To “kick the bucket” is a sort of slang expression in English for dying. Whatever its origin, it was popularized by the 2007 film, “The Bucket List”, meaning a list of things you want to do before you die.
One way or another, we all may have one, whether we identify it as such or not. That is to say, we all tend to have unfulfilled desires, wishes, hope, and plans that we end up deferring for consideration “tomorrow”.
(Like Scarlet O’Hara in last scene of the famous movie, “Gone With the Wind”.)
We also have a very good word to describe this kind of behavior—“procrastination”. And, sometimes, recognizing that we’re doing it, we resolve to change—and then often we procrastinate again!
The moral seems to be, do not put off until “tomorrow” what you can do today, even if what you can do today is no more than a first step in long or continuing process.
(Remember the Chinese proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”)
Logically, since we fundamentally have absolutely no certitude whatsoever about the length of our lives, we should not put off until “tomorrow” whatever we consider vitally important today.
That’s why having a bucket list is a pretty good idea. Forget about fantasies, dreams, and wishful thinking, but figure out the undone things that you really want to do and should be doing.
If they are possible and important, put them on your bucket list—which should be arranged in priority order—and then resolve to begin to implement it.
Never mind how formidable, how challenging, how demanding your undone thing may be. With the help of God all things are possible.
(As the Beatles used to sing; “Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends”)
Obviously, and maybe likely, your list may prove to be longer than your life. No matter. That’s why it’s in priority order.
All you can do is to do as much you possibly can. You’re not omnipotent, you can’t fix everything, you can’t erase the past—and you can’t control the future, either.
Trust in and be grateful for the help of God and the little help of your friends. Also, since you’re not superman/superwoman, be at peace with your limited successes and failures. Do your best, and God will do the rest.
Your bucket list may, so to speak, range from the sublime to the ridiculous. That’s okay, after all it’s your bucket list—and no one else is exactly like you, nor will there ever be another person exactly like you!
But, getting your bucket list in priority order is very important. After all, in the scheme of things, e.g., is climbing Mt. Everest more important than being reconciled with your estranged relative? Never mind that, for you, climbing Mt. Everest may be easier!
Maybe you won’t live long enough to accomplish it, but the moment you add it to your list truly as a top priority you have taken your first step towards accomplishing it.
Don’t leave any of the weighty, really important things off your list or give them a low priority on it.
If you’re not sure, think of it this way: If today was the last day of your life, what undone thing would you like to accomplish, no matter how difficult, no matter how unlikely it may be that you could achieve it.
Making the decision is what counts!
28 November 2021