In 2008, when my brother was treated for cancer, I saw the film The
Bucket List.
This film is about two guys in their 60s, who are both getting
cancer treatments, but whose backgrounds and outlook on life couldn’t be any
more different. They get to share a room in hospital, and start
compiling a bucket list with things they want to do or achieve before they die.
The film shows their fun, adventures, amazement and experiences, during their shared
journey to tick off and cherish all good things in life. Obviously, after
having watched that film, I thought about my life, and also compiled my own bucket list.
Nearly 5 years later, I’ve been able to tick off a few things, but I’ve also
added some new ones. It remains a list in progress, and knowing that my health
could be a game changer, I’ve started giving priority to the physical ones first J.
1. Visit all 7 continents
Well, this is the
biggest one. Basically it asks me to conquer the world by travelling. So far,
I’ve managed Europe, North America, Asia. Still to do: South America,
Antarctica, Australia and Africa.
2. Take guitar lessons
I love guitar music,
and I would love to be able to play guitar. When I was young, we had these
campfires where people played guitars to accompany us singing. Loved it. Just
think of that Hotel California intro.
3. Pay for ‘suspended’ coffees
A few weeks ago, I
learnt about this Italian habit on Facebook. I should do this in my home city too.
4. Go sailing
I managed this twice already. Last year, I went on a great sailing weekend in the Netherlands with a group of friends. And later in the year, I went sailing in Montenegro. Wish I could go again!
5. Walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela
This is a long
pilgrimage walk from the French border into the Spanish town of Santiago de
Compostela. This would definitely count as one of my physical ‘once in a
lifetime’ achievements.
6. Watch an Olympic Game
Last year, the
Olympic Games were in London. Very close, but I didn’t manage going there
because of work. I would love to experience the Olympic Games, not by watching
TV, but by attending a game.
7. Go on a winter holiday
Yes! I did that in
January 2012. It was a beautiful sunny winter holiday in the Italian Dolomites.
A first time to go on long winter hikes in knee-deep snow. And my hips and
knees didn’t even kill me. I tried it in 2013 again, but this time my knees
didn’t agree with me any more.
8. Watch the New York skyline √ from the Empire State building
In 2010, I visited New
York, but watched the magnificent skyline from Rockefeller Centre. So I did see
the Empire State building, but didn’t stand on top of it yet.
9. See the Northern Lights out of an igloo
The Northern Lights.
This crazy Igloo village. Do I need to say more?
10. Write a book
I already took a
writing course in 2012, so I will write a book. And perhaps publish it. That
is, when it’s good enough.
11. Drive the ‘1’ and ‘101’ Pacific Coast Highway
Would love to
drive through California along the coast. In a convertible. With Phantom Planet
singing along: ‘We've been on the run, driving in the sun. Looking out for
number one. California here we come.’
12. Floating in the Dead Sea
Reading a magazine
while floating in the saltiest sea of the world. And my skin would love the
salt in that water.
13. Go island hopping in Greece
What else would you
wish for a holiday when you can have blue seas, postcard islands, white houses,
ancient history and sun combined in one country? Best thing, you can discover
them by boat. Santorini, Milos, Mykonos, Skyros, Corfu. All islands waiting to
be discovered.
14. Volunteer with a charity to fight cancer
In June 2013 I will
spend 8 days volunteering in France, on a major Dutch charity event ‘Alped’Huzes'. Thousands of people will cycle, walk or run up the mountain Alpe
d’Huez up to six times to raise money for cancer research, and I will help by
volunteering. I don’t know yet what I will be doing there, but I’m sure it will
be fun, and special to push my limits together with thousands of other people
to fight cancer.
15. Speak French fluently
Je voudrais parler
Français sans fautes. I might have to lock myself up in a monastery to achieve
that, but would love to learn the most beautiful language in the world.
16. Learn the Russian alphabet
Yes, done that! I
already wanted to do that when I was a student. I even spent a month in Saint
Petersburg to learn Russian. Loved the city, the language and my professor.
17. Leave a valuable contribution to the world as a patient with a
rheumatic disease
It wasn’t my choice
to get Ankylosing Spondylitis. But now I have it, I might as well do something with
it. Make life better for other (young) people who have, or don’t yet know they
have ankylosing spondylitis. Raising awareness, show them, politicians and
decision-makers that you can have a good life with this disease but that you
need some help. Being an example as an ambitious chronic patient. That would be
amazing.
