My Reverse Bucket List

I've debated writing this post for some time.

The whole point of this blog is to inspire a sense of adventure in others and I wasn't confident that sharing my reverse bucket list would add value to anyone's life but my own.

I've already written a post about why you should create your own reverse bucket list. And for me, reading through my own sparks gratitude and I feel an encouragement to do more. But that's why each of us should keep our own list. Why would anyone care about mine?

I asked a friend if posting my reverse bucket list would be relevant to her and she kindly said,

"I like hearing about the things you've done because it makes me feel like doing cool, meaningful things is not so far out of reach."

I loved that. And the thing is, I am a very average person. I didn't come from money, and I am not smarter or more capable than virtually any other human being. I hope that knowing that will help you feel encouraged by my list.

And some of these are very ordinary experiences, but I grateful for them nonetheless. I hope that getting a glimpse of my life will help you see how beautiful yours is too.

And that is why I finally decided to share my list of many, though not all, of the things I have done and experienced so far in life.

So here goes ...


1. Married the best guy

2. Became a mother - to two beautiful children

3. Bungee jumping - off a 470 ft (143 m) bridge in Arizona

4. Went Skydiving 

5. Learned a second language - I became proficient and fairly comfortable with Korean. I could have a conversation all in Korean for a several hours, learned to read in Korean (which is easier than you might think), and write letters.

6. Tried sandboarding - I fell on my face at one point and it was hilarious.

7. Parasailing in the Bahamas - It was worthwhile but not thrilling like I had hoped it would be.

8. Rode a bike along the beach - in Miami, Florida

9. Licked an ice sculpture

10. Jumped through fire

11. Walked on hot coals - I did not get burned.

12. Flew a plane - as copilot and practiced touch & go.

13. Spelunking - I've explored a few caves but it's not like I've made a hobby of it.

14. Climbed the steps of an ancient Mayan temple in Mexico - Ek Balam

15. Finished a Spartan Race - and yes, I did all the burpees when I couldn't finish an obstacle

16. Hugged a big redwood tree

17. Learned how to cook well - through work and it was fantastic.

18. Went snorkeling - in Mexico and Hawaii

19. Saw sea turtles on Kaua'i

20. Hiked to the top of a few mountains - near 12,000 feet in height

21. Jumped into the "pool of death" at Queen's Bath in Hawaii

22. Tried the 1000 hours outside challenge with my kids

23. Wrote a book - It's not published, but the narrative is complete. I love my story though I'm not finished revising it.

24. Ate "live" octopus - it was technically dead but still moving. With some sesame oil and gochujang, it was actually quite tasty

25. Whale watching - in an ocean raft and saw a baby whale breach. I felt very queasy but it was entirely worth it.

26. Saw orcas at Sea World - Yes, I have mixed feelings on this one but I can't deny that seeing these majestical animals upclose blew my mind. (And yes I meant majestical, not majestic. Name that movie.)

27. Kissed on a roller coaster 

28. Wore a Sumo suit - and attempted to wrestle in it. It's not easy.

29. Went on a skycoaster - three times because I can't get enough of it.

30. Went on a slingshot ride - It's so fast! But not as thrilling as a skycoaster.

31. Blared a firetruck horn - I thought it would be fun when I was 16. And it was.

32. Went to multiple bathhouses in South Korea - My favorite one had different kinds of tea in the baths for soaking in. People often ask me if I wore a swimsuit. No, because that would be weird.

33. Had numerous conversations with strangers - It felt good to just listen and learn about someone.

34. Crowd surfed - This happened a few times. My favorite was when I was carried to the stage and an All Time Low band member gave me a hug. 

35. Moshed - more than once but it was never an all out fight.

36. Kissed a stranger - We told each other our names after but I can't remember what he said.

37. Learned a couple dozen songs on the ukulele - And I can't remember most of them now.

38. Stayed up all night - It was fun a few times and then I didn't get any sleep for a few days when I was in labor with my firstborn. No more.

39. Arranged a jello fight with my best friend - It was her idea and as awesome as it sounds.

40. Dyed my hair - dark brown, deep red, blond on top and dark brown underneath, blonde with hidden blue streaks, sun-kissed balayage.

41. Spun on escalator railings - you have to lay down across them to spin in a circle. It's really fun unless you fall between the railings and get stuck which happened to my friend once.

