This blog post is kind of going to steer away from the typical travel blog posts that fill the archives of Kachina’s Nomaddiction. If you follow my blog, I’m sure you’ve noticed the big gaps in between posts of late. Whilst typically that has meant I’ve been busy creating something fresh and exciting, this time my absence has simply been because life got in the way. A series of events and the commencement of new employment (yay!) have made what spare time I now have fairly limited, very precious, and for a short while, quite dull creatively. Somewhere amongst the busyness that life became, my creative beam of light flickered out, and I was left feeling lacklustre and uninspired.
I’m sure for those of you reading whose passions lie within the creative arts realm, you’ll know how disheartening this feeling can be. My spark had escaped me and no matter how hard I looked, or tried, I just couldn’t re-acquaint myself with the fleeting vigour that is creativity.
Having recently read Elizabeth Gilbert’s latest book ‘Big Magic’, I thought that the notion of creativity she describes in her book explained my current situation; I hadn’t grabbed that creativity streak when it reached out to me. Having realised this, I knew that the only way I could re-establish my relationship with creativity was to continue about my every day, and have faith in knowing that creativity hadn’t abandoned me and that it would return.
And what do you know? It did just that. Not subtly either or in an expected location. In fact, it happened whilst I was on the train, on the way to Sydney to watch a film documentary at the IMAX. I was feasting my eyes to an old issue of the Collective magazine when I came across an article about a guy named Sebastian Terry, who after losing a close friend realised that life was too precious and short to not at least try and accomplish everything you can. So he wrote a 100-item bucket list and has started working towards ticking each item off. His story had reeled me in and I could feel something within me that I hadn’t felt in a long time – the beginnings of an idea.
Terry’s story had forged a path in my mind, and I wasn’t going to let whatever ideas came to me escape. By the end of the train trip, I had started thinking about what I would add to my bucket list now, and tried to remember what was on the bucket list I had written about ten years ago as an early teenager (sidenote: think things like, see Green Day, see the Spice Girls etc, etc). I let these thoughts continue to float around in my mind as I sat down and watched America Wild – a film documentary that is currently showing at IMAX theatres around the world that I highly recommend seeing! Not even ten seconds into the film and the thoughts of my bucket list stilled. America Wild had caught my attention. I was in a state of awe as images of America’s native parks were being flashed in front of me. These images were not only sparking vivid memories in my mind, by also reminded me of how beautiful the world that we live in is – if only we put ourselves in the way of it. My heart became instantly very happy and I felt like I wanted to cry. Not because I was sad, but because of all of the beauty that is being lost on so many people.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWHGDynB6vk&w=560&h=315]
I left the cinema on a natural high. I had ideas and affirmations flowing around in my head, and I knew that this time, I wasn’t going to let them go. So what ideas did this particular day inspire? It reinstated my love for writing, travel and nature. And got me thinking about bucket lists, what was on mine and how could I tick every one off whilst maintaining a deeper understanding from within. So I started writing out my bucket list. Here it is:
- Work on animal conservation in the Galapagos
- Finish learning French
- Live in a French speaking country
- Do the Annapurna trek in Nepal
- Trek the Inca Trail
- Go surfing in El Salvador
- See the Mayan ruins at Tikal, Guatemala
- Travel through Central and South America
- Hang glide
- Canyoning
- Visit a hidden beach
- Drive down route 66
- Buy a hippie van and road trip around Australia and New Zealand
- Sleep in an Igloo
- Go to Burning Man
- Go to Rainbow Serpent
- Sleep in a hammock by the sea
- Learn how to salsa
- And then dance the night away
- See Orca’s in the wild
- See the Northern lights
- Participate in a triathlon
- Go to Russia
- Explore the ancient ruins at Egypt and Jordan
- Create a motorbike/travel web series with Henry
- Never stop helping people
- Publish a book
- Learn how to SUP
- Learn to ski
- Take photography classes
- Get my diving license
- Get my motorbike license
- Swim with humpback whales
- Swim with dolphins in the wild
- Learn how to play the mandolin
- Participate in a musical
- Be on TV
- Go to a nude yoga class
- Get my yoga teacher certificate in India
- Make art
- Fly first class
- Go to circus school
- Participate in the Mardi Gras parade
- Get a market stall up and running
- Be more selfless and more giving
- Continue to create awareness and work towards change for HIV/AIDS
- Grow out my armpit hair
- Learn how to fly a plane
- Make sure that everyone I love knows it, every day.
- Do everything on this list for a different charity/cause.
Since putting this list together, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what charities and causes I could link each activity with, and the ideas I already have make the excited butterflies flutter in my stomach. Of course, the goal is to share each of these adventures with you all online. So for now, lets say cheers; to a happy, safe and spontaneous future!
Whenever you find yourself in a rut, like the one I found myself in, put yourself in the way of beauty and take in the moment without the technology. Let the moment be a special one between you and the world.
Happy Travels,
Kachina.
PS: I’d love to know what’s on your bucket list! Let’s share, pop them in the comments 🙂
Grow out your armpit hair seems fairly achievable within a short space of time.
Haha that’s what I thought. I needed to add something that I could achieve quickly to feel proud about lol
Reckon I could beat you on that one though.
This is a great post and a great list. I love the ‘make sure that everyone I love knows it, every day’. So true and so important. I need to see that film.
Thanks for your feedback 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it!
I’m currently reading Big Magic so I relate. Fortunately, you can combine some of these goals. Drive you hippie van in New Zealand and swim with the dusky dolphin at Kaikora on south island. Drive around South America and visit the Valdez peninsula in Argentina where you can see Orca in the wild (as well as elephant seals, sea lions, southern right whales and others). And if you grow out your armpit hair, you will be on trend at Burning Man. Good luck!
Thank you for your feedback! I like the way you think haha. Definitely will keep all of your suggestions in mind when I make it there ?
I totally feel ya on the “work getting in the way” thing. I haven’t started a new job, but I’m just coming into busy season, so all the great scribbles in my notebooks about post ideas have been dwindling as of late. While I don’t have a bucket list per say, I do have a goal: I want to get to 35 countries before my passport expires in 2019. I have 17 and will be adding 18 shortly. 35 might be a bit of a lofty goal, but it’ll give me something to focus on whenever I need to pull myself out of a rut.
That’s such a cool goal! I can’t wait to read about your travels on your blog 🙂
These look like some amazing bucket list things to do. I don’t wanna grow out my armpit hair though! I think it will be too smelly! I would like to blog about Mexico and go back down there.
I also like writing bucket lists. I find it relaxing and it keeps me focused on my goals. Initially, my list was filled with travel destinations but now that I am a mom it has evolved to include lots of items pertaining to my children 🙂
Bucket lists definitely are a great way to keep sight of your goals. I’m sure you’ll do great with you Mum goals 🙂
I love the bucket list idea; it keeps you focused. I caught the same listing bug from Tim Ferris. I share many things on your list, excluding armpit hair 😉
Haha I’m loving the mixed reactions from the underarm hair! Way too funny.
That trailer has me just wanting to get outside…so inspiring!
It’s such a great documentary, def recommend it!
Definitely go to Tikal!! Love your bucket list…might have to steal it for my own 😉
The whole of Guatemala is a country I’d love to really explore. Haha, glad you like it, steal as much as you like :p
Really inspiring list, there was a lot of stuff from mine here, and even more that I have now added. Thanks for sharing! I have my work cut out for me 🙂
Aw thanks, I’m glad that you found something in it that works for you 🙂