A few days ago, while I was sorting through a pile of crumpled up papers, I came across a bucket list that I made when I was 16 years old. It feels inconceivable to say that that was now five years ago. Even though a lot has changed, it's hard to believe that such a huge chunk of time has passed since then without any signs or signals alerting me that I am actually growing up. I can picture the day when I turned 16 as though it were yesterday.

While the fact that I had changes in mindset and ambitions as I grew older did not come as a surprise, what was a bit shocking and slightly hilarious was the complete 180 that I had made without even realizing it. Younger-me felt like a complete stranger, someone naive and a bit clueless.

The bucket list was made up of the silliest things. "Grow my hair out really long and then find the courage to cut it all off." "Pull an all-nighter for no reason and watch the sunrise." "Have a closet stuffed with nice clothes." "Keep a parrot as a pet." These were things that did not matter in the slightest. Will I really care about all of the materialistic things that I desired or a single haircut 50 years from now?

Of course, there isn't anything wrong with wanting new clothes or a nice haircut. However, if I am only allowed one lifetime, then I sincerely hope that my lifetime is filled with so much more than these meaningless accomplishments, goals, and experiences that I hoped to have back when I was 16 years old.

In fact, if I were to make a new bucket list full of everything that I want now, at 21, this is what it would look like:

1. Make a career out of everything that I love to do.

I want all of my accomplishments to be for myself, not anyone else.

2. Find happiness within myself.

I want my own company to be enough for me and I don't want to need anyone else to make me feel complete. I also want to get to a point in my life where I am confident and accepting of my flaws and imperfections. I want to feel myself growing into my own skin, something I that think that I still have yet to do.

3. Share my love with others and have the people who I love find love and happiness as well.

I want to watch my siblings and friends find whatever it is that will make them feel happier than they have ever felt, whether that is a person, a place, or a job. I want to watch their faces light up as they pursue whatever and whoever they love. I also want to find that same happiness and, one day, someone to share that with.

4. See the world.

I want to go absolutely everywhere. I want to travel to every corner of the world, meet new people, and experience cultures that are the complete opposite of my own. I want to visit Claude Monet's studio in Giverny, explore Torres del Paine in Chile, and travel to Mecca. I want to trek to Machu Picchu and I want to see the Northern Lights with my own eyes. I want to see the Great Wall of China, the Chittorgarh Fort in India, and the Glowworm caves in New Zealand. I want to see everything and I also want to live in another country long enough to learn a new language.

5. Find the time to read more often, just for fun.

I want to read actual books, not just scroll through articles and stories on my phone.

6. Live off the grid for a small portion of my life.

Maybe I will live on top of a mountain with no wifi or cell signal, just to see what it's like.

7. Own every small animal from everywhere.

Yes, this is something that I will think about in 50 years. Whether or not I took the opportunity to own a baby goat, (another) little kitten, a puppy, a tiny turtle, a baby fox, a cute little koala bear, and a small cow, I need all of them.

8. Finally, stop being afraid to do anything and everything that has the potential to make me happy.

I want to live a life with no regrets and I don't want to let anyone or anything stop me from doing the things that I want to do.