42. Rented a helium tank and made a 99 Red Balloons music video - which is now lost forever.

43. Went skinny dipping - under stars and fireworks at Lake Powell, and it's one of my favorite memories ever.

44. Rode a mechanical bull - The first time, I was thrown over the front and did a flip. The other experiences weren't as exciting.

45. Ran in a mud run and wrestled in the mud - The first one I did with my sister was incredible. We were so muddy it took me about 45 minutes in the shower to get completely clean.

46. Jumped off a waterfall at Havasupai - I believe it was Navajo Falls. That was one of the coolest adventures ever!

47. Dove through that same waterfall

48. Horseback riding - in the rolling hills of Virginia in the fall.

49. Got up close to koalas at San Diego Zoo - I wish I could hold one.

50. Drank virgin piña coladas in a hammock in Mexico - I did taste one with rum and I thought it was rotten.

51. Wandered museums alone in Washington, DC - My favorites were the Holocaust Museum and the National Museum of Asian Art.

52. Took a fencing class - for a semester in college and it's so fun.

53. Went to a casino in Vegas - Where I rode a rollercoaster. Gambling looks incredibly boring.

54. Made pasta by hand - butternut squash ravioli with a browned butter and sage sauce, topped with pumpkin seeds.

55. Ran in a color run - it was fun but not as favorite as the time I took my little kids to a Holi Festival.

56. Threw a surprise birthday party for my friend - I honestly don't ever want a surprise party of my own.

57. Learned how to make sushi - I learned the basics at work but not actual sushi chef skills.

58. Learned how to flip on a trampoline.

59. Caught a bride's bouquet - And didn't get married until 5 1/2 years later.

60. Burned a book - in my defense it was a dated textbook and I only did it because the teacher who gave it to me specifically asked me not to burn it.

61. Smashed a watermelon with a sledge hammer.

62. Threw a watermelon off a roof - apparently I enjoyed destroying watermelon as an adolescent.

63. Been in four states at once - It wasn't great, not worth the extra driving time on a roadtrip, and Four Corners is not technically on the actual state borders. But I did it and I'm here to tell you, don't bother.

64. Been in a food fight - I honestly can't remember who started it.

65. Performed on stage - only ever as a teenager and it was nerve-wracking every time.

66. Stood above the Grand Canyon

67. Rolled down a massive sand hill - Someone suggested I say the famous Princess Bride line as I did so. I wouldn't recommend it.

68. Took lessons on the piano and violin - but I'm not very good at either.

69. Sang karaoke at a pool party - I don't love karaoke even though I like to sing, but I did it.

70. Eaten escargot - I like that lemony garlic butter sauce.

71. Got a massage - I think 3 times. It helped with my prenatal anxiety in the last month of my second pregnancy.

72. Played pictionary with my toes - I thought it was fun but some of my friends were self-concious about their feet.

73. Went on a blind date - I've never had a great time on a blind date.

74. Went to lots of concerts - I've lost count.

75. Saw my favorite band live 

76. Played paintball - a few times and I'm not great at it but I like it a lot. I got a nice welt on my thigh once.

77. Rolled/jumped/slid into a giant pile of leaves late at night - I still love this kind of thing.

78. Walked behind a waterfall - also in Havasupai

79. Swam in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans

80. Learned a little sewing - I've made skirts, pajama pants, and apron, and a halloween costume. I actually don't like sewing very much but I tried.

81. Had my caricature drawn

82. Completed several journals - It's cool to see how I've changed and not changed over the years.

83. Went to the movies alone - The first time was to see "Tangled" when I was 17.

84. Had my picture in a local newspaper

85. Made bread - I prefer to bake treats

86. Slept in a treehouse in winter - with so many blankets and it was cozy.

87. Slept on a houseboat under the stars

88. Stood in a sunroof in the rain - you have to at least once.

89.  Went down a waterslide in a dress

90.  Gave plasma - it took forever

91. Donated blood - many times, though it's been a few years

92.  Practiced yoga - I took a semester long class with tests and everything.

93. Taught myself how to make pies from scratch - working with pie dough as an inexperienced teenager was interesting.

94.  Played laser tag - it's just okay

95.  Went to a few midnight movie premiers - It's a little sad that it's not a big thing anymore.

96.  Made a handprint in cement

97.  Made a painting with balloons and darts - like in "The Princess Diaries." (Confession: I actually think that movie is boring)

98.  Cut down a tree with a chain saw

99.  Caught a guitar pick at a concert

100. Read 53 books in one year - It's not something I want to do every year primarily because I prefer hard copies. I rarely listen to audiobooks.

