tree house Archives - Nikita Sheth

One of my closest friends (Alina), is making the move over to London in a few months. As my ‘gift’ to her, I have promised to make her a ‘Bucket List’ of things she must aim to achieve.

Upon commencing Alina’s list I realised that I too, should probably make one for myself.

Creating my bucket list has been harder than I originally thought. I guess, the essence of any good bucket list consists of overcoming fears, achieving goals, realising dreams and enjoying simple pleasures.

It has called for a lot of indepth self-reflection…It is still unfinished (I aim to have about 50 items)

Here is a sneak preview:

1. Stay in a really cool designed treehouse (this is my ULTIMATE dream – preferably somewhere in Africa)

(This one is the Redwoods Treehouse – Warkworth, New Zealand)

2. Ride a hot air balloon in Capadocia, Turkey (this has also been my dream forever…i love hot air balloons)

3. Finish a really, really hard jigsaw puzzle.

4. Join a hip hop dance crew in NYC (ok…this one is a little ambitious, but hey? no one said it was going to be easy)

5. Star-gaze at Atacama Desert of Northern Chile

6. Learn to speak Hindi fluently

7. Get passionate about a cause – The Angawadi Project (www.anganwadiproject.com/about/our-mission) would be ideal.

8. Attend a FIFA world cup – Brazil 2013 – anyone want to join me?

9. Milk a cow (a little creepy I know…but I would love to embrace my ‘inner farm girl’ for a week or two)

10. Publish a book…

11. Be a movie extra

12. Do a handstand in Yoga (nearly there…..)

13. Go to the airport and take the next random flight.

14. Skinny dip in the ocean (YES it is true – I am yet to still do this!)

15. Create my own Jewellery range

OK….that is enough…I am sure you get the drift!

Life is shorter than we think. I feel that Bucket Lists should be mandatory. Even if I can’t achieve all my items – it is inspiring and reminds me of the ‘bigger picture’.

One of my all time favourite projects is Candy Chan’s – ‘Before I die’ social experiment. You have probably heard about it before….but for those of you have not….I thought I would share it.

So simple – yet so powerful.

After losing a loved one, Candy searched for a way to maintain perspective. She wondered if people felt the same. With the help of friends she painted the side of an abandoned house in her neighborhood in New Orleans with chalkboard paint and stenciled it with a grid of the sentence “Before I die I want to _______.” Anyone walking by could pick up a piece of chalk, reflect on their lives, and share their personal aspirations in public space.

The next day, the wall was bursting with handwritten responses and it kept growing.

The wall reminded her that she is not alone. Everyone has their insecurities, problems, issues….These ‘Before I Die’ walls are now being created all over the world. I love it.