The Unemployment Bucket List

Goal-setting
Written By Kristen B Hubler

As I write this, I am sitting in Bryant Park. The sun is peeking through the clouds, I'm in eye shot of the Empire State Building and arms reach of way too many pigeons. In a few minutes, I'll walk the half mile uptown to MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art. While I've lived outside New York most of my life, I have yet to visit the great museums the city has to offer. It's something I've always wanted to do, but could never seem to muster the motivation to make a plan.

So what got me here today?  

A few weeks ago, I was chatting with someone about some of the things I could do now that I wasn't working. I hadn't done much yet with the "extra" time because truth be told interviewing and job hunting is nearly as much work as a full time job. Nevertheless, I wanted to be able to look back on this time and have something positive to show for it; amidst the bad memories and hard days, I wanted some good ones. 

Make a Bucket List, he suggested, write down all the little things you've always wanted to do and try to do as many as you can before you get your next job. 

A few beers later, a list was formed and I'm about to cross the first thing off - visit MoMA. Most of the things on my list are pretty close to home; experiences that are by no means extraordinary, just experiences I haven't made time for or in the case of #3 - take a spontaneous overnight trip - just haven't found the courage to do. As a planner, the idea of just going some place with no plans is a little terrifying. But that's the thing about putting your goals down on paper, it gives you a little push to get past the fear. 

It has been just two weeks since I started this and already I have gone to an exhibit all about shoes at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, allowing me to cross off #7 "visit obscure art exhibit". I have visited Governor's Island for the first time (#10), and #9 "make plans with a friend you don't see often" has resulted in apple picking at Hacklebarney Farm, lunch at a restaurant I’ve never been to, and seeing Come From Away on Broadway.

The power of making a plan like this, of talking about it and making a list, is not in the structure or discipline. The power of talking about your hopes is that it reminds you how much you want to do it, which will make it more likely you prioritize the time. I haven't been going down the list one by one and if I’m being honest I think today is the first time I have even looked at it since I wrote it. My goal with this little adventure is not to finish everything, but rather just to live - to make the most of this season of my life. 

So how is your current season going? Are you making the most of it? 

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Kristen B Hubler

Inspiring growth in leadership and in life. 

https://www.KristenBHubler.com
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