Bucket List After Cancer: Why I’m Done Waiting

I used to think of a bucket list as kind of a fun thing—stuff you jot down when you’re feeling inspired. A list you build over time and maybe, someday, you get to cross a few things off. You know, when work slows down, when the kids are older, when everything lines up just right.

But when you’re staring down a serious illness, that whole concept shifts.

The list stops being about “someday” and starts feeling like right now.

I don’t know how much time I’ve got before treatment makes traveling harder. Or before my energy runs low. Or before my body says, nope, not this year. So those dream trips I’ve always talked about—seeing Yosemite in the snow, spending a week in a quiet cabin in Montana—aren’t just ideas anymore. They’re priorities.

And here’s the thing I keep coming back to: those experiences only mean as much as the people you share them with.

I Want to Do These Things—But I Want to Do Them With Zanne

Zanne’s always been the one ready to say “yes” to adventure. She’s not just along for the ride—she’s the one packing the cooler, booking the cabin, looking up the hikes. I love that about her. Her passion for exploring the world, for making memories, for saying “let’s go”—it’s one of the best parts of this life we’ve built together.

And now, those memories feel even more urgent. Not just the big trips, but the little ones too. Morning coffee on a cabin porch. Watching the snow fall over Yosemite. Laughing in the car over some stupid meme we shared (again). Those are the moments I want more of. That I need more of.

If this diagnosis has taught me anything, it’s that time with the people you love is the actual bucket list.

Don’t Wait Until Life Forces You to Prioritize What Matters

It’s too easy to put things off. We tell ourselves we’ll do it later—next summer, next holiday, next milestone. But here’s the truth: later isn’t promised.

You don’t have to get sick to understand that. You just have to stop assuming you’ve got all the time in the world.

Because you don’t.

So whatever it is—whether it’s taking that trip, reconnecting with someone, trying something new, or just being present with the people who matter most—stop waiting for the stars to align. They won’t.

And the dream you keep pushing off? It won’t chase you either.

You Deserve This Life—Now

I’m not saying throw caution to the wind and drain your savings. But if you’re holding onto something you’ve always wanted to do, start figuring out how to make it happen. Not perfectly. Not someday. Now.

I’m trying to do the same. Because the last thing I want is to look back and realize I had the time… and didn’t use it.

So yeah—I’m going to see Yosemite in the snow. I’m going to find that cabin in Montana. And Zanne? She’ll be there right beside me, boots laced up, map in hand, telling me which trail we’re taking next.

This isn’t just about bucket lists. It’s about living—fully, honestly, and with the people who make life worth living.

If this hit home, you might also want to read How Do You Tell Your Kids?—one of the hardest and most honest things I’ve had to write.

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What’s at the top of your list? Drop it in the comments. I’d love to hear what you’ve been dreaming about—and who you want to experience it with.

And if you want to follow more of this journey, I post updates and reflections on Facebook and on Instagram.