101. Smashed my face into a cake

102. Hung a hammock in my room

103. Tried butterbeer

104. Wrote a letter to my future self - one of the best letters I have ever received.

105. Made candles

106. Put sparklers in my birthday cake

107. Waded in the Great Salt Lake - my legs were covered in sparkling salt after my skin dried.

108. Watched the sunrise on New Year's Day - the sky was scarlet red and gorgeous against the snowy landscape.

109. Went for a walk/run alone in the woods at dawn

110. Stayed in a cozy cabin in the mountains

111. Tried skiing - a couple times but it's been a while

112. Snowmobiling in the middle of the night

113. Rolled a snowmobile - thank goodness no one got hurt.

114. Built a snow fort

115. Sledding at night with friends

116. Fed a giraffe

117. Pet a kangaroo

118. Learned how to paint watercolor on ceramic dishes in Korean

119. Lived in a foreign country for over a year

120. Went on a cruise - It matched my expectations and it was fine. I'd be interested in trying a river cruise in Europe someday. Otherwise, I've had my fill.

121. Ran a half marathon - at an average pace of 10 min/mile

122. Rode a bike for work - riding between 15 and 20 miles a day

123. Made a glass blown flower and a pumpkin later - with help of course

124. Climbed trees for work - usually with a ladder but I often climbed into the tree itself when possible.

125. Took a wheel throwing pottery class - I'd go to the studio after work and throw one piece after another and it felt like therapy.

126. Changed the brake pads on my car - with instructions from my brother

127. Practiced origami - I learned how to make cranes, roses, hanbok.

128. Bought flowers for myself - if you haven't yet, you should.

129. Modeled in a fashion show - I wore a black trench coat with leather straps, a high collar, and chains criss-crossed on the back. Complete with black lipstick and a faux septum ring.

130. Got a henna tattoo - across my upper back. I'm genuinely not interested in a permanent tattoo. I just can't commit.

131. Wildlife Safari in Texas - where I got to feed ostriches, zebras, elands, etc.

132. Swam in a natural hot spring

133. Got a fish pedicure - it tickled like crazy and my feet were so soft after.

134. Received a fresh plumeria lei - They smell like magic. I want to make one some day.

135. Drank from a coconut in Honolulu

136. Went to a tulip festival

137. Hiked a mountain to see a Buddhist temple - Amazing

138. Taught English in a foreign country - I loved teaching kids the most.

139. Went shopping in Gangnam - We went to an underground mall.

140. Walked through street markets in Seoul - pig heads, fish tanks, dried squid, lots of yummy fruits, and Korean chicken wings which are phenomenal.

141. Volunteered at soup kitchens - once every week for about three months and I loved it.

142. Rode a tandem bike in Seoul Olympic Park - in the fall with lots of candy in tow.

143. Cliff jumping at Lake Powell - I think one was about 40 feet high.

144. Saw the world's biggest rubber duck - it's almost 65 feet tall and 75 feet wide.

145. Ate shave ice in Hawaii - Macadamia ice cream in the center and coconut cream on top are mandatory.

146. Climbed Sleeping Giant mountain on Kaua'i

147. Went a year and a half without entertainment - movies, TV, internet, or personal phone - it was kind of nice.

148. Sat in the cockpit of a commercial airplane - of course I pretended I was a pilot.

149. Ocean raft tour in Alaska - the captain had so much fun speeding towards cliffs and swerving at the last second to freak us out. My best friend and I screamed so loud. We also saw bald eagles, seals, and a mountain goat.

150. Saw the northern lights - Cameras just cannot capture it. Seriously, the most beautiful phenomenon I think I could ever witness!

151. Hosted a big Halloween costume party - I dressed as a Megamind fanatic with spiky, black, pointed heels and blue hair.

152. Visited Lower Antelope Canyon - in January and we practically had the place to ourselves. 

153. Tried food from a few dozen different cultures/countries

154. Hosted an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party - my husband wore a too-small sweater and hot-glued pine needles and candies to it to resemble a Christmas tree.

155. Kissed at midnight on New Year's Eve

156. Hosted a big New Year Party

157. Walked barefoot in the park in January - after I showed my husband "Barefoot in the Park."

158. Tried axe throwing - got a few bullseyes after some practice

159. Flew in a bush plane in Alaska over massive ice fields in the mountains - where I saw glistening glaciers and sapphire blue lakes and seemingly endless evergreen trees from above! So magical!

