Kick a full bucket
Our 13th annual travel show is upon us, and throughout our planning process, I had an intense conversation with a colleague on what their take of a bucket list was. They believed that a bucket list should be a compilation of unusual, seemingly unattainable or even expensive things. More or less a wish list, if you will. They continued with the thought that you set these high goals for yourself, reach for them until you die and hope to check off as many of these outrageous goals as possible, but most likely will never achieve them.
During our conversation, I kept thinking about the Nicholas Sparks novel, A Walk to Remember, where the lead characters, Landon helps Jamie, complete a list of things she wants to do before she dies. If I remember well, the list of items was seemingly ordinary yet posed somewhat of a challenge to achieve. But I distinctly remember the one of being in two places at once. At first thought, you would think it incredible and unachievable. I mean it’s physically impossible to be in two places at once, but Nicholas Sparks found a way to make this happen most creatively and with a small effort; drive to a state border, span across the state lines with foot on either side, and voila! You are in two places at once.
This is precisely my take on the bucket list, a list of ordinary yet satisfying things that one wishes to do, experience, see or live before they die or, more importantly, while they can still do it. You want to fill that list with things you will check off. Things that may require some effort, some planning and maybe even some money to achieve. I am not talking about doing your food prep for the week followed by a trip to the supermarket but instead reaching a little height with planning a trip to Tuscany where you will source local foods and enjoy beautiful wine with a fantastic spread of Tuscan delights.
Our annual travel show is based precisely on that premise. We invite our guests to come out and see the different opportunities for checking off bucket list items or maybe add a few things to the list. Our guests come to the event with an idea or even an emotion of what they want to experience, and our more than 70 advisers of extraordinary vacation experiences guide them through presentations, kiosks and propositions to make this happen.
I love to think that we are in the dream realization business, and bucket lists are chock full of dreams. Just like Landon did for Jamie, our consultants can find very creative ways of helping you make those dreams come true and not only fill your bucket with to-do’s but help you achieve these fantastic experiences.
I know, for myself, the bucket will be full of checked-off items and more essential destinations and experiences, and I will be sure to kick it and kick it well.