A bucket list: Do we need one and more importantly do we need to tick all those boxes?

Those who’ve been bitten by the travel bug know what I mean when I tell them my bucket list only gets longer, even though I do my utmost best to tick many of the items on it. However, for those who aren’t into travel that much and their ideal holiday consists of lying on a beach while enjoying the all-inclusive hotel they’re staying at, it isn’t a given to have a list. But is that really necessary? please allow me to give my modest opinion.

Do you really need a bucket list?

Just to be clear, I’m talking about a travel-related bucket list, not the ones where you sum up your personal crushes!

With that out of the way, let’s talk about those who don’t really need (or care) to have a bucket list. It’s those who look at a holiday purely for relaxation, meaning they go to a sunny place and chill the whole day next to the pool or on the beach while enjoying all the benefits of their hotel in the most leisurely way possible. This category of traveler doesn’t need a bucket list cause they are the most happy when their needs of sun and sea are met, and there’s nothing wrong with that, on the contrary.

Though most of who’ll read this article will have a much deeper interest or even passion (I confess) for travel and all the different experiences that come with it. For this group a bucket list is mostly something they always had, even before the term ‘bucket list’ was invented. Everyone who’s been bitten by the travel bug knows what I’m talking about and till today I still have to meet the first person from this category that doesn’t have a personal bucket list, irrelevant of how long or short that list may be.

Still the question remains… do you really need a bucket list? Following my personal opinion it’s good to have one, especially when it comes to traveling. Having a set of goals makes you work harder to achieve them which in return gives an even bigger feeling of satisfaction. It’s also known that ticking one box can lead to adding several more. I personally experienced that when I visited the mountain gorillas in Virunga NP, DRC. Just minutes after meeting these amazing animals I knew I wanted to see them in all the 3 countries where they still roam the forests (DRC, Rwanda and Uganda). Those with a passion for travel know how hard it is not to extend your list all the time. On one hand you can tick a box on a regular basis, but on the other hand you continuously experiencing new…