My Anti-Bucket List: Adventures I’ll Skip

Hi friends! Today I’m sharing something a little different: my anti bucket list. These are adventures and experiences I know I will never do or even be tempted to try. Some are way too terrifying for someone like me, who likes to keep both feet firmly on the ground, and others are simply a no, thank you.

Before I begin, I just want to say that this is purely for fun and not a judgment on anyone. Because if any of the things on this list are for you, then Yay!! Go you! These are just some of the things I’m happy to leave to everyone else. No FOMO here, I promise.

My Anti Bucket List

Skydiving

Free-falling from a plane? Yikes! I couldn’t think of anything worse. I’ve been working on my fear of flying, and I’m not as bad as I used to be. But I’m still that person who likes to keep an eye on things like the wings, the noises, and I scan the cabin to make sure the flight attendants look calm. Because if they’re calm, then that’s a good sign. But then again, they’ve been trained to look calm. So who can be sure? You get me, right? Yep, that’s how my brain works, so there is no way I would ever jump out of a plane. No way.

A couple of my brave cousins have done it and say it’s amazing. I’m happy to take their word for it.

Bungee Jumping

Just thinking about jumping off a bridge, or whatever bungee jumpers jump from, even with a safety harness, makes my stomach flip.

Risky Hikes for Views or Photos

Earlier this year, I had the best time hiking in Bryce Canyon, but only along the safe trails. The epic views were incredible, and I loved taking it all in without putting myself in danger. So I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw a few people who looked like influencers ignoring barriers and danger signs, posing on the edge of clifftops in gym clothes during winter in minus five-degree temps. I wasn’t sure if I was more worried about them catching pneumonia or falling off. I so badly wanted to yell, “Please come back where it’s safe and put on a jacket! What would your mother say?”

Get a Tattoo

I don’t think I would like to wear something on my skin that’s so permanent, and it looks like a painful process, too.

Botox

I don’t love seeing lines, extra eye bags, and saggy parts on my face when I look in the mirror. I’m like, “Who is that… oh, it’s me! Haha, hello older me!” I also don’t really like the “I’m growing old gracefully” line. I’ll probably continue to grow old disgracefully, fussing and whinging the whole way because it was so much fun being young. And as much as I wish my face wasn’t slowly falling south, injecting anything into it isn’t for me.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

There is a recurring theme here! I clearly don’t like heights, flying, or anything that might make me feel like I’m about to fall out of the sky. I’ve seen beautiful photos of colourful hot air balloons floating gently in the sky, but it’s still a no from me.

Go Grey

I have a lovely friend who let her hair go grey a few years ago, and she looks fantastic. Her hair is healthy, and she doesn’t have to worry about chemicals or regrowth popping up overnight. But I just can’t see myself going grey.

Maybe it’s because of my mum. She always said she’d never go grey, and as she got older, when she couldn’t colour her own hair anymore, I would do it for her. She made me promise I would keep covering her greys. I remember giving her a quick root touch-up the day before she went to the hospital for the last time. I was completely heartbroken because I knew she was very unwell, but I wanted to keep my promise. I’m glad I was able to do that for her.

Host a Birthday Party for Myself

I love parties, celebrations and fun events, especially when there’s dancing. But I really don’t like being the centre of attention. I even get super self-conscious when people sing Happy Birthday to me. That song seems to go on forever, or at least it feels like it does when everyone is looking at you while you blow out the candles.

Eat Spicy Food

I can cope with a minuscule amount of spice, like the gentle kind you get from sweet chilli sauce. I even add a few dried chilli flakes to my chilli con carne, maybe ten for the whole pot. But that is about as adventurous as I will ever get.

I just cannot do spicy food. If I ever accidentally eat something hot when I am out and feel my mouth or throat start burning, I immediately get anxious and think, Oh no… I am going to choke in front of everyone.

Like the time I made a huge mistake and thought the blob of wasabi on my sushi box was avocado and put the whole thing in my mouth. I was having lunch with people I didn’t know very well, and once I realised what I had eaten, it was too late. All I could do was pretend to be calm and swallow it. But for a minute there, I was sure I was going to die.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and reading along at some of the things I’m happy to skip. I think I’ve covered everything I’d ever want on my anti bucket list. What about you? Anything you’d never do? I’d love to know—maybe I’ll add them to my list 😉