I never imagined I would complete all 50 items on this year’s bucketlist. I didn’t just want to visit Antarctica; I wanted to sail there as part of the training crew on a tall ship… spending days in the Drake Passage with the worst sailing conditions on the planet. I didn’t just want to go on a safari in Uganda; I wanted to trek gorillas and chimpanzees. I came up with 50 crazy ideas and then guess what? I made them happen.
I worked hard to get to where I am today and nothing has just been handed to me. I’m darn proud of my accomplishments and grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve had. You should be too! We need to share in our success together and bring people up rather than putting them down. Dream about impossible things. Set goals. Make your life better than anything you’ve imagined. Screw limits!
2015 Bucketlist Update
Here’s what’s left on my 2015 bucketlist:
1. Cage dive with great white sharks
2. Stay at an Outrigger hotel
3. Visit Phuket, Thailand
4. See polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba
My cage diving experience is scheduled with Islander Charters Inc. for next week. Then, I will fly to Manitoba to see polar bears in Churchill with Churchill Nature Tours. When I return, I’ll spend a few days at home before heading to Phuket, Thailand for my stay at an Outrigger hotel.
Here’s what I completed this year:
Visit Argentina
Visit Legoland with Athena
Sail to Antarctica
Go Canyoning
Visit Chamarel Seven Colored Earth
Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park
Visit my family in Canada
Visit Uganda
See a hippo in the wild
Take Athena to Knott’s Soak City
Be part of the sailing crew on tall ship Bark Europa
Swim in Antarctica
Visit Tel Aviv
Go to Bwindi National Park
Go Chimpanzee Trekking
Visit the most southern city in the world
Stay at Loews Hotel in San Diego
Hike Sari Sari Falls & Emerald Pool, Dominica
Snorkel Champagne Reef
Explore a new resort in Mexico
Visit a UNESCO World Heritage site
Take Athena on her first camping trip
Swim with whale sharks in the ocean
Bring Athena to a new country
Go to a spa with Athena
Visit Jerusalem
Let Athena slide on a water slide
Hike an active volcano
Visit Mauritius
Sail the Drake Passage
See Cape Horn
Visit Dominica
Buy a house in California
See penguins in their natural habitat
Camp at Fundy National Park
Go Gorilla Trekking
Take Athena to a horse ranch
Take Athena to SeaWorld
Float in the Dead Sea
Hike Trafalgar Falls, Dominica
Take Athena to Magic Mountain, Moncton, New Brunswick
Stay at Hard Rock Cancun
Take Athena to the New Children’s Museum in San Diego
See The Lion King Musical
Bring Athena to the new Frozen section at Disney California Adventure
Stay at The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach
Really like your photographs on here Lesley!
Thank you! They are some of my favorite moments from this year.
Really like your photographs on here Lesley!
Thank you! They are some of my favorite moments from this year.
Love those pictures and they look great.
Love those pictures and they look great.
Amazing! I love making bucketlists but you are going to the next level and that is pretty inspiring.
Amazing! I love making bucketlists but you are going to the next level and that is pretty inspiring.
You just inspired me to travel more hahaha I love it, its so great to see all those places you were able to go in a year. I hope you enjoy the outrigger hotel in Phuket!! I used to teach English at the one on Phi Phi island. 🙂
You just inspired me to travel more hahaha I love it, its so great to see all those places you were able to go in a year. I hope you enjoy the outrigger hotel in Phuket!! I used to teach English at the one on Phi Phi island. 🙂
Seriously impressive! I would love to hear more about how you were able to do all these things…but wow! Impressive!
Seriously impressive! I would love to hear more about how you were able to do all these things…but wow! Impressive!
Congratulations on accomplishing so many items off of your bucket list! Sometimes we just don’t dream big enough!
Congratulations on accomplishing so many items off of your bucket list! Sometimes we just don’t dream big enough!
I think I’m speechless. That’s a lot of things to check off the list. It’s a lot of places to have visited in one year, and it’s only October. Have you felt like you were actually seeing and doing all of that stuff, or just doing it to check a box? In any case, it’s incredible.