18. See out of space rocket science in Houston
Did that! In 2010 I
went to Houston Space Center. Was impressed by what I saw and learnt about
rocket science and technology. Can’t believe people went in space in the 1960s
without the help of modern computers. Those rockets. Major step for mankind. I
was impressed.
19. Learn to sing
Nearly 10 years ago,
I sang in a choir. It’s so nice when you hear all these voices around you
coming together in music. Would love to learn how to sing properly, and use my
voice and breath correctly. And when my singing has improved, I might combine
it with playing guitar.
20. Travel from Denver to San Francisco by California Zephyr
I love train
journeys, and the way in which countries and landscapes change. It’s old-fashioned
travelling, and relatively slow, but it’s amazing to read a book, meet people
and enjoy the views. The Caliphornia Zephyr takes you right through the Rocky Mountains up to San
Francisco, and is a great way for me to discover more of the US.
21. Take a sabbatical leave from work
Yes, will be doing
that! From 19th of July, I’ll be escaping work for about 6 months.
Can’t wait!!!
22. Visit Stonehenge
Been there, done
that. I expected lots of it, however didn’t like it that much.
23. Dance the Scottisch Céilidh
Done that! That was
the first thing I could tick off my bucket list in 2008. It was a very special
moment. It was only 3 weeks after I started Humira that I danced Céilidh in Scotland, and it was the first dance after a long time of pain and not being
able to walk. So much fun.
24. Spend a holiday without a smartphone, ipad, and other
technological gadgets
My grandparents have
passed away before smartphones and ipads even came into existence. I wonder what
they would think when they would read this on my bucket list.. Crazy.
Technology and communications have made such an impact on my day-to-day life
that I can’t even think back what life was back in the days without them. In
that respect, it would be best to try that out on a holiday in the middle of
nowhere.
25. Walk on the Grand Canyon Skywalk
I’m afraid of
heights. But as I want to visit the Grand Canyon, this would be the opportunity
to beat my fear of heights by looking down (and over) the Grand Canyon. I
think.
26. Go on an African safari
See the big 5,
wildlife and the beautiful African nature.
27. See the Les Misérables musical
‘On my own’ is such a
beautiful song. I saw the Dutch musical, but this song was sung in Dutch. I would love to hear this song in a
theatre on Broadway, or London’s West end.
28. Bake my own signature cake
I would love to
create and make a cake with my favourite ingredients: dark chocolate and fruit.
29. Get back on the international career ladder
I miss working in an
intercultural environment; miss speaking foreign languages and miss travelling.
I would love it so much to work in an international environment again.
30. Get a date online
As it’s 2013 and lots of friends have met online, so why shouldn't I
try that out too? Update: been there, done that - just a date.
31. Go to a Coldplay concert
Coldplay has caused
many goose bumps over the years with their songs. ‘Fix you’, ‘Death and all his
friends’, ‘Clocks’, and my all time favourite ‘The Scientist’ – they are great
songs. I would love to see them live, as soon as they go back on the road
again.
32. Design and make my own dress
I bought a sewing
machine in 2012, and have started sewing. I’m now learning sewing by doing, but
my ultimate goal is that I can design and make my own dresses. Doesn’t matter
how weird my back will be shaped; I’ll be able to create my dress to cover it. Update: I made one for my little niece :)
33. Climb the Eiffel tower
I’ve lived in Paris
for 3 months in 2005, but I’ve never been up the Eiffel tower. If my hips are
letting me, I’ll be climbing the Eiffel tower on my first Paris trip. If not,
I’ll take an elevator, to enjoy the view.
34. See an opera in the old amphitheatre in Verona
Done that! Aida was
the opera I saw in Verona. It was open air, beautiful summer weather and the
amphitheatre takes you back to Roman times. It’s amazing how clearly you can
hear the music and the singing. The acoustics and experience are magnificent.
35. Start my own business
That is my biggest
dream. Be my own boss, taking my own decisions, and lead a working life by
what’s best for me, making the world better, and how I can fulfil my dream.
36. Spend time in San Fran and make a picture of the Golden Gate
Bridge
San Francisco and the
Golden Gate Bridge have been on my wish list for a long time. Spending time in
San Francisco, with all its creative buzz, culture and nice coffee places, will
be included in my next US trip.
