Yes, yes, I did this less than a year ago for 2023, and haven’t worked through that one (quite). But I needed a boost going into the new year, and I do adore a bucket list. I also noticed upon rereading my list for 2023 that a number of items focused on good habit formation, and though that’s generally a worthy goal, it made the list feel onerous. Though I do hope to go on my Hudson Valley day trip with a friend and a number of other items from the previous list, I’m looking forward to working through a fresh list full of items that truly bring me joy. I would say these are looser than goals, more like nudges. (And not a plan!) Some have been on a generalized to-get-to list for awhile, but “things that can happen at any time often happen at no time” (Gretchen Rubin). I plotted them by season — to be completed or started at that time — by way of making them more manageable, but that’s just for convenience’s sake.
Seasons, roughly
Fall: September, October, November
Winter: December, January, February
Spring: March, April, May
Summer: June, July, August, and let’s throw in next September because it’s a late Rosh Hashanah next year
Fall
- Read all the Caldecott award winners in order.
- Complete the Journal to the Self instructor certification.
- Subscribe to a magazine.
- Take an hour to organize my maaser.
- Cook at least 10 new recipes (over the year but starting during Y”T season). I have gotten so out of cooking since moving back to my parents’, but I do want to make a conscious effort to cook more because when I do, I enjoy it.
Winter
- Learn how to play Settlers of Catan.
- Learn how to blow dry my hair.
- Visit Israel.
- Visit my childhood babysitter (who came every day from the summer I was born until I was nine).
- Work on my great-grandmother’s Stone of Remembrance.
Spring
- Buy a spring jacket.
- Give a Journal to the Self course.
- Spend time with my nieces in Toms River. (I love all my nieces and nephews but I don’t go to Lakewood/TR very often so I am itemizing this).
- Have a drink (not that kind) in Bemelmans Bar.
- See a ballet.
Summer
- Visit another country (Greece, France, the Netherlands all solid contenders).
- Buy an ice cream maker and make ice cream.
- See Wicked on Broadway.
- Re-read the Harry Potter series.
- Submit my LCSW paperwork.
Let’s go forth into the new year, together like Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion. (No need to decide who’s who). Step by little step at a time.
Tachel shana u’birchoseha!
Honestly I’m a little surprised (since you seem to be a growing, Torah-focused person) that your bucket lists don’t include much Torah/Mitzvos/ruchniyus. Any thoughts on that? Are your bucket lists “just for fun” and davka don’t include those?
I noticed that! I wrote something a few weeks back about making my “yearly direction” learning more on a regular basis, and I think that for me is enough of a specifically Torah-oriented goal for the year. I want to stick with that throughout the year and gain from the cumulative effects; the items on this list (and my lists in general) are more like fun or satisfying projects/experiences.
Makes sense. Do you mind sharing some details about what you’re learning (how you choose what to learn) and how you make sure to fit it into your schedule? (Or did you already write about it and I missed it?)
Gmar chasima tova!
I did not share how I choose – in fact I do not have a system for this. I decided to try to learn Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. This is very different than anything I have ever done and that’s part of why I want to. I found a calendar online for Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Yomi which I will be”H do my best to follow. I hope that sharing it here will be motivating as well so thank you for asking. I think it will help me stick to it if I print out the learning schedule and keep the sefer on my work desk.
Sounds amazing! I had never heard of Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Yomi but that sounds like a really nice idea. Thank you for sharing and hatzlacha!
Thank you! Gmar chasima tova!
Wow. Organized by season. Amazing. Go get ’em!!!!!!