2021 Family Bucket List
Similar to 2020, one of my goals for this year is to cherish the people I love. I know the common recommendation is to set goals that are specific and measurable, but not everything that I want to do in my life has an end date. Some of the things I want to cultivate are things that will always be a little bit in progress. Now, the broad goal does have plenty of specific mini goals associated with it. But I rather than do those tasks in isolation, I like to think about them in terms of the bigger picture. That's how I'm able to stay motivated and make progress!
My cleaning routine isn't just for the sake of having it – it's a way to cherish the people I love by making sure the space we live in is inviting and cared for. I'm not planning a birthday party because I have to do it or want to impress others. Instead, I'm asking myself, "What will make my boys feel seen and cherished on their special day?" Tying the smaller, more specific goals into the bigger one helps me tap into the purpose behind it all and to see some less-desirable things as an act of love rather than a chore to complete. And it helps me rein in the "shoulds" that can sometimes make me feel like I've failed or forgotten something.
One of the things we did last year, for the first time, was make a family bucket list of 20 things we wanted to do in 2020. The list had to be tweaked a bit due to COVID-19, but we did complete our updated list. It worked so well for us, and we wanted to do it again. Having a plan made for better adventures and wonderful memories. I loved what we did in 2020, what we postponed, and what we talked about wanting to do to make this year's list:
1. TRY: a pick-your-own fruit farm.
2. PLAY: mini golf.
3. READ: a family devotional.
4. EAT: rainbow popsicles.
5. MAKE: a home project list.
6. CREATE: a family photo album.
7. RIDE: on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway.
8. SEND: happy mail to a friend.
9. TEACH: our boys something new.
10. TAKE: family photos for our baby's first birthday.
11. CELEBRATE: our 10th anniversary.
12. ENJOY: a New School Year's Eve celebration.
13. EXPLORE: a botanical garden.
14. WATCH: a movie at a drive-in theater.
15. SEE: animals -- at the zoo, an animal sanctuary, etc.
16. TRAVEL: somewhere new.
17. SPONSOR: a child through Compassion International.
18. VISIT: LEGOLAND in Atlanta.
19. GO: on a hike.
20. HAVE: a water gun fight.
My criteria were basically identical to last year – 1) mostly free things with a few expenses that will be worth it, 2) relatively easy to do with a one-year-old, and 3) specific but still flexible. The items we had the most difficulty completing last year were the ones that required us to go somewhere specific (particularly if they were only an option in a certain season). And with COVID-19 in mind, I tried to focus on things that can be done at home or outdoors. We'll see how 2021 pans out, but I'm excited about the memories our family will make.
What are you hoping to do this year?
What a wonderful list of things to tackle this year with the family! Here's to hoping every single one of these items gets crossed off and a lovely new memory is made ;)
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