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

Chase a giraffe

Go on safari in Africa. (Thrice.)

Visit Macchu Picchu and climb Winu Picchu

See the stars with no light pollution (Africa)

Visit a refugee camp

Photo by United Nations.
Start a business

Publish a 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

Go spelunking

Go rock climbing

Go white water rafting

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?
15 comments
What a wonderful idea!!! Have neither a bucket list nor a reverse one … In fact I like this better than a bucket list. May have to do one soon!! I assume Luna was not in the picture for Africa, Thailand and more… ?
I know – isn’t it a great idea?
And yes, Luna wasn’t born until long after those trips.
Love it! I think I like this better than a traditional bucket list. I pretty much refuse to make one because I think I’d have way too much on the list, or at least way too many countries to visit. You’re right, it’s great to look back and remind yourself of all the awesome things you’ve done.
Yeah. I had that same problem (too many places), so I limited my bucket list to experiences for the most part.
Thank you for this post!
This is great reminder for people (like me!) who are always planning the next step, the next task, and the next adventure. My “reverse bucket list” just from the last three years gives me SO much to be grateful for! I think I agree with Ali – I like it better than the tradition bucket list too. :)
Hear, hear!
Excellent entries! I, too, have been to Africa three times, although never volunteering. It is, indeed, a life changing experience and can only be matched with India for making me feel truly alive.
Absolutely! I love Africa.
I’ve actually only been to Africa twice (though I’ve taken three safaris). Once volunteering and once visiting a friend in the Peace Corps.
Which African countries did you visit?
Great idea. I’ve thought about doing this a number of times but kept coming back to the idea that it would seem boastful. I guess it’s all in how you frame it because yours just makes me want to go do more (and reminds me of my own travel highlights)!
I had the same dilemma. But then I thought that perhaps it would give people ideas…and it was a fun exercise to do for myself, so why not publish it. You never know what people will love hearing about. If you end up posting one, send me a link. Perhaps I’ll steal some ideas from your list too.
[…] week, I spent some time listing out the things I’ve done in my life. The things that take my breath away. The things I’m so grateful […]
Africa changed my life too. Sitting around a campfire in the middle of the Serengeti; listening to the lions roar just outside the circle of light; and watching the Milky Way galaxy float overhead is a powerful, life changing experience. How could it not be? After some reflection, I decided traveling the world and having more of these powerful experiences was more important that my career. So after a year of planning, I quit/retired to travel full-time. I enjoyed the Serengeti so much I also invested in a safari lodge in Tanzania. I expect to return often to that magical part of the world.
That’s an amazing story. I, too, look forward to returning to that part of the world someday.
great approach for any of us who feel we have started too late for our life list to be accomplished, looking at what we HAVE done is a great way to keep encouraged! i would add to my “done” list, have tried to do no harm!
:)