find out just how much that is true if you don’t actually do something. 

If we take the aforementioned example, it’s one thing to watch NBA Playoffs at home and a completely different experience to watch a game in person. So, if a chance presents itself for you to actually do something you’ve always wanted, make sure you capitalize on it.

Carpe Diem

The thing that makes people so indecisive about doing something they like that may turn out to be something stupid in the end, is thinking about the future. Future is uncertain to say the least and dealing with consequences of your actions is a bridge you should cross once you actually get there. 

Therefore, seize the moment and don’t look back or forward, for that matter. There’s no time like the present so if you have an opportunity to scratch that thing off your bucket list, then by all means do it. 

Whether it turns out to be an awesome or terrible experience is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is that you’ll never know unless you make that step. And if you don’t do it, you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering about “what if”. 

Don’t forget to Pin this to your favorite Bucket List Board!

The post Why You Should Check Things Off Your Bucket List as Soon as Possible appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

There is a famous quote that says, “You learn more from failure than from success. Don’t let it stop you. Failure builds character.” Boy does this ring true for us! In this day and age of polished Instagram photos and amazing stories on blogs and other platforms, we often only see the positive side to a story. But there are many benefits of failure. In fact, when chasing the numerous items on our bucket list we have found that failure is good. That is because in all the stupid mistakes we have made chasing various bucket list items something remarkable happened. We Learned! 

So grab your first aid kit & get ready to laugh as we share how failure leads to success by highlighting the many bloopers we have had chasing items on our bucket list. Hopefully, by admitting our faults, mistakes, and failures you too will learn so you can avoid these pitfalls as well.

Our Travel Failures that led to Success

When it comes to tackling travel bucket list items, preparation is always key! But everyone prepares differently. For example, we are more outliners. We like to have a good idea of where we are going and what we like to do but we don’t detail every aspect of our travel. Don’t get us wrong, we love the freedom of not being scheduled. But by being a bit loosey-goosey it has created a few problems while traveling. However, each time our failure led to success because we learned and improved. So what kind of travel fails have we had? Let’s dive into it.

Grab your first aid kit & get ready to laugh as we share how failure leads to success by highlighting the many bloopers we have had chasing the items on the Bucket List Project! #Failure #NeverGiveUp #AlwaysLearning
Click To Tweet

1) We have chosen some lousy destinations

The Fail:

For those of you who know us, you know we love exploring great literary spots around the world. So we were very excited to see and hang out at The Petit Poucet in Casablanca. For those who don’t know this cafe was once where Saint-Exupéry, the French author of The Little Prince used to spend time between mail flights across the Sahara drinking with Albert Camus. But now no one there seems to care or honor that history.

We were also pretty disappointed when we visited Barranquilla! Don’t get us wrong, if you show up to this large city during Carnival you will witness one of Colombia’s most important folkloric celebrations, and one of the biggest carnivals in the world according to UNESCO. But when we arrived there was NOTHING happening in the massive city. Even our hotel hosts wondered why on earth we were visiting their city in April.

How this Failure Leads to Success:  

While these destinations were a complete disappointment they didn’t take away from our travel experiences. I mean to be fair, nothing could disappoint us about Casablanca since that is where we got engaged. But, when the main reason for visiting is a bust, you can either rue in disappointment or adapt. So for us, we learned to adapt and find something else to do which led to some fun experiences.

2) We have not packed well

The Fail: 

Nowadays we try to be minimalists when packing but it was not always this way. If you have read our review on the one bag travel system by Journey System then you saw us toting around a gigantic suitcase across all of the United Kingdom. See we thought that if we packed all of our gear together in 1 large suitcase it would not only be easier but save us tons of money on bag fees. But though it may have saved us a few dollars it was an absolute nightmare to drag around the old cobblestone roads of Scotland and England.

We have also failed to pack properly for the weather. For example, driving into Jaisalmer during the Rickshaw Run, we were freezing. This is because we had forgotten to pack warm clothes. So as we raced to the finish line, we were wearing everything we had packed, just to stay warm.

How this Failure Leads to Success: 

After nearly throwing out my back carrying around tons of clothes, we knew something had to change. We realized that though we want to be prepared for different weather issues and certain events, we need to learn to pack better so we can be prepared without extra items. So first we learned about ways to pack for the different environments we were possibly visiting. Then, we discovered the Journey System minimalist backpack and other bags which would allow us to carry all of our gear better and more efficiently.

3) ERIC often forgets to put on Sunscreen

The Fail: 

Perhaps one of the biggest travel fails that I have is getting sunburned while traveling. Likely, this is because growing up, I rarely got sunburned and never developed a good habit of lathering up. There is also something to be said about always backpacking outdoors, hiking in open areas with no real protection. But to be honest, there is no excuse for not taking better care of my skin. 

How this Failure Leads to Success: 

Now, I like my tan complexion. But to be honest, as I am getting older, this constant abuse of my skin and especially my face is worrisome. Plus, we all know that sunburns can lead to serious issues. In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute, 33,000 adults get sunburned every year so bad that they require emergency room visits. Plus, these burns can lead to future skin cancer or worse, melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer. So, to prevent future damage, I have become an avid user of Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sunscreen Travel Pack.

4) We have not planned well for ground transportation

The Fail: 

Perhaps one of the biggest travel fails we have is forgetting to plan out our ground transportation. I know this sounds silly. But more often than not, we have arrived at our destination airport with no clue how to get to our hotel. If you can imagine, we are sitting by the luggage carousel when suddenly we realize we have no idea if this city has Uber, a Metro, or a bus system.

This lack of planning also rears its ugly head when we go adventuring. For example, there have been several times when we spent the day at the beaches near Santa Marta or ended up exploring The Great Buddha sitting atop Nakkerd Hill in Phuket and realized we had no clue how to get back to our home base. In most cases, it was a bit nerve-racking.

How this Failure Leads to Success: 

We have made this mistake so often now, you might think that I love to fail. But, with each situation, we have followed a few simple steps to find success. First, we relax. There is no reason to panic or stress out because that just makes the situation worse. Secondly, we have learned to ask for help. Inevitably, people are good and will help you find a way back home. Now of course you should always be cautious and safe. But, we have learned by asking for help that often there may be options like a metro, taxis, Uber, tuk-tuks, collectivos, or even the occasional farm truck that will be glad to give you a ride to your destination.

Hot Tip: We truly feel that most places in the world are safe. However, as in any place you travel please use common sense and stay to main areas while exploring. We also strongly recommend that you consider getting Travel Insurance from World Nomads. It is a simple and flexible insurance to keep you safe while participating in any wild adventure.

Adventure Experience Failures that led to Success

Perhaps the easiest bucket list category to experience failure is your Adventure Activities & Experiences list. This is because more often than not, many of these items rely on physical ability which we may just not have. Now that doesn’t give you a pass to not give it the old college try. But, you need to be prepared because your goal may require a lot of training, effort, practice, and ultimately a little luck.  So is failure good when you strike out attempting an adventure activity or experience? We think so.

1) Eric can’t seem to Kiteboard

The Fail:

I remember the first time I saw kiteboarders cruising around Fort Walton Beach, Florida. It was back in the late 1990s and an outfit known as XL Kites had a van parked on the bay with a group learning how to float their kites. I was immediately awestruck and knew I had to try it. So, my mom bought me lessons and I learned the basics of launching and body dragging. But when it came to putting the board on my feet and actually surfing, I FAILED. I pretty much dragged around the bay face first, drinking up all the saltwater Florida had to offer. 

How this Failure Leads to Success:  

Of course, the scenario above was my first time so that was okay. I mean sports like that are not easy to learn. But I had to make some hard decisions and clarify my commitment to Kiteboarding. So a few months later, I took my savings and bought a board, a Cabrinha Switchblade kite, and a full rig set up. With my new gear, I would practice in Lake Pontchartrain, & the beaches of Gulfport. Often I would return to the XL Kites gang in Fort Walton and ask for help. To further my skills (or at least try to) I even spent a week in Tobago with the Radical Sports Tobago Kiteboarding School.

Now, I have to be honest, I still can’t stand on the board and kite at the same time. Even the guys at Radical Sports Tobago were a bit confused by my lack of ability. Though they were impressed by how much of the Caribbean Sea I could drink without drowning. But through all of this failure, my dream didn’t fade. Maybe it is because I love watching the graceful soaring of other kiteboarders or maybe it is because I am stubborn. But I know that hopefully with continued practice, I will succeed.

2) We can’t catch the Northern Lights

The Fail:

Have you ever felt like Eeyore with a raincloud overhead? I am not going to lie, I feel like that every time I go hunting the Northern Lights! Not because seeing the Aurora Borealis is depressing in any way. No, the fail comes in that even if the forecast of the location & intensity of the aurora is supposed to be perfect, by the time I get out there, a sudden stream of clouds appears. REALLY. This has happened to me in my attempt to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, Alaska, Northern Wyoming, & other places.

How this Failure Leads to Success:  

In order for this failure to lead to success, I had to first accept that the weather is out of my control. It seems pretty obvious but that doesn’t mean I can’t hedge my bets to find success. So in order to increase my odds of seeing the Northern Lights, I learned to research better by visiting sites like NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center or the Aurora Hunter. So, with a little luck, planning, and a whole lot of patience, we will finally witness the magical display of lights, someday.

3) We have had run-ins with the law

The Fail:

When we sign up for different activities or adventures around the world, in no way do we ever attempt anything illegal. But that doesn’t mean we haven’t had issues with law enforcement or security forces. For example, while taking on the wild adventure of driving a tuk-tuk across India, Darcee actually got us stopped by the Indian Police! At first, we assumed they thought we stole the tuk-tuk or maybe Darcee was speeding (if that is even possible in that glorified lawnmower). But in reality, he just wanted to say hi and see if we had a $1.00 U.S. bill since had never seen one ever.

Now in Liechtenstein, things were a little different. Essentially the Swiss Guard came down on Eric after he accidentally tried to illegally re-enter the Schatzkammer which is the Princes of Liechtenstein’s Private Collection of treasures. 

How this Failure Leads to Success:  

When it comes to your failures, we truly hope that none of them require the assistance of law enforcement. But if they do, we have learned to always approach the situation respectfully and even with some positivity. For example, with all the things to do in Liechtenstein, being surrounded by armed guards shouldn’t be high on anyone’s list. But, accidents happen. So by being calm, respectful, and most importantly, apologetic, all was forgiven within moments.

4) We have bitten off more than we could chew

The Fail:

I vividly remember staring at the distance sign at the start of my pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago from St. Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. For those who don’t use the metric system, 790 kilometers is roughly 491 miles. Wait, what? That is like walking from New Orleans to Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida but with mountains in the middle! Plus, I was doing it alone and only had a guidebook and painted arrows on random walls and rocks to guide me. The start of the pilgrimage definitely filled me with a bit of doubt.

Another time I felt a bit overwhelmed is in preparation for our Climbing Devil’s Tower for ALS. I mean what kind of crazy person volunteers to climb 867 feet (265 m) from base to summit, with a summit 5,112 feet above sea level? I know it is for an amazing cause but I am not as young as I used to be.

How this Failure Leads to Success:  

Well with the Camino, I realized that my only way home was from Portugal, so no matter what, I had to head that direction. It was then that I realized that if I started to walk and either struggled, decided I didn’t like it, or flat out failed, that was okay. This is because I knew that I could always stop and catch a train or another way back. Now I know that this type of “safety net” thought seems a bit like a way out. But to be honest, sometimes people just need to know there are alternatives or a plan B to make them feel comfortable. 

