Nearly two years after it was released, I headed to the video store to rent The Bucket List, a movie about two men who have a wish list of to-dos before cancer takes their life. I had been working on devising my own “life list,” and figured it may be a good movie to watch.

In good spirits, I put the movie in and gathered a snack as well as a notebook and pen – just in case the movie inspired any add-ons to my list. Pressing “play,” I began munching on dry Chex cereal.

My appetite quickly diminished. The first half hour of the movie made working a forty hour week seem like paradise. Sitting solo on my couch, I continuously muttered, “this is terrible,” “I never want to see anyone go through this,” and “ugh… can this get any worse?”

Wishing I had Prozac on hand, it was decided that an additional 30 seconds of the low-spirited story was all the more I could take. Then, after what felt like days of watching two men graphically illustrate the effects of chemotherapy, the bucket list entered the scene, revealing a gleam of hope. The once bed-ridden cancer patients were soon skydiving, getting tattoos, driving awesome cars and traveling to other countries. What a relief it was to see smiling faces and hear them laugh!

Don’t worry. I won’t give away the ending. I might if I could, but I could see the movie was flipping back around. I shut it off before going to bed. I just didn’t feel like crying myself to sleep that night. Maybe I’ll watch the end sometime when I’m in the mood to cry. Okay, so I might never get around to watching the rest, but I’m committed to adding to my own bucket list, which I promise is not even remotely morbid.

Anyway, I’m not writing this to discuss whether the movie was good or bad or to write about how much time we have left. I just want readers to think about creating their own bucket list before abandoning this earthly realm.

It’s simple. Begin writing down things you want to accomplish before you… well, can’t accomplish them anymore! For the determined, a list might consist of goals and motivation to accomplish them. For the more disobedient, the list might include illegal activities you’d like to “achieve” before kicking the bucket. And for the rest of us, the list will feature dreams. Desires. A wish list, if you will.

Here are some things on my list:

1.) Attend a Steelers game at Heinz Field
2.) Go to Australia
3.) Own a muscle car. (Vroom Vroom!!!)
4.) Go white water rafting
5.) Repel off the south side of The Forum
6.) Donate a wig
7.) Save a life
8.) Own a bakery
9.) Ride a train somewhere
And, of course, what most bucket lists include:
10.) Go skydiving (in a location other than West Fargo).

Here are a few tips to help you dream up your own list:
1.) Write out 100 things. Turn off your filter and keep your pen-a-flowin’! You may be surprised to discover a few long-concealed aspirations.

2.) Add things that you aren’t doing now that could make you happy.

3.) Think back to your childhood. What did you want to do? Every kid had dreams and outrageous ambition. Bring those dreams back to life.

Now, get to writing, readers!

Shootin’ the Wit is a weekly column about everyday life that should never, ever be taken too seriously.