by Maggie West

Created on: January 13, 2009   Last Updated: January 15, 2009

Ed said, "Kiss the most beautiful girl in the world."
To which Carter asked, "How are you going to do that?"
Ed answered, "Volume!"

In 2007, the term "bucket list" became popular. I suspect, however, that there may be a few people who have not heard these words and understood their meaning. Perhaps, the price of an admission ticket to the local movie theater is a wee bit too high. I, myself, picture golden nuggets hidden among the seats, people diving for pearls in butter-laden popcorn, or candy boxes lined with real silver. So, it could be worth it. No matter, when the DVD appears on the local movie rental store's shelf, this is when I watch the latest and greatest blockbusters such as "The Bucket List."

Whichever the case may be - whether the movie has been seen or not - it made its widescreen debut two years ago and started a rift in most of our minds. Since then, the expression "That's one for the bucket list" is often heard.

So, what's a bucket list?

Simply put, it is a list of our dreams, hopes, and wishes. But not just any dream, hope, or wish. But the ones we want to achieve before our time on earth has come to an end: And hopefully, but not necessarily, before silver is rooted in our hair and the sands of Time have scoured our faces. We all want some legacy to leave behind for our children and/or relations. Right? We all have personal goals to attain as well. Right? These are our bucket lists.

For each of us, however, this list varies. What one fancies, another may not. This means that each list is different. It's possible that some generalities can be found, but overall the details will differ.

We can jot them all down on one big sheet of paper or scribble them onto many pieces, toss each into a bucket or a hat, and retrieve one at a time. Whichever method is employed, our beginnings are the same: We begin by choosing one goal. Once completed, we go to the next one, and so on.

Now that we know what the "box" is (How to begin and with what), let us think "out of the box" (Deciding how to proceed). General George S. Patton once said that if I tell 1,000 men to be at a certain place, at a certain time; you'd be amazed at what they come up with to get there. I believe that within each of us is a person who can accomplish extraordinary things perform extraordinary deeds. Do we forever confine these people within our own psyches or allow them to breath fresh air, think new thoughts, and touch the proverbial rainbow. Anything is possible if we put our minds to it. So, dust off those brain cells and get to work.

If nothing else, we can take Ed's approach (from the movie) and accomplish them through sheer volume.

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