Another thing I have learned that has lead to success is how to gather your support team. When you are taking on a bucket list item that seems a bit overwhelming, you have to stop and look for help. Inevitably, there are others walking that same trail or climbing that same mountain that share similar fears, challenges, or concerns. It is in those moments that you can find strength to accomplish your goals by doing it together! In many of our successes, we have made great friends who won with us!

Personal Growth Failures that lead to Success

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, author of The Power of Positive Thinking, once shared, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” I personally love this quote because sometimes it is often hard to relay the benefits of failure to those who only see one final goal. Don’t get me wrong, when it comes to pursuing your bucket list dreams, we want you to keep your eyes on the big prize. But there are so many great and positive side effects to failure especially with items on your personal growth bucket list. Let’s explore a few of our failures that lead to success.

1) I still can’t see my 6 pack abs

The Fail:

I can still remember the feeling of ripping my “fat boy” pants in the parking lot getting out of my car. See back in 2009, I was FAT! I was always husky but that summer as seen in the pic above on the left, I maxed out my 5’8″ frame to a weight of 245lbs. So, rather than buying new suit pants for my job, the year before I had gone to Walmart and bought a pair of those cheaply made black slacks with the elastic band. I mean I didn’t want to buy new expensive pants when I already had some and I could “easily” lose the weight. But I hadn’t. So one day, as I was getting out of my car to visit a client, my cheap Walmart pants tore at the elastic band because I pushed them to the max. It was too much and at the moment, #5) See my 6 Pack was added to my Personal Growth Bucket List.

How this Failure Leads to Success:

Now I will be honest, I thought I would have had a 6 pack by now. I mean that was 11 years ago. But I barely have some details of a 4 pack at times – usually near the summer months. However, that is okay because even though I have yet to get shredded, I still found great success.

You see, in this pursuit for the ideal physique, I still lost nearly 90lbs and have maintained that 157lb weight for over 10 years. Now, it wasn’t easy and I learned that there isn’t 1 way that works for everyone. In fact, I probably have tried about 5 different eating lifestyles and over 45 different workout plans. But I never lost commitment to my goal and my health.

2) I still can’t fluently speak Spanish

The Fail:

So I don’t have many regrets about the choices I have made. But one of the biggest regrets I do have is not studying Spanish more as a kid. My mom tried to get me to learn and initially spoke to me in Spanish. But as I became a stubborn teen, I gave up on it and even rebelled by taking French in high school. However, in my pursuit to learn more about my Cuban heritage and travel more, I have attempted many of the best ways to learn Spanish. The only problem is that I am still nowhere near being fluent enough to have a conversation with my Grandmother.

How this Failure Leads to Success:

So, yes I am still a very long way from fluent conversational Spanish with my Cuban family. But, in this failure, I have had some success. For example, I have learned enough to easily tackle basic travel situations. I have long term traveled to Spain, Colombia, Peru and even parts of Morocco and successfully navigated situations speaking Spanish. Plus, in attempting various ways to learn Spanish, I also discovered better ways of learning subjects overall. That way when I take on future personal growth items, I can find the right resources to help me learn.

Failures in Louisiana that led to Success

In Louisiana, we like to say “laissez les bon temps rouler” which means “let the good times roll.” But we have missed the pirogue a few times by not paying attention. Now don’t get me wrong, we don’t take things too seriously or often live by a schedule down here in the Bayou State. But our lack of organization has led to a few failures. So grab your Mom ‘n ‘em and check out some of our major faux pas while chasing our Louisiana Bucket List!

1) We missed the fais-do-do

The Fail:

For those of you who don’t know a fais-do-do (pronounced fay DOUGH DOUGH) is basically a fun Cajun dance party. In general the best ones are based around food, music, and dancing and are found in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. So when looking for the best fais-do-do, the infamous Cafe Des Amis topped the list. We kept saying that we were going to take the drive over for a fun weekend. I mean it was barely 3 hours away. But sadly due to our hemming and hawing, we missed our chance and it closed in early 2018.

How this Failure Leads to Success:

Cafe Des Amis WAS world-famous for their Saturday Morning Zydeco Breakfast. Visitors were greeted with spicy bloody mary’s and rich Cajun cuisine like eggs with crawfish étouffée. However, the real highlight was when the  Zydeco band started to play encouraging everyone to dance! So, when we realized that we missed our chance it was a big disappointment. But that didn’t deter us. Instead, we asked around, did a little research, and discovered there is a new kid in town, Buck and Johnny’s, that is offering zydeco music, dancing, and a world famous Zydeco Breakfast.

2) We’ve been a wee bit too close to some gators

The Fail:

It a very popular bucket list item to take a swamp tour, visit an alligator farm, or see them in the wild at Rip’s Rookery in New Iberia. So of course, there have been several times where I wanted to show my Wyoming girlfriend, now wife, some true Louisiana gators. But one of the first times I did this we kind of got a bit too close. While walking the lap around Rip’s Rookery on Jefferson Island we came upon several gators sunbathing. By that time, we had already walked all the way around the island and we weren’t sure we should go back. Needless to say, we RAN by them as fast as humanly possible!

How this Failure Leads to Success:

Outside of improving my time in the 40-yard dash, getting too close to alligators made me learn better safety protocols. So we turned to the Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries website. According to LDWF, most alligators, if left alone, will move on and are generally not a threat to people. However, they do recommend that if you have a close encounter with an alligator, like we did, back away slowly. 

My Failure to Make Amends that led to Success

Asking for forgiveness is HARD! I have often said that my Making Amends Bucket List is easily the hardest list I have created. Perhaps because means I have to not only reach out to those I have hurt but then admit my faults to them. So how can someone fail when trying to say they are sorry? 

1) I haven’t even tried yet

The Fail:

When it comes to making amends, I am a Failure! Why? Because, even though I think about the various people on the list that I have wronged, I have yet to take action. At one point, I tried to find one of the people on my list. But it was a struggle to connect with them and thus I just stopped trying.

How this Failure Leads to Success:

To be honest, it is hard to find success here. Now let me clarify that success will not be measured by obtaining forgiveness from those whom I hurt. Rather, success comes in admitting my faults to the person whom I hurt. Also, when I share here, it not only humbles me but reminds me that I need to try harder. So hopefully my failure leads to success by recommitting myself to try again. 

My Failure to Help Others that led to Success

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. But can you actually be a failure when you help others? Maybe. Now don’t get me wrong there is no better way to leave your mark on the world than by finding ways to help others. Plus, there are even studies that helping others can even help you live longer. However, sometimes you might do a bit more harm than good if you don’t plan properly or try to cut corners. 

1) Our Little Library made us ashamed of our-SHELVES

The Fail:

I am not a good carpenter! Not that it is beyond my skill set but I neither have the tools nor the patience to build something with my hands. But that didn’t stop me from wanting to build a Little Library to put out in front of my house. Of course in typical fashion, I had dreams of grandeur of the coolest looking little library packed with books where people would stop by to pick up or share. But rather than buying an official kit from the Little Free Library association, I came up with a “genius” idea to use an old wine crate! Of course, I had great intentions and it all started out great. But having it in New Orleans where it rains all the time or is humid most other days, it all became a big problem. Instead of helping my community with a fun book exchange, my cutting corners lead to a moldy science experiment!  

How this Failure Leads to Success:

Unless the goal was to spread black mold or test the relative breakdown rates of paperback novels, then it is pretty obvious that my little library was a bust. But throughout the whole process, I learned a lot about how to do it better the next time. I realized that if I wanted to create a unique little library for my Irish Channel neighborhood, then I need to figure out how to deal with environmental factors. It also reminded me that there are no short cuts when trying to do something right! Now, this doesn’t mean you can’t do it differently or better, but you have to do it right. Otherwise, you might be sending someone home with a book that even Dr. Who can’t fix.

2) I took my best friend on a Death March

The Fail:

One of my favorite Helping Others Bucket List items is by far #103) Fulfill 1 Bucket List Item for Anyone who helps me with 1 of mine! It is such an amazing feeling when someone gets to tick off a dream item because of your efforts. So, when my best friend Brian shared that he always dreamed of summitting Mt. Whitney and then backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail, I jumped at the chance to make his dream come true. But there was one problem, Brian was a beginner backpacker and not 100% ready for the physical demands of the trail. Don’t get me wrong, he trained. But with all my personal hiking experience I should have directed him better when we planned out our trek. Instead of starting at a pace of 8-10 miles each day, and then slowly working upwards, we planned most days at 15 or more. This wouldn’t have been too bad except that we had to cross over a million peaks of the Sierra Nevada from the Whitney Portal. 

How this Failure Leads to Success:

Luckily we took care of summitting Mount Whitney by day 2. So at least we were able to succeed at standing at the highest point above sea level in the lower 48 states. But by day 5, Brian was done and I was pretty beat up as well. It was a pretty humbling as we sat at the Twin Lakes about 23 miles from Lone Pine. But in that moment of humility, we learned that when life throws us obstacles we can easily change course. Even though we hadn’t made it to Mammoth Lakes we could still enjoy the moment. Instead, we relaxed, met some friends who let us fly fish with them, and recovered in some of the most beautiful parts of California. 

My Failure to keep this post short leads to Success

If you made it this far, congrats! You survived another session with little Eric-Talks-A-Lot! But hopefully, you had a great laugh as we shared our different types of failure. I am sure by reading all the bloopers we have had chasing the many items on the Bucket List Project, you realize that we obviously Love to Fail! But, also, I hope you learned that there are many benefits to failure and that it isn’t always a bad thing.

So now it is your turn! Do you think failure leads to success? Have you ever botched something so bad but still found success? What are some of the best bucket list fails you have ever seen or experienced? Share with us in the comments below and maybe help someone who may be dealing with a similar failure.

Don’t forget to Pin this to your favorite Personal Growth Bucket List Board!

Disclosure: This post, the “How My Failure Leads to Success” contains a few affiliate links. Using the links doesn’t cost you any extra, and it helps keep the site free, fun, and community supported! Eric & Darcee will never recommend a product that we don’t genuinely believe in, actually use ourselves, have researched, and trust. Please see the disclosure policy for more information.

The post How my Failure Leads to Success appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

“Hi, my name is Eric, and I love to FAIL!” 

Sounds like a weird way to introduce myself at a meeting or intervention but Failure has recently been a topic in our house. Why? Because, when chasing the many items on our Bucket List, sadly we have had some failures. But that is okay…REALLY! However, failure often comes with negative connotations like you aren’t good enough. Therefore, I believe that this sort of outlook desperately needs to be changed! So, is failure good when chasing your bucket list? The short answer is yes!

Why Failure is Good

They say that failure is a part of life. I can sense the eye rolls reading that first sentence. I mean doesn’t failure equate to a lack of effort, not giving it your all, or worse yet, weakness? Maybe. But in reality, if you are failing at something it truly means you were at least trying, right? Now, don’t get me wrong, failing at something, especially an item on your bucket list doesn’t lessen the pain or embarrassment. But, if you change your perspective, you will see that failure is good. 

So, how do you change your perspective? Well, we did a little research into the benefits of failure and found 8 advantages to failing that will hopefully motivate us all. That way, you can tackle those hard tasks on your Adventure & Experiences Bucket List.

