I think back on everything I wanted to achieve before riding those last rhythms of childhood into my thirties, the experiences I wanted to collect like charms on a bracelet, the places I wanted to visit, the bragging I’d be able to do. Things didn’t work out the way I had planned, but that’s another story.
1. The person really wanted to do those things and so when he did he decided to share his experiences out of sheer happiness
2.The person always wanted to do those things but when he did, he didn't feel satisfied like he'd hope to, so in order to fill up that empty void inside of him, he decided to try and boast about his experiences (unconsciously); so that he could -in some way- feel accomplished. However such activities might never bring him peace as they are only temporary. What he really needs is to feel love, joy and maybe even sadness but not because of materialistic experiences but because of the little things in life that he might have missed out on while completing his 'to do list'.
And death can never be experienced(at least not entirely)
My feeling was/is that he was expressing more satisfaction with checking items off the list than with the experiences themselves. BTW, the term “bucket list” came into common use less than 50 years ago, probably to describe a shift in interest from thing to experiences. Odd thing is, we come into the world with neither and when we leave the world we will take neither with us.
This form was really cool. Almost like a micro story. Small vignettes of flash poetry. I hope to you experiment like this a bit more! There was a set up and the pay off with the ending was worth it. The last line gave me philosophical musings. A nice change in the repetition there as well, bucking expectations.
Best intro ever! Riding childhood into one’s thirties and beyond I might add. To do lists are great when completed but for many remain a burden a chain dragging you back. Sounds to me though that this person ticks off items on a bucket list without much thought or appreciation for the experience… What if after your to do list is done you still feel empty?
That is the sort of feeling I get from this person who prompted the poem. It all sounds so pro forma to me, with little depth of appreciation of the experience.
Ha! I got that feeling from your writing and expression. Then I thought, I sound horrible... then I thought, no I don't... This person is not enjoying seeing all these places, it's just tick, tick, tick and go go go... sorry. But what a way to write! You got across all that and more. Thank you.
Paul, these are such great reflective thoughts here. I personally do no have a bucket or checklist for the very reason that I don't want to experience life as a to-do. Each experience has its own uniqueness and I want to be mindful of that in the moment. Your last line summed it up for me. Thanks for this wonderful piece.
I've had some experiences that I love and I love sharing. And I've ticked a lot of boxes on my todo list. Some todos won't get done but that's ok. I hope that I've made the best of my opportunities and if I'm a little jealous of someone else's excursions, I take comfort in the fact they're probably a little jealous of mine too.
American Bragging. To go places to ‘see’ art and culture but return with little to say nor understand what they saw to share. Like they experienced looking at the sun with sun glasses. Blinded by the light of renaissance. The rocking horse of youth is a high horse of brevity gone foul.
Paul, it seems to me that your friend was talking about his bucket list and yes, it seems like we've tried to turn whatever we wanna do in life and wherever we wanna visit into a kind of list (i have such a list myself). However, i think this is wrong because this way we limit ourselves to do certain things and exclude other ones (maybe when you stop in a place other than your destination, you discover sth new and like to explore that place a little bit before departure. Idk, anything unplanned could happen).
Here are my beliefs
1. The person really wanted to do those things and so when he did he decided to share his experiences out of sheer happiness
2.The person always wanted to do those things but when he did, he didn't feel satisfied like he'd hope to, so in order to fill up that empty void inside of him, he decided to try and boast about his experiences (unconsciously); so that he could -in some way- feel accomplished. However such activities might never bring him peace as they are only temporary. What he really needs is to feel love, joy and maybe even sadness but not because of materialistic experiences but because of the little things in life that he might have missed out on while completing his 'to do list'.
And death can never be experienced(at least not entirely)
My feeling was/is that he was expressing more satisfaction with checking items off the list than with the experiences themselves. BTW, the term “bucket list” came into common use less than 50 years ago, probably to describe a shift in interest from thing to experiences. Odd thing is, we come into the world with neither and when we leave the world we will take neither with us.
Yes. We will just die leaving everything behind.
A very interesting reply, Ayesha.
Or we can fall into experience as we find it, like dominoes leading from one to the other dominoes till the end. Which is peaceful and quiet.
Never had a list except for groceries.
I agree, Patris. I don’t have a bucket list, but if I did have the bucket, I would probably plant flowers in it.
Twins
This form was really cool. Almost like a micro story. Small vignettes of flash poetry. I hope to you experiment like this a bit more! There was a set up and the pay off with the ending was worth it. The last line gave me philosophical musings. A nice change in the repetition there as well, bucking expectations.
Glad you liked it, Daniel
✓
Whatever happened to “Bloom where you are”?
That’s my process, Diane
Thoreau would love that!
Once you start ticking life’s experiences off a list, you have stopped experiencing life.
Bingo! Thank you, Maureen
Oh my God! Existential crisis unlocked in the best way!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Jenny-I appreciate it!
Best intro ever! Riding childhood into one’s thirties and beyond I might add. To do lists are great when completed but for many remain a burden a chain dragging you back. Sounds to me though that this person ticks off items on a bucket list without much thought or appreciation for the experience… What if after your to do list is done you still feel empty?
That is the sort of feeling I get from this person who prompted the poem. It all sounds so pro forma to me, with little depth of appreciation of the experience.
Ha! I got that feeling from your writing and expression. Then I thought, I sound horrible... then I thought, no I don't... This person is not enjoying seeing all these places, it's just tick, tick, tick and go go go... sorry. But what a way to write! You got across all that and more. Thank you.
I love travelling. I was blessed to get to do some.
I always wanted to see this amazing and wonderful planet of ours.
Travelling is adventure, learning new things, trying new things and on the way back home, being grateful for my own bed and pillow again! :)
Travelling to me awakens the senses, breaks the monotony of our daily to do "lists".
I think it was Mark Twain who said: travelling opens the mind.
There are still a few placed i'd like to see.
:)
i suppose everyone has some form of grocery list . . . for some it's traveling to exotic places . . . for others it's mundane chores.
Paul, these are such great reflective thoughts here. I personally do no have a bucket or checklist for the very reason that I don't want to experience life as a to-do. Each experience has its own uniqueness and I want to be mindful of that in the moment. Your last line summed it up for me. Thanks for this wonderful piece.
Thanks, Steve
I've had some experiences that I love and I love sharing. And I've ticked a lot of boxes on my todo list. Some todos won't get done but that's ok. I hope that I've made the best of my opportunities and if I'm a little jealous of someone else's excursions, I take comfort in the fact they're probably a little jealous of mine too.
American Bragging. To go places to ‘see’ art and culture but return with little to say nor understand what they saw to share. Like they experienced looking at the sun with sun glasses. Blinded by the light of renaissance. The rocking horse of youth is a high horse of brevity gone foul.
I think you make the point better than I did, Richard.
Americans need to read the book The Ugly American. Get Kultured.
Paul, it seems to me that your friend was talking about his bucket list and yes, it seems like we've tried to turn whatever we wanna do in life and wherever we wanna visit into a kind of list (i have such a list myself). However, i think this is wrong because this way we limit ourselves to do certain things and exclude other ones (maybe when you stop in a place other than your destination, you discover sth new and like to explore that place a little bit before departure. Idk, anything unplanned could happen).
I agree with your comment, Negar
Glad to hear that😊 have a good day ahead. Looking forward to read more of your posts.
I can’t find check mark on keyboard. But, check, for reading every morning. 🦕
In answer to your final question: for me, yes.