My Life List: A Soft Promise to the Universe

The Life List didn’t just make me cry –

it made me remember.

There was a moment – a quiet one – that invited me to pause.

The movie didn’t hand me answers.

It asked me better questions:

What if we didn’t wait for life to force us into action?

What if we made a soft promise to ourselves instead?

This is mine. A whispered commitment. A love letter to the life I dream of.

Some of these are loud. Some are quiet. But they all matter.

A list not of achievements, but of aliveness.

Love & Connection

● Find True Love

○ Can you tell her everything in your life?

○ Is she kind?

○ Does she help you become the best version of yourself?

○ Can you imagine her as the mother of your children?

● Become a mom

● Get married

● Go on a honeymoon

● Build my dream home

● Dance in the rain

● Have a no social media month

● Watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle

● Write a love letter

Career & Creative Dreams

● Become a Sports Illustrated model

● Sign with WME, CAA, or UTA

● Be nominated for an Oscar

● Be nominated for an Emmy

● Be nominated for a Tony

● Star in a movie

● Star in a TV series

● Be in a Broadway show

● Act at the Shakespeare Globe

● Be in a Vogue magazine

● Have a deadline article with my name in it

● Write a book

● Be a special guest on a podcast

● Teach a yoga class

● Learn guitar

● Learn piano

● Learn French

● Learn Sign Language

● Take a pottery class

● Take a cooking class in Italy

● Complete 75 Hard

Travel & Adventure

● Visit every continent

● Travel to Europe

● Travel to South America

● Visit all 50 U.S. states

● Visit the Blue Lagoon in Iceland

● Visit Canada

● See the Mona Lisa

● Go snowboarding

● Go skiing

● Go on a safari in Africa

● Sail the Greek Islands

● Sail around the Caribbean

● Go to Disney Land

● Go to Universal Studios

● See the Grand Canyon

● Go on a cruise

● Go on a road trip in a van

● Attend the Lantern Festival in Thailand

● Go to a full moon party in Thailand

● Visit the Cherry Blossoms in Japan

● Ride a camel in Morocco

● Ride a hot air balloon in Cappadocia

● Ride a hot air balloon in Laos

● See the Northern Lights in Iceland

● Celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans

● Attend a ball

● Go to Oktoberfest in Germany

● Experience New Year’s Eve in New York

● See a concert at Red Rocks in Colorado

● Visit all 7 wonders of the world

Joyful Experiences & Small Pleasures

● Eat cheese fondue in Switzerland

● Bake my own bread

● Learn how to make pasta from scratch

● Go to Coachella

● Go to Carnival in Brazil

● Go to a winery

● Go to a drive-in movie

● See Stevie Nicks live

● Watch a Broadway show in New York

● Buy myself a designer purse

● Run a 5K

● Do a juice cleanse

Self & Soul

● Live life like art

● Make space for stillness

● Choose rest when no one’s watching

● Meditate daily

● Be fully myself and feel welcomed

● Be a soft place to land—for others and myself ● Celebrate the in-between

● Keep falling in love with my own becoming

This isn’t just a checklist.

It’s a compass.

A whisper to the universe that I’m here–

and I’m ready.

Loved this piece?

If it made you smile, dream a little bigger, or just feel something good — consider tossing a little magic my way.

You can buy me a coffee (or a croissant, if we’re being romantic about it).

Every bit of support helps me keep writing, dreaming, and chasing this beautifully chaotic life.

Thank you for being here. Truly. ♡

McKenna Burns

https://whateversmeant.com