They say that failure is a part of life. But, is failure good when chasing your bucket list? The short answer is yes! Discover 8 advantages to failing that will hopefully motivate you! #BenefitsOfFailure #FailureToSuccess
Click To Tweet

1) Failure is a great lesson in Humility

In this day and age, we all want results and we want them now. However, when we fail at a task and delay success, it can often feel horrible. In many situations it can even convince you to quit on your dream. But one of the biggest benefits of failure is that it teaches you humility. When we fail, it allows us to recognize that we are human like everyone else. It also helps us self evaluate so we can try again later. Even Ghandi, in his autobiography, The Story of My Experiments With Truth, admitted, “I have humility enough to confess my errors and to retrace my steps.” 

2) Failing clarifies your Commitment to the Goal

Have you ever been 100% committed to a goal but then you quit after you failed the first time? Don’t worry, we aren’t judging you. In fact after attempting and failing a few of our Bucket List items like reading certain books on our Personal Growth Bucket List, we quit too. I mean have you ever tried to read Grimms’ Fairy Tales? It is freakin hard and really dark! But when you fail at a certain task, it is then that you can clarify your commitment to the goal at hand. Don’t get us wrong, this isn’t a pass to quit. But often we add items to our various bucket lists that seem like a good idea but aren’t as great in real life. So, when you fail, step back, envision the reward, and if it is still what you want, re-commit yourself to the goal!

3) Failure helps you solve the problem safely

Now in no way is failure good if you hurt yourself or put yourself into a dangerous situation! We don’t want a sudden influx of emails with photos of broken bones, arrest photos, or videos of bad situations. But one of the best benefits of failure is the way it teaches you to fail better and more importantly in a safer manner. When learning how to do something, aspects of it may be inherently dangerous. But because of the failures of those who tried before you, you learn how to attempt it in a safer way. It is because of these types of failures that humans have created safety gear, protocols, and rules to protect us. So if you fail the first time, ask for help from those who have gone before you. 

4) Failure reveals your true support system

I am sure we sound like a broken record but we will say it again, failure is a part of life. But we reiterate it again because failure isn’t just a part of YOUR life but everyone’s. So when determining if failure is good you need to remember that you are not alone! When you fail, it is a perfect time to reach out to your support system. Whether it is friends, family, or close work colleagues, asking for help is key to turning your failure into success. Don’t get us wrong, your support system may not be able to directly help you. In fact, sometimes you still have to accomplish your goals on your own. But, there is something truly magical when others simply root for you. This was always the case for us with my mother, Lilian Madan Gamble. She often wasn’t physically able to help, but no one ever cheered louder and reveled in our success more than my mom.

5) Being a Failure turns you into a resource

In this day an age, most of us have been to a conference or watched a motivational speaker online who shares their story of how their failures led to success. It is always amazing how they overcame the odds and rose above to their challenges to win. But that kind of ability isn’t reserved for the few. You too can help and inspire others with your story no matter how big or small it is. See when you learn from your failure and overcome challenges it allows you to empathize with others who face similar situations. Thus, the lessons you learn allow you help others win as well. 

6) Failure can help you get physically stronger

It is hard to argue that Michael Jordan may be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. But did you know that Jordan was considered a physical failure in high school? In the story, Michael Jordan: A Profile in Failure, author Jeff Stibel reveals that at Laney High School back in 1978, Michael wasn’t really an outstanding basketball player. Couple that with the fact that he was physically smaller than other players, the coaches decided he wasn’t good enough to play varsity. But Jordan didn’t let that stop him. Instead, he accepted his role on the junior varsity team and put in the work both on the court and in the gym. In accepting that failure is good but doesn’t have to be final, he became stronger and more confident which led him to one of the most remarkable careers in all sports. 

7) Failure makes you mentally stronger

Another benefit of failure is how it makes us mentally stronger. Often failing can feed our fears and even lead to depression. This of course is natural. But if you stop, reflect, and decide to confront those fears it can possibly lead to great success. Don’t get us wrong, it won’t be suddenly easier because your initial fears may be rooted in real concerns. But by confronting them, it can help you really find ways or inspire you to research better ways to overcome your previous failures. Besides, one of the biggest mental pains most people feel is regret. So by facing your fears head on, you are more willing to take the risks that could lead to your success.

8) Failing makes you appreciate your success

We all see those stories of people who never gave up and ultimately found success. But did you know that the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Colonel Harland David Sanders, was a big failure when he started? He had many jobs while trying to sell his famous secret chicken recipe but he couldn’t find anyone to work with him. In fact, 1,009 folks told him he was crazy. But even at the ripe age of 62 he refused to give up and finally in Salt Lake City, Utah the first KFC opened. Then some 12 years later, Sanders sold the company for $2 million dollars! How sweet is that? We share that story because imagine his feeling of joy when that first KFC opened in Salt Lake City and the start of his dream finally came to fruition. I am sure in the previous years if felt impossible to make happen but when it finally did, the sense of accomplishment was likely unmatched!

So do you love to fail too?

How about you? Do you love to fail? Have you had any positive experiences from previous failures that lead to you ticking off an amazing bucket list item? Let us know in the comments below. You never know, your experiences may help someone who is struggling right now finally find a way to find success!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your Favorite Personal Growth Bucket List Board!

Disclosure: This post, “Is Failure Good When Chasing Your Bucket List?”, may contain affiliate links. Using the links doesn’t cost you any extra, and it helps keep the site free, fun, and community supported! Eric & Darcee will never recommend a product that we don’t genuinely believe in, actually use ourselves, have researched, and trust. Please see the disclosure policy for more information.

The post Is Failure Good When Chasing Your Bucket List? appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

WWE wrestling superstar, John Cena once said, “If you were given one wish, what would you do with it? I don’t know if ‘Hang out with John Cena’ would be at the top of my list. But the fact that that is on someone’s list is the coolest thing.” This is probably why he has granted over 650 wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. His enthusiasm to help others encouraged us to add #53) Fulfill 1 Child’s Wish in Person through Make A Wish Foundation to our Helping Others Bucket List.

But how can someone who isn’t necessarily a superstar or independently wealthy go about making a Child’s Wish come true? Good news, according to their website there are multiple ways to get involved with Make A Wish. But perhaps the easiest way for most of us is to simply donate! That is why we are very excited to learn about Omaze’s latest giveaway where you can Win a Miami Dream House!

Win a Miami Dream House

Of course, we all know it is better to give than receive. But let’s be honest, sometimes it is awesome to donate and win a great prize too! That is why the latest giveaway from Omaze is truly remarkable. When you enter the Win a Miami Dream House contest, you have the chance to win a 7 bedroom, 6 bathroom home in the Kendall neighborhood, just south of downtown Miami. Equipped with a backyard pool you can spend your days lounging. Plus, with its great location, you can also explore areas like Little Havana, Biscayne Bay, or the countless beaches along the coast.

How can someone help a Make-a-Wish child’s dream come true? Perhaps the easiest way is to simply to donate through Omaze’s latest giveaway where you can also Win a Miami Dream House! #Omaze #MakeAWish #MiamiDreamHouse
Click To Tweet

What if you already have your Dream Home?

Now we understand that some of you may already be living in your dream home. Maybe you won your Dream House in Austin, Texas. Don’t worry, because Omaze has a plan B if you win! Omaze offers you the option to choose a cash prize instead! Essentially, you become an instant millionaire with whichever option you go choose.

How does this Help Make A Wish?

This contest is special because 100% of donations raised by Omaze for this sweepstakes go to support Make A Wish.  When you Click Here to Enter To Win A Miami Dream House Or Cash Prize the donation you use to enter will help grant future wishes. For example, 9-year-old Khushi is currently battling cancer and it is her dream to become a princess. So, your donation will help her & countless other kids with critical illnesses fulfill life-changing wishes.

Where do I enter to WIN?

Are you wondering how to enter to win your Miami Dream House & help Make A Wish? Well, it is quite simple. All you have to do is Click Here to Enter To Win! Of course, you can enter without contributing anything. But for a minimum of $10.00, you can donate to Make A Wish and receive an additional 20 entries into the competition! Plus there are higher donation amounts that equal more entries to give you a better chance of winning. Just make sure your entries are received by December 18, 2021. The winner will be announced around January 5, 2022. Simply click the button below and go from there!

By the way, when you click on any of the links below & set up your donation for entries into the Miami Dream House Contest, make sure you also enter Promo code: AFF50 for 50 extra entries into any Omaze experience!

What Time is the Pool Party?

Is it on your bucket list to win this Miami Dream House? Or will you take the $1.8+ Million Dollar cash payout to chase other items on your bucket list? Either way, how good will it feel knowing that you were able to find a simple way to help others? If you do win, don’t forget to invite us over for your next house party! We will bring the daiquiris!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your Favorite Bucket List Contest Board!

Disclosure: This post, “Win a Miami Dream House” may contain affiliate links. Using the links doesn’t cost you any extra, and it helps keep the site free, fun, and community supported! Eric & Darcee will never recommend a product that we don’t genuinely believe in, actually use ourselves, have researched, and trust. Please see the disclosure policy for more information.

The post Win a Miami Dream House & Support the Make-A-Wish Foundation appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

For those who don’t know, on July 17, 2021, I (Eric) along with Chris Nolan will be Climbing Devil’s Tower for ALS. It is a daunting bucket list item that to be honest, kind of makes me nervous. But despite my apprehension, this climb will hopefully be a way we can educate others about those with ALS. Plus, we are doing it to honor Chris’s brother Sean. Back in 2016, Sean was diagnosed with ALS. But in talking with Chris, we also wanted to find a way to do this for others. So, we came up with an idea to Climb and to Pray Devil’s Tower.

A History of Praying while Tackling a Bucket List item

A few years back, I undertook perhaps one of my greatest bucket list adventures, the Camino de Santiago. To tackle this pilgrimage, I took the traditional and most common route, known as the Camino Frances. Essentially, it is a 490-mile walk from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The purpose was to walk to a holy site where it is believed that the remains of the Apostle St. James the Greater are buried.

Now people embark on this adventure for many personal reasons. Some walk as part of a spiritual retreat and others to discover themselves. There are even some people who spend the 30-day walk in hopes that a miracle touches them or someone they love. For me, it was a combination of it all because I had kind of lost my “way” with my life.

So, I wanted to find my way back and the idea came to me to Walk and Pray.

To do this, I had decided to commit a portion of my daily activity to prayer while walking The Camino. But I didn’t want to make it all about myself. So I asked for the personal intentions of others. Essentially, every morning at the start of my walk. I would focus on my personal intentions for that day. Then I would focus on the intentions of another and then pray the novena for both our intentions. As I continued to walk, I tried to stay in reflection of that daily prayer and intentions of the day.

Why we want to Pray while we Climb Devil’s Tower

Now, of course, we are raising money for two different ALS foundations to donate in Sean’s name. We are raising money to donate in Sean Nolan’s name to both The Steve Gleason Foundation and The Tennessee Chapter of the ALS Association.

But while promoting something strange happened.

People kept sharing how ALS has affected their lives. Whether it struck them personally, ravaged a loved one, or affected a friend, countless people have been telling me their “ALS Story!” In telling me their story, they would passionately thank Chris, Darcee, & I and say how they felt like we were doing it for them too.

It was then that we realized that our climb was bigger than us and perhaps even Sean. We were going to need to climb and to pray Devil’s Tower in our task to summit the nation’s first National Monument.

