What do you want this life to include? What have you already done?
Writing a “bucket list” should not be only about what we want to do, but reflecting on what we’ve already done. I’ve been blessed with so many experiences that have shaped who I am, created memories, and widened my perspective.
There are some things that are never “finished,” and therefore not on the lists. I hope to be constantly learning, growing in my faith, drawing near to God, improving relationships, etc.
I know there’s a lot more to add to the list, but here is a start!
| Done | Yet to be done | |
| Continents | South America, North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia | Antarctica (optional) |
| US States | 43 | ND, ME, VE, NH, WI, MI, WV |
| Countries | Chile, Argentina, USA, Mexico (age 0-9)
Great Britain, Netherlands, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Germany, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan (age 10-16) Finland, Sweden, Thailand, Myanmar, Costa Rica, Canada (during undergrad) Jamaica, S. Africa (during grad school) Kenya, Portugal (2012-2013) Norway, Denmark, France, Lux., Leich., Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates (2014-15) Spain, Italy, Vatican, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan (2016) Uganda (2017) Puerto Rico (US territory), Morocco, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, French Polynesia (2018) Australia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Oman, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore (2019) Bolivia, Egypt, New Zealand (2022) Fiji, Monaco, Burundi (2023) Total so far: 65 (+ Territories) |
Israel
Afghanistan Brazil SO MANY MORE! |
| Places | —–Man-made—–Mt. Rushmore, Golden Gate Bridge, Gateway Arch, Pike’s Place (& First Starbucks), Las Vegas Strip, Washington DC (Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Kennedy Center, Smithsonian, Capitol, etc.)
Red Square (Moscow, Russia) Mayan ruins (Oaxaca, Mexico) Castles in Europe Istanbul (Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar), Underground city (Capp.), Ephesus ruins (Turkey) La Granada, Alhambra, White-washed town (Spain) Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) in Finland Wat Phra Kaew (Thailand) Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica- Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Grand Canal/Rialto Bridge, Florence Cathedral, Ponte Vecchio (Italy) Diocletian’s Palace (Croatia) The Triple Bridge (Slovenia) Place where Jesus was baptized (Jordan River) Petra, Jerash, Aqaba, Amman Citadel (Jordan) Panama Canal (Panama) Huaca del Sol y la Luna, El Brujo (built by the Moche, Peru) The Candelabra (Peru) Moai Statues of Easter Island (Chile) Sydney Opera House, King’s Park (Australia) Eiffel Tower (France) Pyramids/Sphinx (Egypt) The Rivendell film site (New Zealand) —–Natural——– Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Caspian Sea, Red Sea, Dead Sea, North Sea, Tasman Sea US National Parks: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyon Lands, Capitol Reef, Carlsbad Caverns, Crater Lake, Death Valley, Denali, Gateway Arch, Glacier Bay, Grand Canyon, Hawaii Volcanoes, Joshua Tree, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Saguaro, Shenandoah, Wrangell-St. Elias, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion Niagara Falls, Horseshoe Bend, Waterhole Canyon, Redwoods, Goblin Valley, Dead Horse Point, Old Denali Hwy, glaciers and waterfalls (Bridal Veil) en route to Valdez, a lava tube (USA) Torres del Paine (but I want to go again… I was too young to remember) Mt. Everest (okay… not the BIG one) Pulpit Rock (Norway) Hell’s Gate, Lake Nakuru, Nairobi National Park, Giraffe Centre, Diani Beach (Kenya) Highest point in Germany Cedars of Lebanon Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, Jordan River, Dana (Jordan) Plitvice Lakes, Waterfalls (Croatia) Lake Bled (Slovenia) Crossing the equator Manuel Antonio National Park (Costa Rica) Ballestas Islands– 1500 species of animals! (Peru) Ayer’s Rock/Uluru, jumping crocodiles, Litchfield National Park, Kakadu Great Barrier Reef, Penguin Island, the Three Sisters/Blue Mountains (Australia) Fjordland National Park, Tunnel Beach, Castles Hill, Arthur’s Pass, The Devil’s Punch Bowl (waterfall) (New Zealand) Canadian National Parks: Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho |
Taj Mahal
Holy Land Great Wall of China Machu Pichu Stone Henge —Natural— Galapagos Victoria Falls Iguazu Falls SO MANY MORE! |
| Things to do | Ride in a plane, ambulance, police car, aero car, funicular, metro, train, taxi, bus, motorcycle, back of a truck, Smart Car, convertible, tuk-tuk, subway, Uber, Lyft, semi-truck, and Tesla
Go snorkeling, parasailing, Stand-Up Paddle-boarding, kayaking, jet-skiing, scuba diving Ride on a ferry, cruise ship, raft, motor boat Take a road trip across the US Climb a waterfall (Jamaica), go boldering (CO), rappel/climb cliffs (K-stan) Jump off a cliff (above Palouse Falls) Play (at least once): ping pong, tennis, soccer, mini golf, bowling, volleyball, badminton, bocci ball… Rollerblade, ride a bike, attempt to ride a unicycle (only lasted a couple seconds), ride a scooter Jump on a pogo stick Go sledding, ice skating, skiing, snowshoeing Shoot an arrow Complete a ropes course Pan for gold Go white-water rafting Ferry in the fjords (Norway) Live in a yurt Couch surfing, Air BnB, Hostels (in Europe, Middle East, and US) Start a business (Worldwide Writings) Party at an ambassador’s house (Chilean ambassador in Kenya) Attend a symphony (front row seat!) Go wine tasting (Walla Walla, Napa Valley, and Margaret River) Win a lucky draw (gift