Hi everyone! So, this article is to expand on the idea presented in our most recent YouTube video (link at bottom). Let’s start by defining the term: Reverse FulList.
So you know what a FulList is by now (if you don’t, you should really start with that: click here). A Reverse FulList is, well, your FulList in reverse. *mind-blown* So, rather than listing the things that you plan to do in your life, you list the things that you already have done in your life. This is a great exercise for when you’re stuck at home *ahem, COVID-19* or just when you’re feeling like you haven’t done much in your life.
A Reverse FulList gets you to start thinking about the things that you’ve accomplished, the places that you’ve seen, the people that you’ve helped, the successes that you’ve had, and the stories that you’ve collected. So naturally, the first step is to list out all those things. Sounds easy, right? For some people, it might be. However, if you find yourself starting with the thought, “I haven’t accomplished anything in my life,” it can be much more difficult to pull yourself out of this slump and to come up with some things that you have done. Even I find myself adding more items to my Reverse FulList from time to time so don’t feel like you need to list out every single thing in one go.
The biggest hinderance that I faced while creating my Reverse FulList was myself. I would think of things that I had done and I would shrug them off, thinking that they weren’t worthy of being included on my Reverse FulList. So a reminder for you as you begin making your lists: try to see your accomplishments from the eyes of an outsider. Something that might seem like an insignificant life event to you might be someone else’s biggest life goal. For example, for me, it was expected that I would graduate college. There was no question of whether or not it would happen, it was inevitable. I know so many people who work incredibly hard to get their degree though and I found myself needing to be more appreciative of my ability to graduate with a degree. So include the “little things” in your list. You might discover that they’re actually the big things.
Now, once you’re open to adding even the small accomplishments to your Reverse FulList, it’s time to try to remember all the things that you’ve done. As many memory games as I play, and as many song lyrics as I know, there are still huge memory gaps in my brain. This is where friends, family, and photos come into play. Recount stories with your loved ones. Look back through photos to see the places you’ve traveled, the piano recitals you’ve done, the prom you went to. Start listing.
While you’re making your list, I’ll include my Reverse FulList in case it helps to spark a memory or two of some things you could include on yours:
- Get Scuba Certified
- Visit Paris – Notre Dame, Love Locks, the Louvre
- Make a Wish in the Trevi
- Row a Gondola in Venice
- Walk the Golden Hands Bridge in Vietnam
- Hold a Monkey
- Eat Fresh Eggs (day of)
- Ride a Horse
- Learn a Full Song on the Piano
- Graduate College
- Fly Across the World
- Kiss in the Rain
- Visit Disneyland
- Go on a Cruise
- Go Car Camping
- See/hear Big Ben
- Drive the Golden Gate
- Dispersed Camping
- Go Backpacking
- Ride a Jetski
- Go Skiing & Snowboarding
- Make a Snowman & Snow Angel
- Fall in Love
- Be a Maid of Honor
- Plan a Wedding
- Go Sledding & Ice Skating
- Go Zip-lining
- Stay at an All-Inclusive Resort
- Take an Archery Lesson
- Shoot a Gun
- Swim Under a Waterfall
- Go Skinny Dipping
- Release Baby Turtles
- Win at the Horse Races
- Go Ice Fishing
- Pet a Baby Bison
- Hold a Snake
- Raising Baby Chickens
- Pet a Chinchilla
- Ride a Skidoo
- Hike in the Rain
- Go Canyoneering/Cliff Jumping
- Play a Game of Paintball
- Ride Horseback on a Beach
- Hang out in a Natural Hot Spring
- Keep a Caterpillar Until it’s a Butterfly
- Stay Up All Night Talking
- Make a Macrame Plant Hanger
- Make a Handmade Card
- Make an Origami Animal
- Take Pictures in a Photo Booth
- Learn to Ride a Bike
- Kiss a Girl
- Travel Out of The Country
- Solve a Rubik’s Cube
- Watch a Meteor Shower
- Wish on a Star
- Donate Blood
- Kiss Under Mistletoe
- Eat Gelato in Italy
- Eat Pasta in Italy
- Eat Pizza in Italy
- Drink Champagne in France
- Have a Drink in an Ice Bar
- Have Chocolate Fondue
- Have Cheese Fondue
- Try Escargot
- Go Wine Tasting in Napa
- Participate in (and win) a Scavenger Hunt
- Walk on a Black Sand Beach
- Take a Pole Dancing Class
- Throw a Surprise Party
- Be in the Newspaper
- Host a Game Night
- Wear Colored Contacts
- Order Room Service
- Stay at an All-Inclusive Resort
- Make Sushi
- Make Gnocchi
- Toss Pizza Dough in the Air
- Stomp Grapes
- Try Alligator
- Try Chicken Feet
- Build a Sandcastle
- Learn to Play Chess
- Learn CPR
- Coach a Sport
- Drink only Water for a Week
- Go Kayaking
- Go Stand-Up Paddle-boarding
- Ride in a Limousine
- Take a Train
- Go Rafting
- Go on a Spontaneous Road Trip
- Pan for Gold
- Stay on a Houseboat
- Camp along Avenue of the Giants
- Visit St. Mark’s Basilica
- Pencil Sketch an Animal
- Go Tent Camping
- Go Banana-Boating
- Take Mom to Disneyland
This is in no way an exhaustive list of all the things I’ve done, but I’ll add to it on days when I feel a little low.
Have you finished your Reverse FulList? If you have, here’s the next step: sit back, and appreciate the things that are on that list. Be thankful for all the things that you’ve been able to do and see in your life thus far. Look at this incredible life that you have lived and think about all the things you still have yet to do. Seriously, soak it up. Revel in the good bits of your life for a few minutes. I’ll wait…
Did you start comparing your list to mine? Or a friend’s? DON’T! We spend so much of our lives comparing ourselves to the people around us – who’s driving the fanciest car, who’s traveling all the time, who’s married with kids already, who has their doctorate and a great job? Life is not a race. Everyone is living their own journey at their own pace and we should celebrate the success of others while we build on our own success. Be grateful for the things that you have and stop focusing on the things that you don’t have. Work towards the things that you want, but appreciate what you have already achieved.
If you still feel unaccomplished and that you have so much more to do in life, add some small items to your FulList that you’ll be able to cross off now. A few little things that will help you feel accomplished today. It’s all about being happy, right? So, the third and final step is: “Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” As you make this Reverse FulList, you are the future self in that quote and you are thanking your past self for what you’ve done. Now it’s time to continue crossing items off your FulList so that your actual future self has even more memories to look back on with fondness. Get out there (or stay-at-home if that’s still being mandated) and Live Your FulList.
LIVE YOUR FULLIST 