Discover how two men want to climb and to pray as they summit the first National Monument in the United States at Devil's Tower, Wyoming. #DevilsTower #RockClimbing #ThatsWY
Click To Tweet

Let us Carry your Intentions up Devil’s Tower

Of course, we would love you to donate to our GoFundMe page for Climbing Devil’s Tower for ALS. But if you can’t, you can help us in 3 other ways:

1. Please pray for us as we Climb Devil’s Tower on July 17th. Like I have said before, it is a bit scary. So if you can on July 17th, please pray for us to physically finish.
2. We want to carry your intentions with us up to the top of Devil’s Tower. It can be anything you want. Whether you need prayers for yourself personally, your family, or anything weighing on you.  This intention can be asking for help or perhaps even thanking God for recent Blessings. 
3. If you know anyone who has been diagnosed with ALS, share their name with us. As an ALS Research Ambassador, Sean has spent his last few years trying to help and educate others with ALS. Plus, he is asking us to donate money to help others. So we would like to carry those others as we attempt to climb and to pray up Devil’s Tower.

The logistics of carrying your intentions up Devil’s Tower

So, I am not going to lie, I have no idea exactly how we are going to be able to climb and to pray while tackling all 867 feet (265 m) from summit to base. I mean we don’t really want any excess weight during this nearly 7-hour climb. But what we would like to do is to write down all the intentions, prayers, and names on a sheet of paper and safeguard them in my pocket.

Before we climb, as a family we will read all the private intentions, prayers, and names of those affected by ALS. Then, safely tuck them into our pocket. Then if possible, at the very top, as we look upon the amazing views of Wyoming, we will repeat the process. However, if this isn’t possible when we finally return to the ground safely, we can then repeat the process in thanksgiving for a great experience that we shared with all of you.

How to Send us Your Intentions & Names

There are several ways you can send us your intentions or the names of those who you would like for us to carry up Devil’s Tower as we climb and pray:

1. You can leave a comment on this article below.
2. You can leave a comment for us on the Bucket List Project’s Facebook Page by Clicking Here.
3. If you would like to send it to us privately, You can fill out our Work With The Bucket List Project contact form.
4. You can always call, text, or message Darcee, Chris, or me (Eric) on our phones or social media channels.

We would like to have all the intentions & names of those affected by ALS collected and solidified by Wednesday, July 14, 2021, if possible. So please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Of course, it goes without saying that any private intentions will always remain private. We will also try to reach out to anyone who shares their info with us a day before the climb to remind you so that you can join us on the climb in spirit.

Thank you for your Support

Lastly, we just want to say how much we appreciate all who are supporting us on this Climb for ALS. Without your thoughts, prayers, and support, it would definitely be harder for us to climb. So for that, Thank You!

Of course, we would also love donations because, without your financial help, we may never find a cure for ALS. But know that you don’t have to donate any money in order to ask us to pray and climb Devil’s Tower for you or your intentions. But, if you would like to help in our raising of funds you can visit our GOFUND ME PAGE directly. There you can see exactly which 2 ALS foundations Sean Nolan asked us to send all funds and exactly how we will distribute your donation. 

Don’t forget to Pin this to your favorite Bucket List Board!

The post To Climb and to Pray appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

Willie Nelson once said, “There’s a freedom you begin to feel the closer you get to Austin, Texas.”

Now, of course, he may be biased since he semi-retired and moved to Austin, Texas in 1972.  But there is no doubt that Austin is a booming city! Perhaps this is because it offers so much diversity, opportunity, and the overall quality of life for people of all ages. With an unbelievable music scene, amazing food, and a thriving tech market that is creating a booming economy it’s why it is easy to see why it was ranked #3 of the top 150 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2020-21 by U.S. News & World Report.

So, why aren’t we all setting up our dream home in Austin? Well, it may have to do with rising home prices within the Austin-area housing market! In 2020, alone, the price of your dream home in Austin probably rose by more than 10%. Yikes!

But what do you do if it is on your bucket list to buy an Austin dream home as Willie did? Well, for one lucky person, obtaining an Austin Dream home could be as easy as winning one.

Win This Austin Dream Home

Now, let’s talk about the prize cause if you made it this far then you must have owning a dream home in Austin on your bucket list! When you Enter To Win An Austin Dream House you enter for a chance to score a newly built 3,235-sq-ft urban oasis with 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms in Austin’s upscale Travis Heights neighborhood. But the location isn’t the only great part about this Austin dream house! Inside, you will be greeted with high ceilings, hardwood floors, an open kitchen, a spacious living room, and a yard that will make your neighbors jealous!

With an amazing music scene, great food, & booming economy, it’s easy to see why living in Austin is enticing! So, if living in Austin is on your #bucketlist see how you could win a dream home! #AustinDreamHome #ContestAlert
Click To Tweet

What if you already have your Dream Home?

Look, we get it, maybe you are not ready to move to Austin. Or maybe you are not ready to own a major home yet. I mean the property taxes in Austin can range anywhere from 1.8%-3.3% of your home’s assessed value. But even though we strongly believe that buying a house should be on your financial bucket list, Omaze has a plan B if you win! 

If for some odd reason you decide to pass on the modern home built by Urban ATX but your name is drawn, don’t fret. Instead, Omaze offers you the option to choose a cash prize instead! Essentially, you become an instant millionaire with whichever option you go choose.

What’s the Catch?

Man, aren’t we a bunch of jaded humans. But we get it. When making a donation, even if there is a chance we could win a massive prize, we want to make sure it’s going to a worthy cause. That is perhaps one of the biggest reasons why we are Climbing Devil’s Tower for ALS! 

So, in doing our research we discovered that 100% of donations raised by Omaze for this sweepstakes go to support Folds of Honor.  When you Click Here to Enter To Win An Austin Dream House Or Cash Prize the donation you use to enter will help provide educational scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled service members.  

Where do I enter to WIN?

Step right up, step right up & be the next big WINNER! 

But in all seriousness, if you are ready to win a dream home in Austin, Texas, or cash out to become an instant millionaire all you have to do is Click Here to Enter To Win! But don’t lollygag because all entries must be received by October 10, 2021. The winner will be announced around October 27, 2021. Just click the button below and go from there!

By the way, when you click on any of the links below & set up your donation for entries into the Austin Dream House Contest, make sure you also enter Promo code: AFF50 for 50 extra entries into any Omaze experience!

What time is Dinner?

So is it on your bucket list to win this Austin Dream House? Or will you take the $1.3+ Million Dollar cash payout to chase other bucket list items on your list? Either way, if you win make sure you send us a nice Christmas present or at least invite us over for dinner? We will bring the wine!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your Favorite Bucket List Contest Board!

Disclosure: This post, “Win a Dream Home in Austin, Texas” may contain affiliate links. Using the links doesn’t cost you any extra, and it helps keep the site free, fun, and community supported! Eric & Darcee will never recommend a product that we don’t genuinely believe in, actually use ourselves, have researched, and trust. Please see the disclosure policy for more information.

The post Win a Dream Home in Austin, Texas appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

If you are reading this, congratulations, you survived 2020! But now we have all started a new year and that means setting new bucket list goals for 2021! 2020 was a hard year for us as it was for many of you! Between losing my mother, Lilian Madan Gamble, in March and then being hit with a global pandemic, not much happened with our Bucket List Project. But now we are gifted with a new year and that means hopefully new hopes and goals!

So what are our new bucket list goals for this year?

When reflecting on our 2020 bucket list goals and looking back at our 2020 Completed items, we realized that we kind of dropped the ball. We could make a lot excuses and most were legitimate. But to be honest, perhaps one of the biggest failures was that we just didn’t prioritize our bucket list goals.

To remedy that, I busted out my old Bucket List Project notebook, sat down with Darcee, and together we decided on some key points that we wanted to tackle this year. Now, when deciding on what to do we looked at all the different categories and essentially decided to try and tackle 3 items per list.

So, without further ado, I present our Bucket List Goals for 2021! We hope that this list will inspire other members of Gen X and Gen Y to reflect and hopefully prioritize their own goals for this year.

Congratulations, you survived 2020! But now we have all started a new year and that means setting new goals for 2021. Discover what the Bucket List Project hopes to tackle this year. #2021bucketlist #Bucketlistgoals
Click To Tweet

January’s Goals

• 203) Read Classic Adventure Books:
  •  9) The Boy & Going Solo by Roald Dahl

Febuary’s Goals

• ???

March’s Goals

• 257) Return to Mineral Wells, TX & explore the town with ME (Recommended by Susan Mallory)
• 242) Learn to cook gumbo, jambalaya, boiled crawfish, & boudin together (Recommended by Andrew Dawson)

April’s Goals

• 200) Know my home State of Louisiana:
  • h) Brunch at Buck & Johnny’s (Café Des Amis) in Breaux Bridge
• 203) Read Classic Adventure Books:
  • 2) Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
• 118) Geocache in 5 Different Cities (do city 2 in Chicago, Illinois)

May’s Goals

• 200) Know my home State of Louisiana:
  • i) Friday “Business” Lunch at Galatoire’s
• 209) Build a “Little Library” version 2.0, stock it with great books, and put it in front of my house to Share

June’s Goals

• 285) Climb Devil’s Tower in Wyoming
• 256) Come to Casper, WY & explore our city with US (Recommended by Holly O’Neill)

July’s Goals

• #5) See my 6 Pack Abs

August’s Goals

• 61) Learn to Dance Salsa & Merengue

September’s Goals

• 203) Read Classic Adventure Books:
  • 4) Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift

October’s Goals

• 130) Eat weird things:
  • 9) Escamoles in Mexico (Ant Larvae)
• 167) Celebrate Dia De Muertos in Mexico
• 179) Swim in the Cenote at Ik Kil, Yucatan, Mexico
• 180) See the Mayan Temples of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico
• 219) See a Real Lucha Libre Wrestling Match in Mexico
• 298) Swim with Whale Sharks in the Mexican Caribbean like near Isla Mujeres

November’s Goals

• ???

December’s Goals

• 36) Learn to Speak Spanish Fluently

Whenever Possible this Year

• Try to Make Amends with 1 Person on my List
• 94) Go Moonlight Skinny Dipping
• 103) Fulfill 1 Bucket List Item for Anyone who helps me with 1 of mine!

What do you think

Les Brown once said, “Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars.”  As you can see, our bucket list goals for 2021 are pretty aggressive. But nothing on the list seems impossible with a little planning and focus. But what do you think about our hopes and goals for 2021? Do you think it is doable? What is one favorite bucket list goal on this list that you would like to also do? Or is there something else that you think we should tackle? Let us know in the comments below!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your favorite 2021 Bucket List Board!

The post Prioritizing Our Bucket List Goals To Get The Most Out Of 2021 appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

When it comes to personal growth, we can get so caught up in learning how to improve every aspect of our lives that we can forget the most fundamental component of it: learning to relax. Taking time to learn how to relax is crucial. This is especially true when we are in a world where we are constantly needing to push ourselves for excellence. You may feel that you want to improve your life by taking on as many challenges as possible. But there is also a lot to be said for proper relaxation. So, how exactly can you learn how to relax during these tough times?

