Friendship Bucket Lists

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

What on earth did you agree to? My inner voice quivered a bit as the chestnut mare shifted impatiently under my weight for the fourth time. You don’t know how to ride a horse, so why are you sitting on one?! I quelled inner Julie as my horse—Casey—and I eyeballed one last rider swinging into a saddle. Then our guide cheerily called, “Everyone ready? Great! Let’s head out.”

Casey lurched into the slowly rolling gait of a horse accustomed to taking strangers on hour-long trail rides and fell into position somewhere toward the head of the line. I clung with nervous tension to the reins and the saddle horn, and it took several minutes of gentle motion before I relaxed and began taking in our surroundings: the gently sloping hills, the verdant patches of forest, and the glint of a small lake reflecting the afternoon sun.

Glancing backward, I grinned at Maha and Kendra on their own horses as they, too, lurched and swayed along the dirt path. We were here because horseback riding was on Maha’s bucket list, and after facing down my initial reticence, I was beginning to enjoy the adventure. As we tumbled into my car after returning to the stable, we were dusty but happy, and our conversation on the ride home was lighthearted, introspective, and everything in between.

Checking items off my friends’ bucket lists wasn’t something I’d considered prior to our horsey adventure, but it’s become a favorite way to show my love, support, and appreciation for those someones dear to me. The laughter over newly created shared memories, the opportunity to know friends in a new way or under new circumstances, and the heartfelt conversations along the journey add depth and breadth to our relationships. It’s a marvelous way to express how much we appreciate their presence in our life.

Julie

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Ask a friend or friends to exchange their adventure bucket list with you. Look for opportunities to cross items off one or both of your lists together.