The Reverse Bucket List (A Grateful Backward Glance)

A few posts ago, I shared my current bucket list—the always-shifting list of things I want to see and do. Like learning to tango in Argentina and riding the Glacier Express through the Swiss Alps.

But while it’s really exhilarating to look forward, I think it’s also really important to look back. To celebrate our lives, our successes, the breathtaking moments we’ve already lived. To pause and be grateful.

So today I’m going to share a reverse bucket list. A collection of wild, wonderful memories gone by. Things I’ve already done. Things I’m grateful for.

The list got a little long, so I’ll be sharing it in two installments.

But enough introduction. Onto the main event.

The reverse bucket list (things I’ve accomplished):

Visit every continent except Antarctica

The skinny: I hit my last continent (Europe) for the first time right before I moved to Denver in 2007. It was a long-time goal of mine to visit each truly habitable continent and it was exhilarating to book that last ticket.

Hold a baby kangaroo

Photo by John.The skinny: Australia was my first-ever international destination and I chose it primarily for its wildlife. Unexpectedly and wonderfully, when I was there I had the opportunity to hold a rescued baby kangaroo named Kara who had been found by the side of the highway, still in her mother (who had been hit by a car)’s pouch.

Chase a giraffe

Photo by Adam Foster.The skinny: My second-ever international trip was a volunteer trip to southern Africa. I spent two months there and it completely changed my life. And, bonus, we took a walking safari, ran after a giraffe, and spooked it into doing its slow run for us. Spectacular.

Go on safari in Africa. (Thrice.)

Safari photo by Doug Wheller.The skinny: In addition to my walking safari, I was also lucky enough to go out twice for a safari via jeep. My favorite moment (aside from the giraffe)? Seeing elephants walking single-file toward the water in the distance. They’ve got such beautiful silhouettes.

Visit Macchu Picchu and climb Winu Picchu

Photo by Monty Vanderbilt.The skinny: In 2003, I spent my summer volunteering in Lima, Peru. In between our volunteer gigs, we took two short vacations to Cuzco and nearby Macchu Picchu.

See the stars with no light pollution (Africa)

Photo by William Connolly.The skinny: In the middle of the Okavongo Delta in Botswana, we found ourselves staring up at the breathtaking night sky with no electric lights for what I assume was hundreds of miles.

Visit a refugee camp

Photo by United Nations.The skinny: Volunteering in Africa was one of the most perspective-changing experiences of my life. And visiting a refugee camp was one of the experiences that made it so.

Start a business

The skinny: In 2010, I started Content for Do-Gooders. Three years later, I’m so glad I did.

Publish a book

The skinny: 2012 was a big year for me. Not only did I give up my address and start this round-the-world adventure, but I also published my first book.

Visit Victoria Falls and eat kudu, crocodile, ostrich, and warthog

The skinny: Once a month during my stay in Africa, we splurged on a fancy hotel in Victoria Falls, where we ate at a stunning and unique buffet and took walks around the falls themselves.

Climb to a remote village in the Thai mountains

The skinny: In 2001, I spent my summer volunteering in northern Thailand. We mostly stayed in Chiang Mai, teaching English to university students, but we did get to take one short trip into the mountains, where we slept on the floor of an old wooden church and dodged jumping spiders.

Windsurf

Photo by Jesper Hauge.The skinny: In Thailand, between English classes, we took a short vacation to the beach where I learned to (sort of) windsurf.

Go spelunking

Photo by Paul Bica.The skinny: In college in Pennsylvania, several of my more outdoorsy friends took me spelunking and rock climbing.

Go rock climbing

Photo by South African Tourism.

Go white water rafting

Photo by Abir Anwar.The skinny: The first time I ever made a bucket list, this was on it. So when the opportunity came up a week later, I headed out to West Virginia with a group of high schoolers, strapped on my lifevest, and enjoyed the ride.

Live and write in Paris

The skinny: Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to rent a small studio in charming Montmartre, Paris, where I spent about five weeks writing, exploring the city, and visiting with my lovely expat friends.

Stay tuned next week for the second half of this list and a few thoughts on gratitude.

What’s on your reverse bucket list?

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