Absorbing Yourself in Something

There is a reason why box sets are so popular. While you may be of the impression that television isn’t the best thing when you look at the outside world and all the stresses that come along with it. But absorbing yourself in something that takes you away from all of your everyday worries is a very simple, and almost meditative practice. This is probably why box sets like Friends or Gilmore Girls are so popular right now. There’s something almost harmless about them. Plus, the simplicity of these shows can help us to avoid thinking about the more drastic aspects of life. Box sets are easy to get hold of, and if you need to rely on services like Kodi, this guide from Troypoint can get you started with a VPN to ensure that you are doing it safely. Whatever your opinion on box sets are, having it as part of a duvet day can be a fantastic way to get rid of stress. This is especially true if you don’t like meditating or something that requires a lot of focus.

In this day & age, taking time to relax is crucial to improving our lives. Thus, it is important to discover how to relax in order to reduce stress and personally grow. #PersonalGrowth #Relaxing
Click To Tweet

Focusing on Friendships

Now, with all of the quarantines, you may be feeling cooped up by being stuck indoors. However, there are so many ways for you to extend your friendships with others. A simple phone call once a week can be the perfect opportunity to check in with the people you love. But when you feel stressed about so many different areas of life, being social can be the thing that keeps you sane. Learning how to relax by being with the people you care about doesn’t have to be about meeting up in person. Just shooting the breeze over the phone is just as effective. There’s a lot to be said for having random conversations that keep everything light and fluffy. Because we live in a world of such seriousness, now is the perfect opportunity to embrace simplicity and learn to laugh again. There’s a lot to be said for learning to laugh again in these difficult times. Laughter is a form of therapy, after all. And while we may feel that we are living in unprecedented times, it is something our grandparents learned to do during the world wars! So, surely we can too, right?

Start to Learn How to Relax Now

If you are striving for some sort of personal growth, now might be the perfect opportunity. The difficult times everyone is facing gives you the opportunity to understand what you are truly made of. Thus, if you can learn how to relax in the midst of a pandemic, you can relax anywhere!

So what are some ways you have found that have helped you relax? Have you found it easier or harder to relax amid the challenging times of this past year? Or is there a specific tool or method that has help you learn how to relax? Let us know all about it in the comments below!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your favorite Personal Growth Bucket List Board!

The post Relaxing: Learning How to Do It During These Tough Times appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

This is a sponsored post for “Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook.” All opinions expressed below are my own. Please see the disclosure policy for more information.

I have been a chasing my Bucket List Project since 2012. But it wasn’t until 2017, that I left my corporate job to pursue my dream to become a blogger and influencer. I remember starting out with dreams of grandeur! Together with Darcee, we were going to create amazing content that not only showed us chasing our bucket list but to help and inspire others to chase their own dreams! I was so excited and full of hope. It seemed like it was going to be the ultimate dream “job” for us!

But for the past 3 years, I have struggled with this dream. Often, I would pour my heart into posts that just fell on deaf ears. It wasn’t that the content was bad. Heck, my mom used to say it was the best stuff she had ever read and no one would ever call my mom a liar! No the problem was that I was struggling to get my content seen and read. I was failing to reach anyone and everyone that I wanted to help and inspire.

So something had to change.

Just Because You Build It Doesn’t Mean They Will Come

We all know that famous line from the movie, The Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come!” It is such a memorable phrase but in the real world sadly it just isn’t true! There are tens of thousands of blogs and businesses online that offer truly amazing content and products. But every year, most of them start and fail because they don’t understand this one essential skill: the art and science of getting people to find them.

Russell Brunson really focuses on the fact that waiting for people to come to the Bucket List Project’s blog is not a strategy. This point in Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers really impacted us and thus is changing our focus to find our dream customers.

Who Is Russell Brunson?

Russell Brunson is a Best-Selling Author & CEO of $100M software company ClickFunnels. He has built a following of over a million entrepreneurs, sold hundreds of thousands of copies of his books and popularized the concept of sales funnels. In 2014, Russell and partner Todd Dickerson launched ClickFunnels, which became the fastest-growing non-venture backed software company in the world.

Of course, that is what Russell the businessman & writer of Traffic Secrets is all about. But, what I like is that Russell is a real person too. If you follow any of his social media channels, especially his Russell Brunson Instagram Channel, you will see that he is a goofy, fun loving dad, who loves to include his family and friends in all of his wild adventures.

What Does Russell Brunson teach in Traffic Secrets?

Russell offers tons of information in Traffic Secrets that he easily breaks down into key strategies in order to increase your site traffic. But what I particularly like is that he lays out the proven strategies he personally uses to drive traffic to his own online businesses or sales funnels. Plus, the best part is that he breaks down his Traffic Secrets strategies into simple key points:

• How to find your dream customer
• Where is your dream customer hiding?
• Perfecting your hook, story, and offer
• How to Fill a funnel organically
• How to use paid ads effectively
• Insider Traffic Secrets for Instagram, Facebook, Google, and YouTube

One of the benefits of his Traffic Secrets book is that it is broken down into digestible sections. You can then easily cover it all during a 30 day program or you can do it at your own pace. For me, was nice to take a section and then read, learn, process, and practice it at an easy pace.

Just Because You Build It Doesn't Mean They'll Come! If you're looking to increase traffic to your website, then you need to discover the strategies in Traffic Secrets by @RussellBrunson! #TrafficSecrets #OnlineMarketing #ad
Click To Tweet

A Few Ideas I’ve Learned from Russell Brunson’s Traffic Secrets

For us, Traffic Secrets really opened our eyes on learning more about our current and potential readers. Forever, we were creating content for the Bucket List Project that meant a lot to us. But, after reading Traffic Secrets, I realized that we may not actually be creating content that our readers may have needed to solve their problems in pursuing their own bucket list dreams.

Learning what our readers really want:

Russell shares that essentially people are looking to move away from pain toward pleasure in order to satisfy one of 3 core desires: Wealth, Health, or Relationships. Now these three desires are broad categories and can encompass many subcategories. But in Russell’s eyes, a visitor or even a customer will always fall into one of these core desires.

Now in my initial take, I immediately thought that readers of the Bucket List Project would fall into the core desire of Health. I figured that most people who were reading our content on the blog or on our social media channels were looking to improve their mental health and were seeking ways to feel better about themselves by ticking items off their own bucket list. But I was wrong.

In the 30 day challenge for Traffic Secrets, Russell asked us to find out and write down what our potential readers are saying or thinking. So, I went online and sent out emails and asked our current readers and friends what pain points they were struggling with in pursuing their bucket list. In the responses we got back, over 75% of them all said lack of money was preventing them from the pleasure of ticking off the many items on their bucket list. It was an eye opener to say the least!

Learning how to improve my hook, story, and offer:

If you ever talk to Darcee, she will tell you that I often talk too much in getting my point across. Perhaps, this is because I get very excited and immediately explode with a story. Now this may be great if I was just sitting by the fireplace telling great tall tales. But when it comes to business in this modern age, it can often push away potential readers and even possible customers.

So, in Traffic Secrets, Russell hammers home over and over and over that if your content or campaigns aren’t working to attract viewers, it is ALWAYS the hook, the story, or the offer. Essentially, Brunson shares that if you want to help others or attract more viewers and customers, you need to create better hooks, tell better stories, and make better offers.

Learning where my Dream 100 where hiding:

One of the key components to Traffic Secrets by Russell Brunson is learning who your Dream 100 is and where they are hiding. Essentially, the dream 100 are who my dream readers or customers are and where on the internet they are already hanging out or other resources they are already using online.

Now, I had already decided last year, when I wrote the Purpose of The Bucket List Project, that I wanted to really help other members of Gen X and Gen Y find ways to tackle their bucket lists. But to be honest, I had never thought about where they were already online or what similar services they were already subscribing to inspire them. Perhaps, this was of course, because I was too busy focusing on us rather than them or maybe it was because I just didn’t understand the value in researching this.

But that all changed when I did Russell’s challenge of  developing my Dream 100. First, I learned more about my current readers and their pain points and core desires. Second I learned how the Dream 100 will help us develop better traffic from anything from paid ads to free traffic to possible joint ventures.

How Can You Get a Copy of Traffic Secrets?

As you can see, Traffic Secrets by Russell Brunson has had a pretty big impact on how we are viewing you, the reader. It is rare that I have read a business strategy book that has actually made me stop, take stock in what I am doing, and then actually take action. Therefore, I can’t recommend this book enough. Whether you are a blogger, a content creator, or business owner of any kind, I truly believe Traffic Secrets can benefit you.

So, if it is on your Personal Growth Bucket List to improve your business in any capacity, I invite you to join us on this mission to grow. Get your own copy of Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers by Russell Brunson and get started today!

Don’t forget to Pin Traffic Secrets By Russell Brunson to your Favorite Blogging Tools Board!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for “Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook” by Russell Brunson. However, All opinions expressed below are our own. Eric & Darcee will never recommend a product that we don’t genuinely believe in, actually use ourselves, have researched, and trust. Please see the disclosure policy for more information.

The post The Traffic Secrets 30 Day Challenge to Increase Traffic and Find Dream Customers appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

The start of 2020 has surely been tough on a lot of people for different reasons. But for me, it has been wrought with challenges that unfortunately have prevented us from chasing our bucket list. Don’t get me wrong, I know that sometimes life can definitely be hard and that means we need to be flexible with our goals. But when things get tough for me, I tend to look for motivational quotes in order to reinvigorate myself and my bucket list dreams.

I find that certain bucket list quotes are a great way to recharge and remind me of my commitment to the bucket list project. Other bucket list quotes, just offer a pick-me-up and make me smile again, which is sometimes all we really need in life.

Quotes are a great way to reinvigorate your commitment to your own bucket list. Discover 36 quotes to inspire & motivate you to chase your own bucket list dreams! #Bucketlistquotes #TravelQuotes #DailyQuote
Click To Tweet

So, if you are struggling right now in come capacity, hopefully these 36 Quotes will Inspire your bucket list too. The first 5 quotes under each category are standard quotes meant to offer a bit of inspiration. While, the 6th quote under each category is just a funny quote meant to bring a smile to your face.

Adventure Travel Bucket List Quotes

It’s been hard not being able to travel these past few months. But that doesn’t mean we can’t start planning trips when life returns to normal. So to inspire you to start planning, here are our favorite travel bucket list quotes. Fair warning, these quotes may incite fernweh or wanderlust in most people!

1. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
2. “Live your life by a compass, not a clock.” – Stephen R. Covey
3. “If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.” – Rachel Wolchin
4. “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
5. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” – Saint Augustine
6. FUN QUOTE: “I love flying. I’ve been to almost as many places as my luggage.” – Bob Hope

Adventure Activities & Experiences Bucket List Quotes

There is no doubt that there are some items on the Adventure Activities & Experiences bucket list that require a little motivation to help overcome personal fears! I mean who in their right mind would attempt swimming with the sharks or eating fried tarantulas without a little encouragement. So, here are a few bucket list quotes that will hopefully fire you up too!

1. “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne
2. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” ― Helen Keller, from The Open Door A Sense
3. “Adventure can be an end in itself. Self-discovery is the secret ingredient.” – Grace Lichtenstein
4. “If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.”– Seth Godin
5. “Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” ― Jack Kerouac
6. FUN QUOTE: “Adventure, yeah. I guess that’s what you call it when everybody comes back alive.” ― Mercedes Lackey, from Spirits White as Lightning

Personal Growth Bucket List Quotes

As I get older, it becomes really evident to me that it is very easy to get distracted by outside influences and lose focus on what really matters. In what feels like a matter of seconds, time has just flown by and opportunities to learn and grow sometimes disappear. But luckily the proverbial race isn’t over and if you want it, there are still ways to personally grow. Hopefully these personal growth bucket list quotes will motivate you to focus and get moving like the do for me.