card) Take a dance class Take a yoga class Sit in saunas (Kazakhstan and Finland) Fly a kite Jump from a high diving board Visit entertainment parks (Knott’s Berry, Disneyland/world, 6 Flags, Universal Studios), including roller coasters Be part of a Sister Cities’ exchange Go as a representative to the Future World Leaders Summit Get a policy changed (Good Friday at MHS) Start a club (Far-reaching Effective Evangelism Today–FEET in High School) Work in an orchard for a day Have a picnic Camp all night to see the Rose Parade Skinny dip (Finland) Play poker in a pub (with pirates!) Give up a plane ticket for a free hotel night Attend Urbana Hike & camp in the Appalachians Go to a concert Get a pedicure Attend a football game (AFA) Attend a hockey game (Vancouver, BC) Crash a party Try hookah Fly first class Go skydiving!! (Eloy, AZ) Gamble in Las Vegas ($1) Help change a flat tire Float in an air balloon (Turkey) Get a manicure GET MARRIED! Cross the Panama canal Go snorkeling and scuba diving in French Polynesia Live in an RV! Jump on a zip line Ride in a helicopter over the Hawaii volcanoes/craters Walk El Camino de Santiago! Participate in a puppets parade Preach at a church in the poorest country in the world |
ATV
Skateboard Surf Learn a martial art Ride in a limo Learn sign language Live in a Tiny House |
| Nature/Animals | Start an avalanche (Kazakhstan)
See/walk on a glacier Ride a horse Ride an elephant Plant a tree Eat fruit straight from a tree Catch fireflies Go camping Make a bonfire Walk in a salt lake (Turkey) Sleep in a cave Sand “surf” on dunes Go on a safari in Africa (+ elephant orphanage & giraffe center) Float in the Dead Sea (+ mud) Watch a lightning storm from above See a full rainbow, and a circular rainbow on top of a cloud (from above) See the Northern Lights Feel an earthquake Watch a geyser erupting Enjoy sunrises/sunsets over water Watch lunar & solar eclipses Witness shooting stars, meteor showers Look up and see the Milky Way See dolphins in the wild Experience four season & two season climates Go canyoning (hiking, climbing, swimming) through the currents of Wadi Mujib Swim with sharks, rays, eels, and an incredible variety of other fish See a whale spout Eat berries right off the bush See Jupiter and its moons with binoculars See bears, caribou, moose, seals, otters, sea lions, eagles, and a variety of other birds in the wild (Alaska) See an active volcano Kayak in a glacial lake |
Swim with dolphins
Ride a camel Witness a tornado See the release of an animal into its natural habitat AND MANY MORE! |
| Witnessing People | Women with extended necks
Birth of child (x3) Baptisms People giving their lives to Christ Weddings Volatile elections (while in Kenya & Nigeria) Troops heading toward “liberation” Refugee/IDP camps An aqua-based protest (protesters and police in boats) Spiritual and emotional healing Fijian youth practicing football (soccer) on a massive sand dune Pilgrims arriving in Santiago de Compostela (and every step along the way) |
Ethnic/political reconciliation
Development of mental health care in war-torn nations Peace in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan |
| Media | Appear on TV (Kazakhstan, CA)
Be featured in the newspaper (Finland) Get aired on radio (MemCare Radio, VOM) Speak to medium audience (200-500) Act in a play Alumni articles written about me Mentioned in Wikipedia article Referenced in journal articles Start a blog Had my photo in a Speedboat magazine |
Speak to large audience
Create a YouTube video Present a TEDtalk |
| Publishing | Books (x7)
Chapters (x2) Magazine article Journal articles (x3) Edited a Wikipedia article and created a new one (not about me) |
Exhibition of artwork
Have a book signing |
| Education | Completed BA, MA, PsyD (but never got HS diploma)
Taught MA, PhD courses Chaired dissertations |
|
| Creativity/Crafts | Drawing, painting, sculpture
Make paper Use a potter’s wheel Learn guitar (some) Try knitting, crocheting, friendship bracelets, beads Finish a quilt Win a prize for cake decorating contest Help paint a mural Build a website Make candles Write a poem Crochet stuffed animals |
Take a photography class
Publish artwork |
| Volunteer | VBS
Build houses Help at an orphanage Crisis response (mud slide in WA, earthquake in Chile, tsunami in Thailand, hurricane in Puerto Rico, fires in CA and OR, fire in refugee camp, etc.) Donate clothes, books, funds Teach children Give food to homeless person Donate hair Donate blood Distribute food Teach graduate courses overseas Participate in a Charity Walk (Heart Disease & Stroke) Serve as a counselor for a missionary women’s retreat |
Leave a note for a stranger
Start a “Pay it forward” movement |
| Pets | Dog, cat, alligator lizard, hedgehog, cockatiel, parakeet (seen hamster, mouse, axolotls, iguana, bush baby as pets) | Not sure if I need more pets… |
| Meeting People | Chilean ambassador, bishops, Colin Powell, Mr. Rogers, James Dobson, Pat Robertson, authors (e.g. Gary Collins), experts in my field, Ed Asner (set next to him on a flight; very interesting conversation!)Reunion with first grade teacher | A president (of a country)
Leaders of different faiths Authors |
| Food | Sheep’s head
Crocodile Frog’s legs Liver, Kidney Moose & caribou in Alaska Formal five course meal A Belgian waffle in Belgium Turkish Delights in Turkey Tea at a tea farm in Kenya Gelato in Florence Kanafeh in Jordan Kangaroo in Australia (Plenty of others, but I can’t even remember them all!) The Ketogenic diet |
Oooh, the possibilities… |
What have you done that is not on this list? What would you add?
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