NOT a New Year’s Resolution — What should be on your ‘anti bucket list’?

As we start 2023, most people will be thinking about what happened in 2022 and things they’re looking forward to in the next 12 months. People have been out celebrating as more COVID restrictions have been lifted, enjoying meeting up with people without taking an antigen test, so it seems we’ve returned to ‘normal’.

Something else most people are doing for the first time in two years is making ‘Resolutions’. Even if you don’t believe in resolutions, this may be a time to reflect on what you accomplished in your life and what hopes and dreams you still have and making plans on how to achieve them by using SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time Specific).

The most common Resolutions include losing weight, exercising more, getting organized, learning something new, quit smoking, travel more, and finding a new job. No matter what you call them, there are things you have on YOUR list. It may be a ‘bucket list’, things you want to accomplish before you die or a ‘this year’ list. As humans we seem to be hard-wired towards aspirations or goals and like every human is unique, our uniqueness goes beyond our looks and extends to how our environment and genes influence our life choices and what we consider important.

Earlier this year, I was with my book club indulging in a spa weekend. We started talking about what we still wanted to accomplish when one member, Anita, started talking about things she could live without doing…