1. “Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresea, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein.” – H. Jackson Brown, from Life’s Little Instruction Book
2. “You can only lose your virginity once. But in every aspect of my life — building businesses, raising a family, embarking upon adventures — I try to do things for the first time every day.” – Richard Branson, from Finding My Virginity: The New Autobiography
3. “Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
4. “We don’t get a chance to do that many things, and each one should be really excellent. Because these are our lives.” – Steve Jobs
5. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” — Mahatma Gandhi
6. FUN QUOTE: “If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun.” – Katharine Hepburn

Helping Others Bucket List Quotes 

I am sure we all want to help others if we can. There is nothing worse than seeing someone in this world struggling or even worse suffering. That is why we all need to get out there and try to help others while we have the ability and time to do so. Now, I know for me, it isn’t the lack of desire to want to help others especially when there are Simple Ways to Help Others. No, more often than not it is the lack of motivation. So hopefully, these Helping Others bucket list quotes will get us all moving to make the world a better place.

1. “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” – Ronald Reagan
2. “Your true character Is most accurately measured by how you treat those who can do ‘Nothing’ for you” – Mother Teresa
3. “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else.” – Charles Dickens
4. “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” – William James
5. “No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank, from The Play of “The Diary of Anne Frank
6. FUN QUOTE: “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” ― The Dalai Lama

Making Amends Bucket List Quotes

As I have said before, the Making Amends Bucket List is definitely one of the hardest to tackle. In fact it is so hard for me that I have not ticked off a single one of these since I started the Bucket List Project. Perhaps, this is because saying your sorry even for the smallest problems can be really humbling and scary. But, I have seen in some people that forgiveness brought great freedom and joy to both sides of the issue. So, I often look at my favorite Making Amends bucket list quotes listed below in hopes of gathering the strength to at least try.

1. “Mistakes are always forgivable if one has the courage to admit them.” ― Bruce Lee
2. “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and for deeds left undone.” ― Harriet Beecher Stowe
3. “When seeking forgiveness, remember, that forgiveness includes change. Don’t just ask for forgiveness because you are sorry. Ask because you are willing to put the time and effort in to change.” ― Akiroq Brost
4. “You must ask for God’s help. Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help, or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again.” – C. S. Lewis
5. “For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” –  Ralph Waldo Emerson
6. FUN QUOTE: “Sometimes the first step to forgiveness is understanding that the other person is a complete idiot.” – Anonymous

Our Couple’s Bucket List Quotes

Now, I have only been married for a short time but apparently this covenant I agreed to requires a lot of work and maintenance! But that is okay because officially scratching off bucket list item #2) Marry My Soul Mate was truly an amazing event in my life and I feel blessed everyday. So, I use these couple’s bucket list quotes to continue to motivate us to seek out life-changing events together.

1. “Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures.” — Lewis Carroll
2. “As soon as I saw you, I knew a grand adventure was about to happen.” — A. A. Milne
3. “I have found out there is no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” – Mark Twain
4. “Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.” — Antoine Desaint-Exupery
5. “It doesn’t matter where you’re going, it’s who you have beside you.” – Anonymous
6. FUN QUOTE: “I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade… And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party.” – Ron White

So now it’s your turn to inspire us with your favorite bucket list quotes! Do you have a favorite quote that motivates you? Has any quote inspired you to tackle an item on your own bucket list project? What is your favorite travel quote you have hanging on your wall? Let us know your favorite quotes about bucket list items in the comments below & help to inspire others!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your favorite Bucket List Quote Board!

Disclosure: This post, “36 Quotes to Inspire Your Bucket List ”, may contain affiliate links. Using the links doesn’t cost you any extra, and it helps keep the site free, fun, and community supported! Eric & Darcee will never recommend a product that we don’t genuinely believe in, actually use ourselves, have researched, and trust.

Skimlinks Test

The post 36 Quotes to Inspire Your Bucket List appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

It has been one month since I lost my mom, Lilian Madan Gamble.

I struggle to write this post for many reasons. Perhaps, it is because it doesn’t really feel like she is gone yet. Or perhaps, it is because I am not sure it is quite proper to share such a post on a Bucket List blog. But, after much consideration, I decided to share this to not only honor my mom but also to perhaps inspire others with her story.

Lili, my mother, lost a long a tough battle on March 13, 2020 and the past month has been a mixture of all kinds of feelings and struggles for me. I loved and still do love my mom as any son would! She was one of my biggest supporters of The Bucket List Project. She loved hearing all about Darcee and my adventures around the world. But, she especially loved it and rooted hardest, when we worked hard on our Helping Others Bucket List to help others fulfill their own bucket list dreams.

Because of her, I am the adventurer I am. She so loved seeing the world, trying new foods, and meeting new people herself.  It was one of her best traits that I personally am glad she instilled in me. She also loved seeing me personally grow and I only hope that I can become the man that she so longed me to be.

So with that said, I wanted to share the eulogy I gave my mom at her funeral mass with everyone. Hopefully, it can inspire everyone to learn to grow, love one another, and perhaps even find a bit of adventure in this short life we all have. I have never had to write a eulogy before, so please forgive me if it is a bit lacking. For a son to write a eulogy for his mom is a near impossible task that I don’t wish upon anyone. But if you will allow me, I wish to present it now to all of our family and friends.

A Son’s Eulogy For His Mom

On behalf of my Grandmother, Lilian Madan, my sister, Lilian Catherine “Lica”, my wife Darcee, and myself, Eric Rafael, I would like to first thank Fr Pineda, Fr O’Hare, and Fr. Whitestone (this was changed to Fr. Walsh & Fr. Rodriguez) and everyone who helped us prepare for this celebration of my mother, Lilian Madan Gamble. With all that is going on in the world, your thoughts, prayers, efforts, and love for my mother have meant the world to us.

I have never had to write a speech like this before, so please excuse me because I am not as elegant as some of my uncles nor as linguistically skilled as my wife or sister. So, in preparation for today, I essentially had to researched how to do this.

A Eulogy vs. An Elegy

In my research, I found that often people get confused during times like this between an Elegy and Eulogy. To be honest, I didn’t know the difference either. So, to clear things up, I channeled my inner Tio Rafael and dug deep into the origins of each word. Here is what I found:

An Elegy comes from the Greek root word Elegos which roughly translates to a Song of Mourning. While, a Eulogy is derived from two Greek root words, “EU” which means Good and “LOGOS” which means speech. Thus, when combined, Eulogy translates to a Speech of Good or a Song of Praise.

So, why does this matter today?

I bring this up because in the last year or so, people have approached me to discuss my mom’s state of life. Conversations about her were sometimes full of sorrow and remorse. Adjectives were used like, Tired, Weak, Frail, Sickly, and even Depressed. Now, of course, those people saying these adjectives not intending them to be hurtful. But, these kinds of words could easily lead our thoughts about her life toward regret or mourning.

And that isn’t how I wanted my mom remembered.

I wanted this speech…this service…this day to be a Eulogy to my mother! I want mine and every memory that each of us carry of her to be a true Song of Praise!

Lilian Madan Gamble, The Benevolent

Therefore, I am petitioning all of you to remember your Daughter, your Sister, your Tia, Your Mina, my mother with a different adjective. I petition her to be remembered as: Lilian the Benevolent.

Now for those who don’t have your dictionary handy, Benevolent is an adjective used to characterize someone who has the desire to help others by doing good in this world. Benevolent is synonymous with words like charitable, good, kind, gracious, helpful, and unselfish.

Now being her son, of course, I would praise my mother with an amazing word as benevolent. But to provide evidence to support my petition, I offer you the following examples:

• Lili gave Gifts with Intention

If you have ever been on vacation with us or to a Madan Family Christmas, you will recognize one of these bags! Poor Ali, Lica, and even Darcee have at one time been ”tortured” with the task of loading up bags like this for others on behalf of my mom. Often when receiving them, a person might see a random collection of bizarre trinkets and some were. But my mother didn’t see it like that. With these bags, she used whatever resources she had and tried to find items that matched something she thought you needed or could help you. For example, with her brother Ramon, she always insisted we overload your back with extra beef jerky and beef Slim Jims because in her mind she thought of you as strong! Thus, she wanted to make sure he had all that extra protein to keep you strong. And she tried her best to do that for everyone all the time. She always tried to give with intention even as silly as it seemed to us.

• Lili Gave us the Gift of her Faith

My mother, much like her own mother loved her faith. She often prayed for godchildren, her brothers and sisters, and anyone she could remember. To be honest, I probably gave her enough disasters in her life to fill her prayer intention card alone, but she always thought of who needed prayers and added them in as well. She worked hard to instill the faith in her children as well, and because of her efforts and prayers, I truly believe it helped both her and I find Darcee!

• Lili Gave her service as a Nurse to a countless number

In the first Epistle of Peter, chapter 4, verse 10 it reads, “As Each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s Grace”

My mother was given a skill for Nursing and thus used it to serve many people. For over 30 years, my mother was a registered nurse in New Orleans, Atlanta, and Virginia. She tended to the sick, the seriously injured, the elderly, the lost and forgotten, and even the dying. There was really no patient she wouldn’t help, and she would never say no to anyone in need of medical care. There are countless stories of her caring for the bedridden. She would often just take on the rolls of feeding them, cleaning them, or sometimes just tenderly holding them so they could feel connected again. This kind of gracious care can be seen in how she showed up and cared for her own father at the end of his life.

And Finally,

• Lili Gave the Gift of her time

My mother wasn’t the most mobile of people, so if you wanted to talk to her it was kind of easy to catch her. Now, I am sure there were times when she wished she could run away from us, especially if I or Franco decided to share one of our long-winded stories.

Now her absolute favorite thing to do, besides talking with her favorite child, Nico, was to just laugh with all of us! She had such a great laugh.

But to be honest, she loved hearing everyone’s stories! She loved sharing her time with each and everyone one of us. It brought her so much joy sitting with all of you to hear about your adventures, your travels, your dates, how your work was going, or what great things you were doing in the world! Perhaps, she did this because it allowed her to join you in your life. But I truly believe she did this so she could then offer you praise and support in your joys and dreams! It wasn’t uncommon after talking to one of you that she would call me to brag all about the new job you got, or the awesome party you threw, or even as simple as the recent accomplishments your beautiful children had just accomplished. It was how she praised and supported you!

Now I am sure there are a million more examples to support my petition to remember my mother as Lilian the Benevolent. And in the coming days, weeks, months, and years, I ask that you share your own Songs of Praise of her.

There are no words to describe how much I will miss my mother. I pray that she inspires me and all of us to be as gracious, charitable, helpful, unselfish and well Just benevolent as she was!

I wonder what she is putting in all of those bags she plans on giving away in Heaven?

Sadly, Life Goes On

Sadly, life never does stop after you lose a parent. It will never be the same for me and my sister. But, I know that we will always carry our mother deep within our hearts. Personally, I know she will forever join Darcee and me in all of our bucket list adventures. I am sure I will see her everywhere in life and hear her laugh whenever I do something absolutely crazy or goofy. During this time, I am so very lucky to have Darcee, my family, and all of our friends who have reached out to support us and offer their prayers and thoughts. She loved so greatly and hopefully, I was able to honor Lilian Madan Gamble with a simple eulogy from her son.

