For those who have not seen the 2007 movie called The Bucket List, Jack Nicholson befriends Morgan Freeman in a cancer ward and the two, terminally ill go on a road tip to tick off adventures on a 'to do' list before they die. In the end, their friendship was the most meaningful to Nicholson's wealthy character not the adventures.
From my experience and what I've heard, speaking about relationships is death bed conversation. I have already been sky diving, scuba diving and around the world. So I now have quality connections in my personal relationships on top of my bucket list. No point waiting until my last days and I am guessing I am 40+ years away from my death bed if I am lucky.
Having related for several decades now, very much a roller coaster ride, I don't know how to evaluate quality relationship or when I could tick quality personal relationships off my bucket list?
The Social Readjustment Rating Scale study at the University of Washington ranks the top main stresses in our lives: #1 financial problems, #2 workplace problems and #3 personal relationship . So would maintaining low blood pressure count? I already have low BP despite my roller coaster relationship history.
For me, being a parent is the most important, most rewarding and most demanding activities human beings ever undertake. My most recent quote is 'Parenting, some days harder than others!" I said this on a day where I was getting my bottom kicked by life more than ever before!
Then there is the flip side being the child. I had so much more respect for my parents of course, once I had the job! I can cross off anything about being a quality child now I am over 18. So again, when I can cross off quality parenting, probably my most personal relationship right?
I am now beginning to see why sky diving, scuba diving, etc are on a bucket list, one can have a sense of accomplishment and say, 'Done' with much more certainty.
I still value and want quality connections in my personal relationships to be a lifelong priority. I have studied a body of work called Nonviolent Communication for the last decade and am in the process of being certified as a trainer. I like the idea of having this aspiration and wonder if any of you have any ideas about how/when I cross it off my bucket? Or do I replace it with glacier watching in Antarctica?
