As a bucket list fan, I love seeing photos of people’s adventures. Looks of triumph after conquering a steep climb or weathering rough seas, smiles of glee against the backdrop of a well-known destination, and peaceful scenes of relaxation and frolicking. Perhaps like this one:
We need these types of photos – ones that capture the essence of what makes such places and activities and experiences worth waiting for and working toward. They inspire us. They give us something to celebrate and something to hope for. Something to enjoy.
The only thing is, they don’t often prepare us for reality. That photo of your friend sitting at a quaint Parisian sidewalk cafe can’t convey the possible noise of cars roaring by on the nearby street and the choking odor of exhaust wafting his way. That shot of your grinning friend gliding beneath a colorful parasail over bright blue waters might be missing her view back toward the boat, where her poor husband is retching over the side from seasickness. That pic of a teen nestling her cheek against the fuzzy fur of a kitten? Perhaps it was taken moments before the kitten decided to bolt, leaving scratches down the teen’s arms.
What we expect when we head out on our own adventures is all of the fun captured in photos and none of the hassle. In my picture above you get some of the reality of our stroll down Miami Beach . You see the glorious sunshine and the blue green surf. You notice my daughters and their aunt enjoying the perfect 80-degree day, wading in the cool water. But you miss the crowds, our lack of towels and my girls’ reluctance to sit in the sand for fear of getting it in their shorts. You miss the sudden surge of tide that soaks the bottom of my sister’s jeans, leaving her sodden for the next few hours.
In reality, what you don’t see is this:
Obviously the original/unedited photo is not wildly different from the first. Just not as idyllic. And like the original photo, thankfully the drawbacks to our experience were negligible. My girls finally did relax enough to sit on the beach. The crowds were delightfully entertaining. The sand was soft enough to stretch out on to rest, even without beach towels. And my sister’s jeans did dry after a while. In spite of the imperfections, I was so glad to be on the famed Miami Beach for the first time ever in the middle of February on a sunny, warm day, when back home it was cold, dreary, and snowy.
In other words, if there was anything not to like about being there, I didn’t pay attention. I wasn’t going to let less-than-perfect ruin an amazing experience.
In your bucket list journeys you will no doubt encounter a few disappointments and unpleasant surprises. The important thing is not to let them define your experience. Do what you can to mitigate the negatives over which you have control. But don’t allow them to take away from what you can be enjoying in the moment.
