This is dictionary school, not my journal*

 

* reference to a seriously, so blessed! post found here. (one of the greatest parodies ever, ps)

Dear blog-world/world in general:

Something has recently come to my attention, and the future English teacher/lover of specificity of language in me feels a need to make a clarification.

With the memory of New Year's still fresh in our hearts and minds, I've been seeing a lot of lists in the blog world lately. And an extraordinary amount of them have been labeled "Bucket List."

But an FYI. The term "bucket list" comes from the phrase "kick the bucket," and is specifically a list of things you want to do before you DIE (as in "kick the bucket"). THAT's what a "Bucket List" is. Technically, things on this year/month/week's to-do list could ALSO be on the "Bucket List." But let's stick to specifics. "Bucket List" is synonymous with the phrases "Life List," "List of Things To Do Before You Die," and "That movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman that was pretty fun but didn't do too well at the box office."

A "bucket list" is NOT:
- a list of things you want to do this month
- a list of things you want to do this year
- a list of things you want to do in your 20's
- a list of things you want to do before you move out of town

A list of goals/resolutions, with any other deadline but death, by any other name is still just a list of goals/resolutions. Don't let that get you down, though.

You can still get creative. The Monthly Must Accomplish List. Twenty-five Goals While You're Twenty-five. Things To See in DC This Summer.

To Do This Week.

You know. 'Cause, hey, I dislike New Year's Resolutions too. But please, don't bandy terminology about like a volleyball.

Sincerely,
an overly-aware-of-language blogger