37. Do another study
If I want to go back
to school, either an MBA or art school would be my first choice. When I would
listen to my head, an MBA would create the best chances for an international
career. When I would listen to my heart, I would go to art school, as that was
already my wish when I was 16.
38. Meet a former prisoner of a Nazi concentration camp
I met a Hungarian
lady in the Jewish synagogue in Budapest in 2002, who was imprisoned in
Auschwitz in the Second World War. She told very openly about her experiences
there and showed us her arm with a tattooed number. It was only later when I
realised the impact of her life experiences, and I’m very grateful to her
sharing them with me.
39. Dance tango in Buenos Aires
Dutch people are not
known for dancing talents, neither am I. Nevertheless, I love dancing and
watching people dance. The tango is one of the most passionate dances, and I
just love how people forget about the world while they concentrate on their
dance partner. If there’s one place to learn tango (or alternatively, see other
people dance) it must be Buenos Aires.
40. Walk on the Great Wall of China
The longest wall in
the world, and it has a lot of stairs. Normally not my cup of tea, but it must
be amazing to literally walk back in history by walking up the stairs of the
Great Wall.
41. Relax in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland
This looks like such
a magic place! I love thermal baths and spa therapies, but this definitely is
icing on the cake.
42. Have the best burger in the world
According to the Guardian, I need to go to New York for that, and more specifically to Little
Owl to try their cheeseburger with bacon.
43. Forgive and let go.
This is a difficult one
for me. Get a closure on all grievances, hurt and unhappiness. It might be one
of the most important in this list, and have the greatest effect on my life.
44. Listen to fado in an old café in Lisbon
Fado was introduced
during my Portuguese lessons. Fado has beautiful melodies and is sung
melancholically. Listening to Fado in Tasca do Chico in Lisbon, while drinking
a glass of wine would be very nice.
45. Have a room with a sea view
Yes! During my late summer
holiday in Ischia in 2012 I had a room with a view on the sea, including
beautiful sunsets. Ending the day on my balcony with a book while the sun was
going down, remains my favourite memory of that holiday.
46. Go on a yoga retreat
To start getting back
into yoga, I would love to do a yoga retreat in a warm country. Or perhaps go
on a yoga holiday to Bali, and combine yoga with a visit to Indonesia?
47. Eat currywurst after a night out dancing in Berlin
Going out in Berlin
is already fun, but finishing it off with a currywurst under the metro tracks of Eberswalder Strasse is yet another fun memory of a great time in Berlin.
48. Watch the cherry blossoms in Japan
I love spring, but
every time when I see what spring in Japan looks like.. Wow.
49. Find the love of my life
Perhaps this should
be very high on my list, but well. Would be great to meet someone that special
that you know you want to share your life with him.
50. Have dinner in the dark
Done that. Eating in
the dark without being able to see anything. It all comes down to your taste
buds, your feelings and hearing. I was so tired after 3 hours, but a great
experience.
51. Become an influential advocate
By the time that I’m
very, very old and looking back on my life, I wish I’m proud because I’ve used
my persuasion, enthusiasm and passion to engage people for a good cause. It
might be health, a better world, or even a great product, but I hope I’ve made
a difference to people and their lives.
52. Visit the Hermitage in St Petersburg, Russia
Done that! Beautiful building, beautiful city
and amazing collection.
53. Lose 5 kilos, reach and maintain a healthy weight of 60 kilos
Working on it J.
54. Walk around in the finished Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
Been in the Sagrada Familia in 1999, when I
was 13 years old. Couldn’t climb up the church towers because of my hips and
knees, and remember the elevator ride up. I’m curious to see how the church
will look, once it’s finished!
55. Try oysters
I tried oysters last year in the Netherlands,
with squeezed lemons. It wasn’t my thing.
56. Get married
Once I’ve found the love of my life (number
49) than I would love to get married to him J.
57. Sleep in a castle
Waking up in an old room, and looking out of the
windows of an old castle high up on a mountain. That would be a fairytale. Like for example in this German castle hotel in Baden Baden.
58. Visit the Jeita caves in Lebanon
In 2008, I visited a friend in Lebanon and
visited the Jeita caves. So beautiful! Can recommend it to everyone. No wonder
it was a finalist in the worldwide New 7 Wonders of Nature competition.
59. Read Tolstoy’s War and Peace
I put this on the list in 2009, and I bought
the book in 2011. Next step is to actually read it.
