THE RIGHT MOVE
Rikki Mathay
New Year's day brings about resolutions- promises made at the beginning of each new year hoping it will make one a better person.
But what is not quite common in the Philippines is having bucket lists- which is as Webster describes, a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime.
A survey made by USA Today found that the top items on bucket lists include "falling in love (83 percent), going on a wine tour in Napa Valley (53 percent), changing someone's life for the better (52 percent), going on a safari (45 percent), riding in a hot air balloon (45 percent), and seeing the Northern Lights (45 percent)".
Seeing how travel restrictions are still imposed worldwide, traveling abroad is still not on everyone's possible lists to accomplish, so go local!
Next to Canada, Indonesia and Russia, the Philippines has the fourth longest coastline in the world at 36,289 kilometers so you can enjoy the sun and sand in several of our world class beaches, and it's not just all about Boracay, but we have been blessed with many other beach destinations such as Long Beach in Palawan which is actually the longest white sand beach in the country.
For those not afraid of heights, try parasailing in Boracay but also riding a bike up in the sky on steel cables. You may find these at local attractions in Campuestohan Highland Resorts in Negros Occidental and Chocolate Hills Adventures Park in Bohol.
For the faint in heart when it comes to heights such as me, another great item to do is ATV riding in the rugged roads and terrains which I'm glad I was able to do in Camarines Sur. Although I almost flipped up because of a defective seat, my friends were quick to the rescue. So one tip is to make sure the seats are steady before riding it out.
But bucket lists need not be about traveling. Not all of us have the luxury of time nor resources, and some of us don't like the thought of packing and unpacking. Take an introspective look within yourself and assess what you would truly want to achieve in this lifetime. What would make you happy and what kind of legacy you want to leave behind.
For others, it's about making one billion pesos or have a flourishing career while others want to achieve fame. And that is all good if those are the life goals the person desires the most.
Not sure how to start off with your list?
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Start with your childhood dream. If it was to marry a prince charming, make it so that it's not to be taken literally but maybe meeting the man of your dreams which can be your real-life prince charming.
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Include both realistic and seemingly out of this world things you can look back to someday and say to yourself how it was one of the best memories which puts a smile on your face.
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Prioritize. Know what will give you the most satisfaction once you've done it.
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Google. Check for other items you may have overlooked and find what excites you. Check for items that will offer you the chance to become well-rounded at the end.
But there are also more purposeful aspirations one can have which can leave genuine and long lasting happiness and a sense of fulfillment. These include:
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Having a family, with or without children.
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Touch lives. Save lives (I have been doing this through several non government organizations I have been part of such as the Philippine Red Cross, Zonta Club International and Junior Chamber International).
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Travel the world.
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Love deeply, madly and passionately.
Your bucket list may be as long as 10 pages or as short as mine, but at the end of the day, it will hopefully guide you to live the best life you can. The important thing to remember is that this is YOUR list so make it as personal as you can and at the end of the day, see if achieving these items on your list will spark joy not just at the moment, but until you're old and gray.