I’m back with a Bucket List update! When I wrote my “Updated Bucket List” blog back in January of this year, I had no idea how much my life would change in such a short time.
About a month later I had submitted a two weeks notice from my job of seven years. I started selling most of what I owned in Texas and made a plan to move back to my home state of Kentucky. By the end of May, I was back in my childhood home.
Between March and May, my Bucket List and my New Year’s resolutions were far from my mind. I was in such a weird place mentally with my world changing that I basically just slept, made sure my son went to school, and ate food.
Being back home didn’t magically wake up a desire to start up my resolutions or start checking off Bucket List items. I slowly settled into the rhythm of what life would look like moving forward.
I think the beautiful part about the two items that I’ll mention in this blog is that I never imagined crossing them off this year. They’re not major items that are incredibly difficult to accomplish like some on the list. However, finding a hot air balloon and someone you like enough to kiss isn’t exactly an every day occurrence.
The first item I crossed off the list this year was number 37.
37. Ride in a hot air balloon
If you read my original Bucket List blog you would know that this one has been on my list since I was in high school. It feels surreal to check off something that you’ve dreamt of doing for so long.
My hometown has multiple days of 4th of July celebrations every year. I’ve always known that they do hot air balloon rides around that time of year, and I’m not sure why I’ve never done it in the past.
This year I happened to be with my best friend and her family at one of the holiday events. We had seen the hot air balloons out, but there were rumors that the weather wasn’t going to cooperate enough to get them in the air. We even started to leave because it seemed like it wouldn’t happen.
Suddenly, we started seeing them blow up and they made the announcement that rides were available! My friend and her kids also wanted to go for a ride, so we got in line. While we waited, I assumed we wouldn’t all get to go up together because 6 people in a hot air balloon seemed excessive in my head.
My friend and her kids walked up and then they called my son and I over to join! I was stoked. Not only was I getting to ride in a hot air balloon, but I was getting to do it with some of my favorite people!
I loved it. We were tethered to the ground and it only went up so high, but it was still high enough where if we fell it probably wouldn’t end well. We got a group shot of all of us together, and it was so amazing getting to see the wonder of the moment through our kids’ eyes.
It does make me wonder about being more specific with my list. When I originally thought of riding in a hot air balloon I imagined riding higher and not being tethered to anything. However, I don’t think these factors took away from the moment. I would like to go untethered in a hot air balloon one day, but I still feel happy crossing this item off my list.
I’m probably going to disappoint those that came to be nosy about #22, haha!
22. Kiss someone in the rain
I’m not going to go in to details about this one. I’ll keep this moment between me and the person I shared the moment with, my journal, and my mom! I’ll just say what I said on my Author Instagram page. “…I couldn’t have dreamt up a more perfect moment.”
I couldn’t see what my future looked like when things started changing back in February, but I am happy to report that your life can surprise you. Just because your life looks different than what you pictured doesn’t mean life stops happening.
I’m excited to see what items I cross off next. I still think a good goal for the next few items are what I mentioned in the blog from January.
1 – Pet a giraffe
16 – Go horseback riding
56 – Indoor Skydive
I’m grateful to be with family and friends that love me and encourage my dreams. Find the people in your life that want to be alongside you while you cross off your Bucket List items! I’ll always remember the faces of the people who were there for the six items I’ve crossed off so far, and I’m excited to see who will be there for the next 51!
I love all you beautiful amazing humans! I hope you’re doing well and creating bold dreams and lives for yourselves! You deserve the world, and even if life doesn’t look like how you imagined, don’t worry, it can still be a beautiful love filled life.
Ariel Pierce 