160.  Kissed in the rain

161. Rode a bike all around Put-in Bay in Lake Erie - I love bikes!

162. Visited the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame - It was everything I dreamed it would be.

163. Outdoor rock climbing - I need more

164. Hiked Hole in the Rock Trail - scrambling over rocks is one of my favorite games.

165. Successfully made Italian macarons on my own - after a few failed and semi-successful attempts.

166. Hosted a big paint fight with family - A few actually.

167. Floated in a hot air balloon at the world's largest balloon festival - ABQ Balloon Fiesta. It was so cool to be surrounded by other balloons in the air.

168. Terrain Race - a muddy obstacle course race where I got to flip a tractor tire nine weeks after my first c-section.

169. Tried indoor skydiving - I like the real thing better

170. Made a watermelon "cake"

171. Started a blog

172. Tried every kind of cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory - we finished a few years ago and they've updated their menu since then, but we loved doing it.

173. Went snowshoeing

174. Hosted a Thanksgiving dinner - and the turkey turned out great.

175. Tried raw oysters - They were much better than I expected

176. Went kayaking in a swamp and spied a couple alligators

177. Tried frog legs - They were breaded, well-seasoned, and not too bad.

These were the first Italian macarons I made entirely on my own.

178. Tried cutcomb (honeycomb) - on a cookie and it was delightful

179. Hosted and taught a chocolate tasting class

180. Ate so much amazing food in New Orleans - like oysters Rockefeller, redfish atchafalaya, etc.

181. Saw manta rays and whale sharks up close at the Georgia Aquarium

182. Took my kids to a Holi Festival - I can't imagine having more fun at the festival without kids to be honest.

183. Gazed at the Milky Way at 2 AM while listening to music

184. Saw 12+ shooting stars in one night

185. Body boarding in Hawaii 

186. Ate a lovely six course dinner on a mountain top during a snowstorm

187. Appeared on a local news channel - A reporter asked me what I thought of the snowstorm. It was clear he thought my response was funny. It did air but we never saw the clip. Although, one person I know said, "Hey, I saw you on the news last night."

188. Ziplining over waterfalls in Alaska - flying through a temperate rainforest across 20 or so ziplines and trying all the tricks.

189. Made a snow angel in confetti - This was after an OK Go concert where I also got a high five from Damien!

190. Released one of thousands of floating lanterns at a lantern festival - Honestly, it was one of the most impactful nights of my life mostly because of the person who went with me.

191. Created a few recipes of my own - My dream is to make a cookbook one day. I don't know if I have the guts to publish it though.

192. Rode a bike across the Golden Gate Bridge

193. Learned how to drive stick shift - I bought this 1994 Saturn for $900. It was the ideal piece of junk for learning how to drive manual.

194. Touched a glacier - and ate pieces of ice off it.

195. Ziplining at night - on a clear winter night with fairy lights in the trees.

196. Tried snowboarding - I just learned the basics but I had a lot of fun.

197. Rode a camel

198. Visited 27 US states - I don't count airport layovers or that half hour drive I took through West Virginia. I only count it if I have slept there or at least ate a meal there AND wandered on foot for a few hours.

199. Cooked a five course dinner for my parents

200. Attended religious services not of my faith - One time was mass in St Louis Cathedral in New Orleans

201. Ditched school - Several times. My husband never did which I can't comprehend.

202. Saw a ballet - I saw the Nutcracker a couple times. It was fine. 

203. Saw a Broadway musical - it was Lion King in Las Vegas, so not an actual Broadway show, but the same production.

204. Slept on a beach

205. Been to Disneyland - several times and loved it.

206. Won a raffle - I got a Flip video camera and used it to film my day bungee jumping with my two best friends.

207. Won a contest - I won an Instagram contest with the shop that sold me my wedding dress. They gave me giftcards to a restaurant and the movies!

208. Licked a frozen waterfall

209. Rode waverunners - Lots of times and got thrown off time and again just for fun.

210. Own a big home library - with over a thousand books!

211. Got bumped up to first class - I felt out of place but it was awesome.

212. Experienced a 5.7 earthquake on my birthday - It was cool and stressful at the same time because here in Salt Lake City, we've been expecting a massive earthquake for decades.

So, there you have it. Which of these have you done? What should I try next? Share with me in the comments. 

Hi, I'm Kaitlyn and I'm so glad you're here. Get to know me and more about my blog.