With the much-anticipated premiere of MTV’s ‘The Buried Life’ Monday, I’m sure people across the country grabbed a notebook and pencil to begin drafting their very own ‘bucket list’ – a list of things to do before you die. The premiere showed four young, fearless boys buying a bus to begin life on the road, trying to cross as many things off their list as possible. The twist is that for everything they cross off, they help a stranger cross off something on their list.

The first episode was touching, entertaining and inspiring. I’ll admit that after watching I was extremely tempted to take this semester off and hitchhike through the states with hopes of going to a real-life rodeo, getting an In-N-Out burger and seeing the world’s largest ball of yarn.

Unfortunately, I quickly realized I didn’t have the time, money or traveling companions that ‘The Buried Life’ boys were fortunate enough to find, and I don’t know anyone who does.

Actually, I think the whole idea of a bucket list is a setup for disappointment. It’s great to have a list of more than 100 things you hope to do in life, but chances are you won’t accomplish every single one – especially if you’re one of those people who load their list with the most unattainable goals, such as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or finding the Lost Atlantis.

The last thing I want when I’m nearing death is to look at my list and say, ‘Damn, I never did get the chance to save the polar bears.’ I’ll just get depressed, and no one wants to be depressed before they die – the thought of death is depressing enough.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t have goals, but a list of 234 is a bit too much. Simplify it. I keep a list of 10 major things I want to do before I die. It sometimes changes, but I always keep it under 10. For example, I hope to someday be able to volunteer in Africa, learn to play the bagpipes (half my family is Scottish) and walk the Great Wall of China.

Also, try writing a list of things you have done so far. After thinking of this, I took my own advice and put together a list of 15 things I have done up until now. My list included taking flamenco lessons in Madrid, swimming with a pregnant stingray and standing in the Atlantic Ocean during a lighting storm (I don’t suggest it) – experiences I definitely never would have thought of doing on my own.

Imagine how much happier you’ll be in your final years of life. Instead of shaming your grandchildren and showing them a list only half accomplished, you’ll get to show them a list of a thousand things you did accomplish. They’ll be proud to call you family, and your stories will be passed down generation to generation, perhaps for all of eternity.

My philosophy is that when you don’t have an exact plan, you’ll end up with some of the greatest experiences of your life. Pull out a piece of paper right now and write 20 things you’ve already done. I guarantee you’ll feel instantly accomplished.

So get rid of your four-page bucket list, and keep your new one short and sweet. It’s way more exciting to see what life has in store for you, rather than planning out what to cross off next.

Lauren Tousignant is a sophomore communications and rhetorical studies major. She is the opinions editor at The Daily Orange, where her column appears occasionally. She can be reached at letousig@syr.edu.

Published on January 18, 2010 at 12:00 pm