Micro adventures: 5 to‑do’s on my mini bucket list

Why I keep a mini bucket list

When I (Carrie) graduated high school 30 years ago, I started a bucket list, although back then, I called it “My Life To‑Do List.” Most of it was travel: places I dreamed of seeing, cultures I wanted to learn from, and experiences I hoped would shape me. But I also wrote down lifestyle goals: becoming bilingual, accepting myself fully, and writing a novel.

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I’m proud to say I’ve visited most of the U.S. destinations on that list and explored 20+ countries. Every five years, I update the list and add new places because curiosity doesn’t age. But many of the lifestyle items? Still works in progress.

And that’s okay.

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I’m a reboot kind of person. I write New Year’s resolutions, but I also check in with myself throughout the year, especially during transitional moments like my kids starting new phases or my birthday rolling around. That’s when I pause, take stock, and refresh my mini bucket list: the small, daily‑life goals that help me become the person I want to be.

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Here’s what’s on my list now.

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1. Get in shape for future trips (and become an active person overall)

My big bucket list includes visiting an elephant sanctuary in Southeast Asia in December 2027. To make the most of that trip, my mini bucket list includes getting into shape and rebuilding healthy routines I lost while caring for my mom for 2.5 years.

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Travel demands stamina, especially when you love old relics with steep staircases and long walking days. I don’t want being out of shape to hold me back from seeing the world.

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2. Be more active in my hometown — not just on vacation

When I’m not traveling, I tend to be a homebody. Work, kids’ activities, and the daily grind take over. But every time I’m on a trip, trying new things rejuvenates me — and there’s no reason I can’t bring that same curiosity home.

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So I’m treating my hometown like a destination. New cafés, local trails, community events — micro adventures that keep life interesting between the big trips. I may even break out our Activity Crawl Passport to keep track of where I’ve explored.

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3. Get better at public speaking and more comfortable on camera

I’ve always been shy. I chose print journalism over broadcast for a reason. But now, as I grow in my full‑time career and build The CJ Way, I need to let my confident, fun self show up more often, especially on camera.

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This isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. And it’s a skill I will need to build one micro step at a time.

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4. Become a better cook

I’m a foodie… but not a cook. I’ve never been interested in the process. But part of The CJ Way is helping people take their next first step, and this is one of mine. I want to learn a few new recipes, contribute more in the kitchen, and enjoy the creativity of cooking.

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This one feels small, but it’s connected to something bigger: showing up more fully for myself and my family.

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5. Be a better mom, wife, and friend

During the years I cared for my mom, I turned inward. I focused on tasks, not connection. Now I want to return to the version of myself who checked in on friends’ big presentations, helped my husband cook more than my 2–3 staple meals, and remembered school supplies before the third reminder.

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This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present.

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The theme behind my mini bucket list

You may notice a pattern: Don’t let fear or the daily grind hold me back from being the best version of myself.

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That’s the heartbeat of The CJ Way.

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Micro habits and micro adventures — tiny, meaningful steps — help us build confidence, momentum, and joy. They remind us that growth doesn’t require a plane ticket. It requires intention.

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