To-do Lists

One of the great things about popular culture lies in its seemingly never-ending ability to provide speakers with references that encapsulate more than obvious meaning. Some movies enjoy popularity for a limited period of time, but contain images, pieces of dialogue or full scenes which prove to have true staying power. That is the case of films such as Groundhog Day (1993), Catfish (2010) and Bucket List (2007). They have become "proverbial".

At this point we all know understand what a bucket list, right? It's a list of the things a person would like to do before they, you  know, "kick the bucket".

So, the idiom to kick the bucket gave us the title of a movie, which, in turn, became the origin of the very concept of a bucket list and, by extension, the interesting noun phrase a bucket list moment. As the Jack Nicholson character would put it... "cutsey!"

Now, I don't know whether average people (whatever that might mean) concern themselves with bucket lists. I am aware that some people play it by ear. Others do what they're expected to do and some, not many, stick to what Heinrich von Kleist (1777-1811) called a Lebensplan, literally a "life plan". In case you're wondering, a life plan is a rationally devised "program" for one's life which is supposed to help you achieve happiness. Sadly, von Kleist did not live up to his own ideals unless suicide at the age of 34 was part of his original plan. Interestingly enough, though, his concept endured. Of course, anyone who learns about it is bound to face a question: Can we really plan out our lives? I think the answer is a resounding yes. Can we achieve every goal that we set for ourselves? Clearly not. But if you commit to a couple of worthy goals and manage to stay the course, you will one day earn the incredible feeling of checking off items on a list. The trick is to make sure that your goals aren't as ambitious as becoming the next pope or being the first astronaut to set foot on Mars.

Anyway, if you should want to discuss the very idea of attaining some form of success (personal or otherwise), you may find this vocabulary useful:

Nouns: fulfilment, gratification, attainment, accolade, vindication. (If you're feeling brave, you may even use eudaimonia and epitome)

Adjectives: tangible, profound, indelible. momentous, long-term, short-term

Collocations: To attain a goal, to reap the benefits, to actualize your (creative) potential, to live up to your potential, to focus on your objectives, to outline an action plan.

Consider this sentence:

The launch of the charity, which was the consummation of her vision, brought an indelible sense of fulfillment that transcended mere monetary gain.

Now, isn't that glorious?

Why do I entertain these notions? Because I like lists. I understand that some people frown upon von Kleist's idea of a well thought-out life plan (which, of necessity, entails a list of goals), but I know that it has worked for countless people that one day decided to learn to play the piano, go skydiving or spend Christmas in New York. What I'm trying to say is that I know that some people regard a bucket list as a ridiculous Hollywood gimmick. And it is true that it can be presented as a rather childish endeavor. However, you are no stranger to "to-do lists". You probably make a shopping list before going to the supermarket and today you might also consider a couple of New Year's resolutions. A bucket list is just the same kind of thing. It does not consider a morning or a year, but rather a whole life. The scale is different, the purpose is not.

I sincerely hope that a certificate in advanced English is one of your New Year's resolutions if only because holding that piece of paper in your hand will be an unforgettable bucket list moment.

Happy New Year to you all!