I went to see the movie, “The Bucket List,” yesterday morning. I really enjoyed it and it made me do some thinking. The premise is that these two men (Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) have learned that they have six months to a year left to live, so they create this Bucket List, or a list of things they want to do before they “kick the bucket.” Morgan Freeman’s character in the movie states statistics in which they asked 1000 people whether they would want to know the exact date of their death. He said that 96% of the people stated they would not want to know. Morgan Freeman’s character said that he would be part of the other 4%. I tend to agree.
I would want to know so that I could spend that time cramming in as much as I can. I think I would appreciate things more and take the time to take a deep breath and just “live.” Which, I believe, is very sad. I should be doing that living now, knowing that I will never know the exact date of my death. I shouldn’t be wasting a single precious second. I should be appreciating things now.
I started thinking about all of the things that would be on my Bucket List. All of the things that I’d want to do, places I’d want to go if I knew I had little time on this earth left. As I mentioned, these are all things that I should not wait to do – I could be hit by a bus tomorrow. However, that is much easier said than done. When you don’t know what your future holds, you have to worry about it. You have to worry about how much money you will need and whether you’ll be able to afford to retire.
If I know that I will die in six months, then what does it matter? I have no children that I need to leave money to. Why not spend it and go out with a bang doing all that I’ve ever dreamed of doing? In the meantime, I’m stuck having to live paycheck to paycheck preparing for a future that may never come.
Now, if I did learn that I had only six months to live, I would probably end up spending my life savings seeing the world, and then learn that it was a mistake. Which, when I think about it, would be okay. I’d have been forced to do all that I ever wanted to do, and would have the hope that I would have many more tomorrows to come up with new ideas for my Bucket List.
So, what would be on your Bucket List?
Sorry, but I would also be in the 4% with Morgan Freeman! There is no way I want to know when I’m going to die.
This is one of the reasons why I hate going to the doctor. That and the fact they always blame EVERYTHING on my weight. I can have a damn cold and you what? It’s because of my weight! Well, not really, but I’m sure you know what I mean. lol
My biggest fear is that I will be diagnosed with cancer. My maternal grandmother died at the very young age of 51 of ovarian cancer. I’m the type of person that if I have cancer, then don’t tell me. I simply rather not know.
The Bucket List is a movie that I always looked over for some reason, but thanks to you, I think I’m going rent it first thing when I wake up!
Oh, I forget to ask you. Have you ever seen “Last Holiday” starring Queen Latifah? Wonderful movie – very funny and romantic!
Here’s the synopsis:
A woman learns to love life when she finds out she won’t be around long in this comedy.
Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) lives in New Orleans, where she works in the cookware department of an upscale gourmet supply shop.
While Georgia carries a torch for Sean (LL Cool J), one of her co-workers, she doesn’t have the nerve to tell him, and despite her estimable skills in the kitchen, she lives frugally and doesn’t put her talent to use.
Georgia’s good friend Rochelle (Jane Adams) often tells her that life is short and she needs to live a little, but she doesn’t pay her much mind until a visit to the doctor reveals that Georgia has a very rare medical condition, and only has three weeks to live.
Throwing caution to the wind, Georgia cashes out her life savings and heads to Europe for a last bit of revelry. She checks into a four-star hotel, trades her drab clothes for haute couture, finds herself flirting with a handsome and powerful politician (Giancarlo Esposito), convinces the head of a cooking supplies firm (Timothy Hutton) that she’s a high-powered executive from a rival company, and makes friends with a four-star chef (Gérard Depardieu).
But when Sean learns the truth about Georgia’s condition, he sets out to find her before their chance at romance has passed.