Lilian Madan Gamble was a big inspiration behind The Bucket List Project. See what she meant to us in her in a Son's Eulogy for his Mom. #Mom #ILoveMyMom #Eulogy #BucketList #PersonalGrowth
Click To Tweet

Please Consider Sharing this Pin this to your favorite Bucket List Board!

The post Lilian Madan Gamble – A Son’s Eulogy For His Mom appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

In 2018 a Gallup Poll was released stating that only 33% of Americans aged 18 to 29 said that they were extremely proud to be an American. In fact in that same poll, only 47% of all Americans described themselves as feeling Extremely Patriotic. So how can we fix this lack of Patriotism in the United States? Good news is that if it is on your bucket list to be more patriotic, then we offer 6 Simple ways to help you do it.

1) Be More Patriotic by taking the time to learn US Flag history

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to be more patriotic is to hang an American Flag. But to increase someone’s patriotism, it goes far beyond just hanging a flag. The US Flag should be revered not only for what it represents to us today but also because it tells the history of America itself. To learn more about the US Flag, turn to organizations like Flags Unlimited where you can learn not only the history of our current United States Flag but all of the flags that have ever flown over our country!

Is it on your bucket list to be more patriotic? Do you want to learn more about what it means to be an American? Check out 6 Simple Ways to be more Patriotic! #BePatriotic #USflag #America
Click To Tweet

2) Be more patriotic by visiting a Veterans Memorial or Cemetery

Many soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our freedoms both at home and abroad. So one of the best and simplest ways to be more patriotic is to visit different memorials or cemeteries honoring our brave veterans. When visiting these solemn sites, bring a US flag to place at their headstones. It is a simple way to honor them.

3) Be more patriotic by reading more about U.S. history

There are countless books about America’s history. So a simple way to be more patriotic is to read more about it’s past. Whether you read books about US Flag history, the Revolutionary war, or more modern events, there is a subject out there for everyone to increase your knowledge about where we came from. Perhaps one of the best books to get started is David McCullough’s book entitled 1776 that discusses the events of an important year in American history!

4) Be more patriotic by learning the National Anthem

It is always amazing to see people stand up at the beginning of any sporting event and sing the National Anthem. It is a great way to show your patriotism. But how many people actually know all of the words to the National Anthem? Taking the time to learn the words of the Star Spangled Banner is an easy way to be more patriotic.

5) Be more patriotic by visiting America’s historical places

There are so many places around the world that people add to their Travel Bucket List. But adding some of the amazing places packed with history here in the United States should also be considered. Think about a trip to Boston’s Freedom Trail, Philadelphia’s Independence Park, or any of the museums and monuments in Washington D.C. Or for example, on the Bucket List Project we have #70) Visit the Statue of Liberty. Either way, exploring our great country is one of the best ways to learn more about America’s history.

6) Be more patriotic by being active in Civic events

Perhaps one of the most important ways to be more patriotic is to just be active in civic events. The easiest way to do this is to vote in all elections. Voting is important because you participate in important decisions that will affect the course of our nation on every level. Another way to be active is join in with different organizations or events that support causes that could benefit others in our communities. Whether this is being a member of a political organization or joining a cause you believe in, participation can truly make a difference.

So what items do you have on your bucket list that may increase your patriotism? Which of these 6 simple ways to be more patriotic do you feel is most effective? Or is there another way you personally participate in to be more patriotic? Let us know in the comments below!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your favorite Bucket List Board!

The post 6 Simple Ways to be More Patriotic appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

Now, let’s not make any mistakes: there’s much to love about traveling, and it is, overall, a positive experience that everyone should make the most of. But it would be wrong to pretend that it’s all positive. Things can, of course, go wrong, and it’s up to you to take steps to limit the risk. So how do you stay safe and secure when you’re traveling around? We take a look at a few key considerations below.

Where Are You Going?

Before you visit a destination, you’ll likely do your research to determine all the must-do things while you’re there. But as well as looking up all the fun activities that await you once you land, you’ll also want to look up the potential risks. There are always dangers that are specific to a destination. As such, you’ll find that a little bit of research will go a long way. This isn’t about looking up things that’ll scare you, but rather, just to make you aware of potential dangers. You might find that there are neighborhoods that are best avoided, learn about common scams, or get some important climate advice that might prevent you from getting caught out in dangerous weather.

It's easy to see why many people have a Travel Bucket List because let's face it, traveling is great! But sometimes things can go wrong. So here are some tips on how to stay safe and secure while traveling! #SafeTravelTips #TravelSafe
Click To Tweet

Be Mindful of Wifi

If you’re a traveler, then you’ll know just how useful it can be to connect to the internet as you’re moving around. It can help you to get your bearings, you can look up local events, stay in touch with friends and family back home, and so on. However, it’s important that you’re connecting to the safe and secure wifi. Many people look for any free wifi that’s available, but it’s not recommended that you connect to these open connections, because they can be used to steal your sensitive information. While it’s unlikely that something will happen if you just briefly connect, you never know which connection is going to be the one that you regret, so it’s best to just avoid them altogether.

Work with Reputable Companies

You might be in pure travel mode, but it’s worthwhile remembering that life will be going on as normal back home, and, as such, you’ll have to stay on top of your responsibilities back home. Because you’ll be many miles from home, and likely in an entirely different country, you’ll be handling all of your affairs over the phone or online, and, as such, it’s important that you’re working with companies that take potential identity fraud seriously. Before setting off, ask about their security measures. It’ll be a good sign if they’re using Jumio technology; Jumio lets you quickly verify an ID’s authenticity, which will help to keep your identity and personal information safe. If you’re working with companies that you can trust, then you’ll have peace of mind that all is well when you’re traveling.

Do Your Research 

One of the issues many people encounter when they’re traveling is shifting standards, especially when it comes to safety. Things might be conducted one way where you’re from, but there are many different ways of operating around the world, and they won’t always be of the same standard. If you’re going to take a tour where things could potentially go wrong (for example a boating trip), then make sure you’re doing your research beforehand. You might discover that their safety rating isn’t all as it should be. There will always be people who want to sell you something when you’re traveling — they have a vested interest, so don’t just take their word for it!

Keep Your Tech Safe

We talked earlier about keeping your data safe, but you’ll also want to take even more precautions to keep your pieces of kit safe. They can do damage if they have your data; things will be even worse if they have your laptop or phone since they could access your data, and you’ll also have lost an expensive item. First thing: don’t take any items that you’re unlikely to need. They’ll just be an unnecessary hassle. You’ll also want to invest in a high-quality backpack that is difficult for pickpockets to access.

Stay Street Smart

Finally, remember the number one way to stay safe and secure when you’re traveling: stay street smart! You shouldn’t visit a place thinking that everyone is going to do you harm, but a healthy dose of doubt is recommended. If something feels unsafe or sounds too good to be true, then listen to your instincts, and go elsewhere. Your senses will be the best tool in your arsenal.

So what are some tips or tools that you use to stay safe and secure when traveling? What would be the #1 piece of advice that you would share to a new traveler? Is there anything that scares you while traveling that you wish you could overcome? Let us know all about it in the comments below!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your favorite Bucket List Board!

The post How To Stay Safe and Secure When Traveling appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

The world we’re in is a super hectic place. Even in the quieter areas of the world, there’s always something going on. It’s all necessary as we need the billions of inhabitants to all be working systematically in order to achieve a balance, but sometimes it can cause a little too much stress and worry. Pretty much every single society on the planet is fast-paced and if you stop or stutter through anything, you could be left behind. That doesn’t seem like a fair deal, does it?

It’s easy to become completely chewed up and spat out by this dog eat dog world, so we all need to have a cool, calm, and collected head from time to time. Some do it better than others, so it’s understandable that it might seem impossible, but we can all take steps to look at life with a less worrisome and more relaxed attitude. Let’s go through some stuff you can do that may ease that anxiety and allow you to take things a little easier.

Exercise

We’ll start with the simplest idea of the lot: getting your heart rate up a little from time to time. Not only is this a great hobby to have, but it also improves your life mentally somewhat. Your brain releases endorphins that make you feel positive about thoughts that you might otherwise stress over. You’ll benefit in the long term as you’ll be physically more adept and mentally more prepared for things.

There are many steps to look at life with less worry & a more relaxed attitude. Discover a few Personal Growth Ideas to ease anxiety & allow you to take things a little easier. #WaysToRelax #PersonalGrowth #SmellTheRoses
Click To Tweet

Less Of The Technology!

Putting the technology down for a while and just enjoying the situation you’re in now isn’t ease in 2019. We’re all glued to technology, unfortunately. If you can spend just a little while away from a social media platform, then you’ll be happier – trust this. Social media is great but it makes people very upset over the smallest, most pointless things!

We tend to rely on technology a lot, too. We base a lot of our lives around it. Perhaps you should take back a little more control of your life and stop being overly high-maintenance with your tech. Whether it’s worrying less about the security details on your smartphone, like multiple layers of protection (see here: https://setapp.com/how-to/turn-off-two-factor-authentication-for-apple-id) or whether it’s the need to capture everything you do on film for people to see. In this age, it’s easy to become obsessed with that stuff. It’s okay to go a while without it all.

Learn A New Skill

Keeping your mind occupied with something productive is a good way of cooling your mind during hectic times. You can get away from it all and focus on this new world. You may also be able to use it later on down the line. For example, learning a new language could open up endless opportunities occupationally and recreationally!

Gain Perspective

Life isn’t amazing all of the time, but you better believe you have a much better life than some. There are people, right now, that are going through unfathomable amounts of suffering. Whilst that’s a horrible thought in itself, all you can do is live your life where you are. Recognize that it really could be worse and be thankful that your problems aren’t anywhere near as bad.

Try Not To Sweat The Small Stuff

We all do it. An awkward conversation or a silly mistake in public. We look at something we’ve done and crawl into a ball thinking about it. The fact that we all do it should make you realize that it’s not actually a problem. Cringing isn’t great, but you should own the cringe a little bit. Then find a way to make amends and get on with your productive life!

So what things do you do to help you ease your mind in this hectic world? Is it on your Personal Bucket List to find ways to reduce stress in your life? Let us know some of the best ways you have found to enjoy the amazing world in the comments below!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your favorite Personal Growth Bucket List Board!

The post Things You Can Do To Ease Your Mind Amid This Hectic World appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

As I chase the many items on my bucket list, it seems that friends come and go from my life. But I recently read somewhere that “Friends are like stars, they come and go but the ones that stay are the ones that glow!” This is so very true as I grow older. That is why several years ago, I decided to create something I call The Wizard of Oz Dinner. For me it was a way to take the time to take to gather a couple of close friends and tell them, “Thank You for your friendship!”

Disclaimer: I struggled with wanting to tell this story on my blog. Not because I am embarrassed to share my feelings, but because in no way do I want to brag about what I did. After much consideration, I am sharing it to hopefully inspire others to tell their friends and/or family that they love them while they still have time. Oh and if I haven’t told you lately, “Thank You for your friendship and I love you!”

Saying “Thank you for your friendship” is important

Why is it so hard for us to say to those loyal friends, “Thank you for your friendship?”  Is it a sign of weakness as adults to open up and showcase our real feelings to our friends?

I don’t think so.

In fact, I believe just the opposite. In my opinion, showing your sensitive side, especially in a public setting, is a sign that of strength and a big heart.

