Reverse Bucket List: What Not To Do Before You Die

Ah, the bucket list. It's a great idea, in theory, to compile a list of all of the things you'd like to do in the little time you have on Earth. What an ingenius way to motivate yourself to get the most out of life, not to let it all pass you by, carpe diem, etc. etc., right?

But if you've ever spent some time perusing other people's bucket lists -- or just gazing at the many unchecked items on your own -- you may have noticed that these lists can also make you feel that you've accomplished virtually nothing your entire life.

Here at HuffPost Women, we've decided 'tis the season to feel better about yourself, not worse. As such, we'd like to take a moment to honor the Reverse Bucket List -- a list of everything you don't ever want to or feel compelled to do.

Back in October, Atlantic MontlyAdvice columnist Jeffrey Goldberg got the ball rolling with his reverse bucket list, which included cleansing of any kind (juice, colon or ethnic), and "making love on the dunes of the cape" (apparently he's not a fan of Pina Coladas).

Then last week, Rose Surnow at the Hairpin got into it with a list that included "confront my fears (sharks/elevators/intimacy)" and "be alone in nature for any amount of time." Hairpin commenters have chimed in with some items on their own lists, including "learning to knit" and "running/walking/moving in a marathon."

To keep this worthwhile enterprise going, we'd love to hear what's on your reverse bucket list. Tweet your items @HuffPostWomen at #reversebucketlist, and we'll feature the standouts in a slideshow here.

Comments

[Bishop Coxcomb]

10:57 AM on 01/02/2012

I think a reverse bucket list would be things you do before being reborn.

[syds180turn]

07:52 PM on 12/29/2011

Build my media Empire
Scale Mt. Kilimanjaro
One date with Colin Firth
Stand on the top of the Sphinx
Stand between the statues of Ramses the Great at Abu Simbal
Fly a F-16 alone
Walk across the stage and accept my first Academy Award for Best Motion Picture as Produce
Then my second Academy Award in the same night for Best Original Screenplay
*Finally and the best...have a scholarship program that every year, I pay for students to attend college free and clear. I will pay for their tuition, books, housing, food and transportation for the duration of their college education. Then upon graduation, give them enough money to start out on the right foot in their professional and personal lives.

[Jennifer Kley]

08:38 PM on 12/26/2011

I am tiring of the term "bucket list." Truly. It's starting to grate my innermost fibers. I just plan to live life and not place lists on what I "need" to do before I die. I'm too busy living than eyeing a pre-death list. Oy.
http://thecubiclerebel.wordpress.com/

[truckmojo]

02:58 AM on 01/02/2012

Ah, the voice of reason! Yes, I can't stand the whole bucket list thing. Why not just live your life and enjoy it? Having a list to check off before you die makes life seem so clinical and planned and uninspired, like you're sitting around with your hands in your lap waiting for Death to arrive on the stoop. Ugh. Life's too short for that.

[Nopinky]

02:11 PM on 12/24/2011

deliberately jumping/falling off of or out of any high thing.
rock climbing
anything that involves running
anything that involves daring predators to eat me
traveling to places where the people who live there are desperate to get away from there, or in any way that requires extended periods of time without bathing
eating any food that is outlawed, alive, or makes people watch you eat it because no one can believe anyone would actually eat it.
ever going to a music/art/free expression/communing with anything 'festival'
turning into a boring suburbanite who thinks Olive Garden is fancy and little league games are exciting

[french queen13]

07:02 PM on 12/30/2011

I like that list!

[fireart]

06:33 PM on 01/02/2012

Very Funny LOL

[ethelmertzrules]

01:36 PM on 12/23/2011

A few things I won't be doing:

Sky diving
Cage diving
Cliff diving
Bungee jumping
Well forget most things that include diving or plummeting.

[Rebz]

12:57 PM on 12/23/2011

Actually, if we want to celebrate ourselves and our accomplishements, the reverse Bucket ist should be: Things that I did accomplish before I died. Now that's a list to celebrate!

[OinksAlot]

11:32 PM on 12/22/2011

To not take for granted others.
To never stop loving my family.
To never stop striving to be a better person.

