If Not Now, When? Turn Your Bucket List Into Reality
Overcoming "someday syndrome" to chase dreams, one imperfect moment at a time—because the perfect time might never come
by Zainab Zaman
Everyone has a destination or two on their "bucket list," some must-see sights or experiences that are unmissable.
A Stanford study concluded that 91% of those studied have a bucket list, but few have completed it. One hindrance that the study noted is that a bucket list often becomes a maybe list— maybe I'll get around to this when the time is right or when life isn't so busy.
These dreams seem unattainable or get pushed off and sadly forgotten. However, if you prioritize your bucket list and look for signs, bite the bullet because there will never be a perfect time. In fact, the age with the least amount of obstacles holding you back is right now: no kids, no corporate job, no attachments.
One of my bucket list items was to see the Great Barrier Reef up close before it's gone, and I can proudly say that I've crossed that off the list. However, it was not easy to schedule, nor was it an opportunity that fell in my lap. In reality, I almost didn't go until I thought, "If not now… when?"
I've been studying abroad in Sydney this semester and have been lucky enough to travel around Australia, but going to Cairns (Great Barrier Reef) always seemed to escape me. There were problems like trying to travel with friends who couldn't decide on a date, pushing the plan off indefinitely, finding an affordable flight, and sectioning off enough time to "do it right."
After tracking some flights, we found a good weekend with affordable flights. However, it coincided with an important internship presentation, proving that there will never be a perfect time. I thought long and hard and knew I would regret not seeing the reef.
I would have to make some compromises to the original plan, but what's without a little sacrifice?
Rather than spending a whole weekend in Cairns, I was there for approximately 30 hours. I boarded a flight from Sydney at 6:00 a.m. after presenting my project the evening before. I landed in Cairns around 8:00 a.m., and as soon as the plane hit the tarmac, I was off. I was there for a good time, not a long time, and needed to squeeze out every part of my bucket list as possible.
By 9:00 a.m. I had checked into my hostel, gotten changed, and was en route to the boat that would take me to the middle of the reef. At 10:00 a.m., the boat had left, and I was breezing through the coral sea and meeting the other travelers who shared parts of my bucket list. After a two and a half hour cruise out to sea, we arrived at Moore Reef. The pontoon featured areas to jump out in the reef, snorkel, or even take a water slide into the ocean.
The rainbow of fish and coral swam beneath me, and I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment as I dreamed about this moment the second I touched down in Australia. After hours of experiencing the world beneath the surface, I was back on the boat and met up with my friends who had come 2 days earlier for dinner. We each recounted our stories from the reef and discussed who saw the most sea turtles.
My body was tired from the whirlwind of adventure, and after chatting with some new friends in the hostel, I was out like a light.
We had time before our 1:00 p.m. flight the following day and packed it to the brim. We went to the beach, surfed in the ocean, and ended with a quick hour hike in the Cairns rainforest.
That was it. I strapped on my backpack and headed to the airport, where I had landed 30 hours earlier. It felt like a lifetime ago; I didn't let myself miss out on any opportunity, and I have the memories to prove it.
Don't forget to start crossing off your bucket list items. Remember, there will never be a perfect time; make it happen for yourself.
Comments