I understand the question because it is a lot for one year, but if you think about my Antarctica experience as an example, I sailed there on a tall ship as part of the training crew. It was a 22 day adventure. I was part of the crew as we sailed through the Drake Passage. I participated in every possible activity and went ashore every available chance. I learned from experienced sailors and participated in educational experiences on the ship. I hauled the lines and manned the helm. I was sailing. I don’t think I could have been more immersed in the experience. Similarly, I spend 8 days trekking gorillas in Uganda. I hiked mountains and pushed my limits in an unfamiliar environment. I don’t create the list to check items off. I create the list so it becomes part of me. I give it everything and it becomes a huge part of my life.
I think I’m speechless. That’s a lot of things to check off the list. It’s a lot of places to have visited in one year, and it’s only October. Have you felt like you were actually seeing and doing all of that stuff, or just doing it to check a box? In any case, it’s incredible.
I understand the question because it is a lot for one year, but if you think about my Antarctica experience as an example, I sailed there on a tall ship as part of the training crew. It was a 22 day adventure. I was part of the crew as we sailed through the Drake Passage. I participated in every possible activity and went ashore every available chance. I learned from experienced sailors and participated in educational experiences on the ship. I hauled the lines and manned the helm. I was sailing. I don’t think I could have been more immersed in the experience. Similarly, I spend 8 days trekking gorillas in Uganda. I hiked mountains and pushed my limits in an unfamiliar environment. I don’t create the list to check items off. I create the list so it becomes part of me. I give it everything and it becomes a huge part of my life.
Wow this is absolutely impressive! I am so jealous 😉
Wow this is absolutely impressive! I am so jealous 😉
Awesome bucket list and you are killing it this year:) All the best for your Cage Diving. Where are you gonna do it? I did it in SOuth Africa and it was scary FUN!!!! HAPPY TRAVELS… XOXO
Awesome bucket list and you are killing it this year:) All the best for your Cage Diving. Where are you gonna do it? I did it in SOuth Africa and it was scary FUN!!!! HAPPY TRAVELS… XOXO
I loved reading this! It’s so awesome how Athena is now a huge part of your bucket list. She will grow up learning that you go after what you want in life! What a great life lesson for her! I remember reading about the Antarctica trip…that is so amazing.
I loved reading this! It’s so awesome how Athena is now a huge part of your bucket list. She will grow up learning that you go after what you want in life! What a great life lesson for her! I remember reading about the Antarctica trip…that is so amazing.
You’re incredible! Good for you for following your dreams and just going for it! You’ve done so much this year, wow. I would love to see the polar bears in Manitoba as well, I’ll be following you!
Cheers.
You’re incredible! Good for you for following your dreams and just going for it! You’ve done so much this year, wow. I would love to see the polar bears in Manitoba as well, I’ll be following you!
Cheers.
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Keep going Lesley! Definitely some stuff I wouldn’t do and some I would love to! You’re rocking it.
Keep going Lesley! Definitely some stuff I wouldn’t do and some I would love to! You’re rocking it.
WOW, such an amazing year for you! I’ll be folowing your blog closely for updates on the cage diving – always wanted to do that myself. Have a blast!!
WOW, such an amazing year for you! I’ll be folowing your blog closely for updates on the cage diving – always wanted to do that myself. Have a blast!!
What an incredible year! So many of your accomplishments are on my Bucket List, too. You’ve energized me to rev up my plans!
What an incredible year! So many of your accomplishments are on my Bucket List, too. You’ve energized me to rev up my plans!
I like the idea of a bucketlist if only to set intentions clearly. Thanks for reminding me of that. What a year you’ve had!
I like the idea of a bucketlist if only to set intentions clearly. Thanks for reminding me of that. What a year you’ve had!
This is such an awesome list – I especially love that you included seeing the Lion King. It’s my favourite musical!
This is such an awesome list – I especially love that you included seeing the Lion King. It’s my favourite musical!
Holy cow… you ROCK!!! Not only are you a kick aXX person for setting such HUGE goals BUT YOU made them happen. That is amazing. You are an inspiration. I love following people like you. Great job!!!
Holy cow… you ROCK!!! Not only are you a kick aXX person for setting such HUGE goals BUT YOU made them happen. That is amazing. You are an inspiration. I love following people like you. Great job!!!
What an ambitious list and what great accomplishments. Sounds like it has been a great year! How will you even begin to top this next year?
Wow! you’ve done a lot! and such variety. definitely an inspiration.
Wow! you’ve done a lot! and such variety. definitely an inspiration.