“There is so much to do that changes one’s life,” was the motto that Steve Anderson took to heart growing up on the Minnesota plains. With nothing but grass and fields for miles, he found himself with plenty of time on his hands, but not a lot to do. “I was about eleven years old,” Steve said, when he began his bucket list. It started as simple pleasures that he wanted to see: the ocean, an orange grove, another country—even if it was only to Mexico. He began writing them down because if he didn’t, “they [wouldn’t] happen.” Without the knowledge of his mother, Steve recalls that he “sawed a hole in the floor…under the carpet” and stored his list there in his room. It wasn’t long before Steve’s brother, Tom, about a year younger, would embrace the practice, and soon their lists began to grow together. “There are so many things people don’t do,” and Steve and his brother wanted to do them. There is only one real rule for their lists: no restrictions based on money, time, or circumstances.
Now over 3,129 items currently comprise the list of completed items on Steve’s bucket list. 523 items remain undone, but the list keeps growing. It has evolved from journal pages and loose papers to color-coded, digital documents hundreds of pages long. Currently, 89 additional appendixes record information, memories and photos from his experiences. Within one of his appendixes, is a gratitude list, which has grown to over 2,000 items—many of which laud the importance of family, life experience, and onions.
The list has become a great way to connect Steve to his children. His son, Dan, says that the bucket list has helped their family to bond through “doing new things…and seeing opportunity.” Dan says that he has learned from his father’s bucket list to have “more mindfulness” for family activities and to keep records of those activities. Steve emphasizes that he “[wants his posterity] to see what life has to offer... to see how happy [his] life has been.” As Steve has met his goals, he has inspired his family to follow suit. “[My family] all keep a list except maybe my wife,” Steve says. She is content to complete Steve’s bucket list alongside him. That way she can do the fun things and let Steve and Tom do the scary things.
Dan explains that by keeping this list, Steve has encouraged their family to be “more aware of opportunities as they come...” The bucket list “has exposed our family to a lot of different things that we [never would have] been exposed to.” Dan recalls an item on his father’s list that he came across—making a death mask—that lead to a bonding opportunity. Dan remembers being “in a theatre make-up class [at the time]” and had made casts of faces there. He went to his dad and said, “I can [make a death mask] for you.” Making a face cast is a fairly long process. Dan brought Steve to school with him and got to talking with his father and friends while he worked. The whole experience became an “exchange of family stories.” Dan says that although he doesn’t keep a list the same way his father does, his father’s efforts do not go unnoticed: “We all think it is pretty cool.”
While Steve may not be the first to plant 1,000 trees or to go walking on the salt flats under a full moon, he has been a pioneer to his own family by his example and enthusiasm for life. Behind him, he is leaving a legacy that will fuel family stories for generations to come. His wish that his children and grandchildren will one day have, “pioneer experiences for themselves,” is not an unfounded one, as he continues to embrace new opportunities and share them with those whom he loves.
Try the Triple-Digit Challenge!
Steve has made a list of 62 things he wants to do 62 times before he turns 62! You may want to pick a different timeframe (ex. 21-21-21 or 50-50-50) but it is a great way to start accomplishing some bucket list items. A few things Steve wants to do before turning 62:
- Collect 62 insects
- Buy a meal for 62 people without them knowing it
- Watch 62 TED talks
- Take a photo of 62 waterfalls
- Donate 62 pints of blood
- Travel more than 62,000 miles
- Donate 620 cans of food to a food pantry
- Send off 62 Chinese moon lanterns
- Write 62 memories of his mother
- Leave 62 one dollar bills (one at a time) where ever people will find them and get excited about finding some money
"Join the Conversation" #IAmAPioneer