So, what does all of this have to do with The Bucket List Project? How did saying “Thank You for your friendship” end up on our Bucket List?

Well, when I created The Bucket List Project, I found it extremely easy to add Travel and Adventure Activities to my list. But when talking with older members of Generation X, one of their biggest regrets was not telling those close to them, “thank you for your friendship!”  With this revelation, I created The Helping Others List, as a way to not only help others with their bucket list dreams but also show them that they inspire me.

Why is it so hard to tell friends what they mean to us? It doesn't have to be! Several years ago, Eric gathered a couple of friends & did just that. Go Behind the Scenes of a Wizard of Oz Dinner! #WizardOfOz #Friendship #ShowYouCare
Click To Tweet

Behind the scenes of the Wizard of Oz Dinner

If you are a member of Gen X or any generation, there is no doubt you have seen the Wizard of Oz movie. But did you know that the author, Frank Baum, not only wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but 14 other Oz Books? When I found this out, I immediately added reading all 15 Wizard of Oz Books to my Personal Growth Bucket List!

Whether you read the books or saw the classic movie, no one can forget the famous scene when Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs, aka: The Wizard of Oz, gives gifts to the four main characters. When I read this and then how their gifts were used, it inspired me to give similar gifts to the great characters in my life.

But how could I do it? Like Oscar said in the book, “I’m a very good man (At least I try to be). I’m just a very bad Wizard.” Still, how do I give away Brains, a Heart, Courage, or Adventure, to tell my friends “thanks for your friendship?”

Simple: I would choose 4 friends to become the characters of OZ, trick them into coming to dinner, tell them how much they mean to me, and give special gifts to highlight their unbelievable traits. Perhaps, this could be the best way I could say, “Thank You for your friendship!”

Dinner with the characters from Oz

It may seem cheesy to hold a themed dinner party, but if you know me at all, then you know I ooze cheesiness. I also found that it helped me express my feelings through the characters I read in the Wizard of Oz. Plus, it was weird how four of my closest friends seemed to match perfectly with the needs of the four travelers in the book.

So let us meet the four individual characters who joined me for dinner and see how I found ways to say, “thank you for your Friendship!”

1) The Scarecrow gets his diploma

“You don’t need ‘brains’. You are learning something everyday. A baby has brains, but it doesn’t know much. Experience is the only thing that brings knowledge, and the longer you are on earth the more experience you are sure to get.” ― Frank L. Baum, The Wizard of Oz

I met Mike when we both attended Holy Cross High School in New Orleans back in the early ’90s. He was a great guy who always looked out for me growing up. But even though Mike was from a Holy Cross legacy, he never finished high school. When he left, it really bothered me that my good friend wouldn’t finish with myself and the rest of the class. I was sure I would never see him again.

But something weird happened. He kept in touch. He took the time to always talk with me in good times and bad. I loved talking to him because he was always learning something new, trying new experiences, and discovering new passions. He went to culinary school and became a great chef. Then, he decided to work offshore where he became a Captain of a boat!

What was amazing to my small mind was he did all of this without a Holy Cross High School diploma. So I had to take action and show him how much his quest to grow, learn, and experience life always inspired me!

So how did this Bad Wizard give the Scarecrow “Brains”?

“Can’t you give me brains?” asked the Scarecrow. ― Frank L. Baum, The Wizard of Oz

Now, I cannot give nor did I try to give Mike “Brains”! Besides, he obviously has enough to go around. But I did want to express to Mike how much he inspires me; without performing a lobotomy.

In the book, the Wizard gives the Scarecrow a mixture of bran with pins and needles as a symbol of his “Bran-New Brains!” However, in the movie, the only thing separating Scarecrow from other great thinkers in Oz was a diploma  which the Wizard hands him.

Now, I can’t formally hand out diplomas, but at Holy Cross we have a very important creed, called the Holy Cross Man. It represents everything that the boys of Holy Cross in New Orleans strive to be as the grow into Men. To me, it represents everything Mike is and will forever be.

So, I took my own personal graduation tassel and framed it with a special copy of the Holy Cross Man and a picture of our old campus where our friendship began. At dinner, I expressed my gratitude in front of our other guests, presented him with the symbol of the Brains he always had, and hugged him!

2) The Tin Man gets his Heart

“Why, as for that,” answered Oz, “I think you are wrong to want a heart. It makes most people unhappy. If you only knew it, you are in luck not to have a heart.”
“That must be a matter of opinion,” said the Tin Woodman. “For my part, I will bear all the unhappiness without a murmur, if you will give me the heart.” ― Frank L. Baum, The Wizard of Oz

I have never met a more loving man than Joe. I met him when we both attended Holy Cross High School in New Orleans, as well. Though, it was strange. We were never “close” friends. But that doesn’t ever matter to Joe! With his large smile, he will walk right up to you and hug you so tight your ribs will beg for mercy while your heart overflows with joy. He is just that guy! You can’t not be happy when Joe is around. Plus if you ever get a chance to hear him sing anything, you will hear his love of life and music flowing from his voice.

Not only is he lovable, Joe also shows love towards others. One of the most amazing things he ever did was one day in January 2013, he and his friend friend Dane each ran 52.4 miles. or the length of 2 marathons! They did this because their close friend Nicole had it on her bucket list to run a full marathon. However, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and couldn’t gather the strength to run. So Joe and Dane decided to raise funds for Nicole’s treatments and expenses and ran 52.4 miles. That is one marathon for themselves and one for Nicole Teague.

So how did this Bad Wizard give the Tin Man a “Heart”?

“How about my heart?” asked the Tin Woodman. ― Frank L. Baum, The Wizard of Oz

So how on earth does a guy like Joe possibly need a heart? From what I can already tell, his has to be at least 4 times bigger than anyone’s in the world!

Joe is a Holy Cross Man 100%. In fact, it was how I tricked him into coming to the dinner. I told him I needed a Holy Cross Alumnae that Mike, my Scarecrow, knows to help me present the Holy Cross Man to him. When I told him about my “idea” for Mike, he had to be there! Not long before this dinner, we had a Holy Cross High School reunion. Many of our classmates were there catching up and enjoying themselves, especially Joe. But he seemed a bit sad, which is very unlike him! When I asked his wife, Jeanne, what was wrong, she told me that Joe was kind of bummed seeing some of us wear our old Senior Class Rings. She proceeded to tell me that his original ring was stolen from his home not long after graduation and it devastated him. To think that this man who bleeds Navy Blue and Gold and could be the heart of our Graduating class was missing a piece of his heart.

So, I called our alma mater and asked them how to get an exact replica of my class ring. Then with a little luck, I was able to present him this symbol of his missing heart, for the price of a hug! For me, this was one of the best ways to tell Joe, “thank you for your friendship!”

3) The Cowardly Lion gets his Courage

“You have plenty of courage, I am sure,” answered Oz. “All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. True courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty.”  ― Frank L. Baum, The Wizard of Oz

When I started working on The Bucket List Project, there was always one guy who would take the time to talk to me about my insane trips and adventures, Steve. I met Steve after he graduated college through his brother Dave. When I met him, we immediately clicked. Perhaps this was because of our mutual love for the outdoors that we both obtained through the scouts, regardless it is an easy friendship. Plus, Steve is a guys guy! He drives a truck, plays lacrosse, and likes winding down with a good cocktail or cold beer.

For me, Steve appeared during some tough times in my life. Yet, despite my struggles, he never walked away. He was always available to talk, deal with challenges, or just grab a drink and be present. His friendship has always meant the world to me.

So how did this Bad Wizard give the Cowardly Lion “Courage”?

“But how about my courage?” asked the Lion, anxiously.  ― Frank L. Baum, The Wizard of Oz

So first off, let me say that it pains me to use the adjective “Cowardly” when relating to Steve. I mean, he is a Guys Guy through and through! Plus, I really don’t want him to smack me with that lacrosse stick cause those guys are crazy tough!

When talking about our bucket lists, the number one thing Steve always talked about doing was going skydiving! Like I said, the boy is kind of crazy because if you have ever read my Anti-Bucket List, then you know that Skydiving is a big No-No on that list! But for Steve, he would go on and on about how he couldn’t wait to try it. So, when I found out and told him he could skydive at Gold Coast Skydiving an hour outside of New Orleans, I thought he was going to jump in his car and drive there immediately. But he didn’t.

So that is when I took action. I contacted Gold Coast and obtained ONE jump (cause Lord knows I wasn’t jumping too) for Steve. Then at dinner, I gave him this token of his courage and shared what he has meant being there in my life. What better way to say thank you for your friendship than helping a great friend fulfill his own bucket list dreams.

4) Dorothy goes on a trip

“if I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again I won’t look any further than my own back yard Because if it isn’t there I never really lost it to begin” ―  Dorothy, from the movie: The Wizard of Oz

I met Sarah at Loyola University New Orleans our freshman year so many years ago. We instantly became friends because we were both in the music program and she is absolutely one of the most fun characters I’ve ever met. When you first look at her and her beagle, Miss Betty, you may not think wild bucket list adventurer. But don’t let this first impression mislead you, she has had some of the coolest adventures around the world!

For me, Sarah has also been a mainstay when so many friends move on. But what makes her special is that she goes out of her way to try and maintain that relationship. Don’t get me wrong, trying to have a normal text message conversation with her gives me grey hairs as it sometimes takes forever to get a response. But, what I love is that she ALWAYS responds and is always suddenly there when you truly need her.

Perhaps, that is why it was easy to see her as Dorothy.

So how did this Bad Wizard give the Dorothy her “trip home”?

“Oh, I don’t think there’s anything in that black bag for me!”― Dorothy, from the movie: The Wizard of Oz

To be honest, the Wizard failed at getting Dorothy home in both the book and movie versions. So how could I tell Sarah, “thanks for your friendship” in a Wizard of Oz sort of way?

Well, let’s rewind a little bit. First of all I had to get Sarah to show up to help me with these gifts. To be honest, I am not even sure how this humbug wizard even convinced her to attend. But like she always magically does, she was there in full force. So I had to try.

In the story, the Wizard tries to get Dorothy home by flying her over the impassable desert via hot air balloon. But we all know that didn’t work and since I don’t have a hot air balloon either, I got her a Southwest gift Card from Raise instead. That way she could fly anywhere she wanted with a simple click of her heels and maybe some computer keys! So with that, an Elvis record, and a simple hug, I was able to thank her for always being a good friend.

“Home Again”

Fyi – “Home Again” is the final chapter in Frank L. Baum’s actual The Wizard of Oz.

So, lets bring you home again. If you have made it this far then you have gone all the way behind the scenes of a Wizard of Oz Dinner. Thank you for allowing me to share my story. I hope that this post helps you think of ways to tell your own friends, “thank you for your friendship!”

Have you ever told your friends how much they inspire you? Is it on your bucket list to be better at expressing gratitude? What is one way you recently showed a friend how much you appreciate them?

Let us know in the comments below what you think or what you did and maybe you will help someone else with their bucket list dreams!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your favorite Bucket List Board!

Disclosure: This post, “Behind the Scenes of a Wizard of Oz Dinner” may contain affiliate links. Using the links doesn’t cost you any extra, and it helps keep the site free, fun, and community supported! Eric & Darcee will never recommend a product that we don’t genuinely believe in, actually use ourselves, have researched, and trust. Please see the disclosure policy for more information.

The post Behind the Scenes of a Wizard of Oz Dinner appeared first on The Bucket List Project.