Try making these two lists

The Bucket List -you probably have one (whether it's written down or just in your head)

Mine is forever long. I want to see all the things. Literally.

Last week, we were lucky enough to be able to travel to Niagara Falls and to experience the iconic Maid of the Mist boat ride.
It was everything I expected it to be and then some.

And when I shared a few pictures, people who had been before agreed. And those who had not kept commenting "this is on my bucket list."

And then I was in a store afterwards and was browsing a magazine that had an article about "The Reverse Bucket List' which really caught my attention.
It talked about one problem with the bucket list is that we cross one thing off and then immediately focus our attention on another thing yet unseen or not done.

Ouch. That is me.
So... that was fun.... what's NEXT?

The idea of the reverse bucket list is to make a list of all the things you've ALREADY done that make you feel proud.

In another course l was in last week, the opening exercise was to think about the qualities YOU ALREADY HAVE (not just the ones that you were trying to learn) that would help you as you take on this new subject.

In play therapy, there's that expression from Landreth's Child Parent Relationship Training that says

"Focus on the donut, not the hole"

As we slow down into the longer days of summer - my bucket of summer projects is a mile long and I was feeling rushed - hurry up and get
all these projects finished -

Instead, I am now thinking about a reverse project list: all of the things that I have already finished, made or created that I am proud of.
It's a pretty long list.

We are all going to achieve a lot more throughout this summer, this year and our lives. I continue to push myself outside of my comfort zone in new ways so often.

AND ALSO,

the places that I have already been, the people in my life and the projects that I have already completed - that list is actually really, really long -
and thinking about that brings a sense of peace.

THE BUCKET LIST and the REVERSE BUCKET LIST

Create two columns in your journal notebook:

On the Left side label "Bucket List" and on the Right Side "Reverse Bucket List"

Spend 5 minutes dreaming and writing down all of the places and projects and experiences that you would like to do.

Then spend another 5 minutes thinking about all of the places and projects and experiences that you have already done that make you feel proud or happy.

Hold space for both.

What do you notice about these two lists?

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