When I turned 50 last year, the idea of my time running out hit me like a ton of bricks. I was no longer the spring chicken I once was!
If you know me at all, you know I’m a goal setter. I’ve always lived my life with intention and striving to be better. One of my professional goals is to teach and inspire you — as a fundraiser, nonprofit executive, and a woman leader — and I hope I accomplish that goal each week on this blog (along with my work over at Capital Campaign Pro).
After turning 50, I felt the urgency to do more (while I can). To make sure I’m living intentionally, I created a decade list — all the things I wanted to accomplish between 50 and 60.
Prior to last year, I had never made a “decade list,” but ten years seemed to be a much more manageable timeline to accomplish big things, rather than only 12 months (my normal goal-setting timeline). I hope it goes without saying that I still have annual goals in addition to the bigger list that might take longer than one year.
Bucket List Items vs. Goals
As I was thinking about this post, I realized that my decade list is a combination of goals and bucket list items.
What are “Bucket List” items?
Bucket list items include things like travel to remote and fabulous destinations. For example, “go on an Africa safari” was on my list. That’s a bucket list “to do” but not a goal per se. It’s not something I need to work toward, but
How are goals different?
A goal is something more along the lines of:
- Write a book
- Learn a new language
- Run a marathon
Goals require action and often involve smaller steps along the way. You have to make a plan, put in the work, and keep yourself moving forward — even when you don’t feel like it.
For example, if your goal is to write a book, you might start by outlining the chapters, writing a few pages each week, and eventually finding someone to help you edit it.
The important thing is that you’re moving toward something that matters to you.
Bucket list items *AND* goals
Importantly, both bucket list items and goals lead you to live a life without regret. And I’m a big advocate of doing both — or whatever leads you to live a life you love.
Living Life without Regret
This week I had the good fortune to check a big trip off my bucket list.
I wrote this post on a flight home from South Africa, where I spent the last 8 days between Cape Town, exploring the history and the beauty of that city, as well as going on an African safari at a conservation preserve (see the picture above). It was amazing!
Bucket list item… CHECK!
For the entire week, I didn’t work. It was the first time I haven’t worked in a long time. But I decided to just be present on my trip. The work could wait.
As I fly back home, I’m invigorated and inspired to do even more. And I hope you’ll join me in this quest to live life to the fullest and without regret.
Success Toward Your Goal is Up to You to Define
Please understand, your goals don’t have to be black or white… yes or no. If a goal is to become a more consistent runner or even to run a marathon, you can accomplish that goal by running in 5K and 10k races. Or, simply by jogging for 10 minutes a few times per week. You can work on the goal even if you don’t necessarily ever complete the marathon.
Yes, failure is an option
I don’t always accomplish what I set out to do and that’s okay. Failure, (however you define it), has not stopped me from setting new goals and trying new things.
Take the marathon example I mentioned above. I’ve gotten to be a better, more consistent runner, even though I’m never going to run a marathon. I’m okay with that.
Are You Ready to Commit?
If you’re ready to commit to a goal or bucket list item, let me know in the comments. All you need to do is say “I’m in” and in the coming weeks and months, I’ll invite you to join me and take this journey of life, together.
The point isn’t to create a perfect list or to put pressure on yourself to accomplish everything. The point is to be intentional about how you spend your time and what you want to experience in this world.
I’m confident that wherever you are on your journey of life, it’s never too late to accomplish your goals — but you need to set them down on paper, and you have to take steps to get started.
So… are you in?
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