[emailmiracle]

09:57 PM on 12/22/2011

Do not stop learning

[cebu98]

03:07 PM on 12/22/2011

Don't die!

[robbo1400]

02:46 PM on 12/22/2011

My Reverse Bucket List:

DO NOT HATE - hatred and intolerance are like a cancer that doesn't go away...it brings you down and allowing it in is insidious.

DO NOT ALLOW NON-BELIEVERS TO QUESTION YOUR FAITH - Pray for them and wish that they one day see the light. If they don't, their fate is up to God, not YOU.

DO NOT BE INTOLERANT - everyone is not going to agree with you or your philosophy on life. Love everyone around you and accept them as God's children regardless of their own beliefs, lifestyles, Wish them well and be the better for it.

DO NOT FEAR DEATH - no one escapes and if you truly believe in God, it may reward you with everlasting peace and love in a better place with all of those that you have ever loved.

DO NOT LIVE FOR WEALTH - there are far better things to leave behind for your loved ones than money. Touch everyones life that you come in contact with and always bring something positive to their table.

[misgsoft]

02:46 PM on 12/22/2011

must be one of those slow news days for huffypee...

[bustafudd]

01:33 PM on 12/22/2011

No one in the world is "Pro-abortion". The issue is a woman's right to choice. Or, as you Replinazis are so fond of harping, "Keep government off people's backs." Oh yeah, unless it involves true freedom of choice. Really now, what part of the phrase Planned Parenthood don't you understand? Planned???????

[jak11]

02:33 PM on 12/22/2011

bustafudd.... you are still wanting the option to kill.... which is MORE in line with what the Nazi's did...than those who would try to defend the innocent.

[Fuming Riley]

02:52 PM on 12/22/2011

so what is Planned Parenthood besides pro-abortion? You can use any eupherism you want but "pro-choice" or "planned parenthood" is still pro abortion. There is a "choice" 9-months earlier, use contraceptives.

[The Mikester]

08:56 AM on 12/23/2011

the Catholic Church does such a good job of attacking itself that it doesn't need your defense.

[cindylouwho718]

04:40 PM on 12/23/2011

Mikester: Well Ebenezer, you live in the black hole of your bigotry and I'll continue to defend the Church from the hatred of those like you. Maybe one day you'll come to realize the ugliness of your attitude. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone". I guess you've cast that stone so should you now be called Saint Mikester. Oops! I forgot, even the Saints weren't perfect just you.

[SuperDaveOsborn]

01:11 PM on 12/22/2011

Don't ever, ever attempt to please your relatives before you die ! ( No good deed goes unpunished )

[covyzoo]

12:09 PM on 12/22/2011

BORING ARTICLE.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Huffington's Bucket List should include providing news worthy articles.

[Nopinky]

02:17 PM on 12/24/2011

there are like 932 thousand articles on HuffPo right now and you're complaining because you clicked on and read one that wasn't heavy-hitting or deeply enthralling to you? What part of the headline confused you into thinking this was a treatise on the Eurozone crisis or the truth about the second coming?

[UKNY]

02:44 PM on 01/03/2012

I am now really glad I fanned you 2 minutes ago.

[CapsFan1988]

12:08 PM on 12/22/2011

My "reverse bucket list" before i die, is as follows:
1. Do not get thrown in jail/prison.
2. Do not become homeless/or jobless for longer than a few months.
3. Do not die too young.
4. Do not not see more of the world (I love to travel and have been to a few places in the world growing up, but I want to visit at least 50% of the countries in this world before I die, much like my father and his father before him)
5. Do not have any major devistating incidents happen
6. Never get divorced
7. Never quit smoking
8. Do not have any more major regrets
9. Do not not have a book published
10. Do not not get my Doctorate in History

Those are all that I can think of for now.

[bump00000]

02:13 PM on 12/22/2011

If you never marry you'll never divorce, same with smoking, Never regret anything, sh8t happens.

Become a vegatable in a coma and you can live on life support for a long time. Make anywhere you live your home.

[David Amaya]

02:17 PM on 12/22/2011

Hi again CF'88, but my question THIS TIME, is who's gonna verafy this list when you take that long strol with the Reaper at your side, Hopefully with your married love of your life (From the proposal post if this is read first, if so please check next reply!)