Over the past year, I’ve kept a journal in addition to this blog. The other day, I went back to re-read it and found an entry from nearly a year ago with a Bucket List of things to do while I was in Australia. When I read that list, it filled me with regret for all the things I didn’t do, all the things I ran out of time for. I was overly optimistic with how much I thought I could pack into this year. I didn’t take a surfing lesson or master the guitar or visit the West Coast or Tasmania. For a split second, I had the thought that I’d wasted time. But I immediately pushed that out of my head because this year has been the greatest adventure, and I shouldn’t doubt that ever.

I remember a conversation I had with my German friend back when I was traveling in Cairns. It was near the beginning of my year, and I was telling him all the things I hoped I would do and see while in Oz. And he told me he hated lists like that because when you look back on them, all you can think about are the things you missed out on. They undermine all the amazing things you’ve done. In October, I wrote my Reverse Bucket List of things I’d done with my life. But there have been so many more things I could add since writing that. I wrote another – a list of things I’ve done only in the past year – because when I look back, I don’t want to think about what I missed. I want to remember how fucking full this year has been.

Reverse Bucket List: Aussie Edition

1. Worked as an au pair for two host families in Brisbane
2. Cuddled koalas and kangaroos
3. Rode elephants in Bali, Indonesia
4. Watched Queensland win its eighth State of Origin
5. Cheered on the Lions at the Gabba
6. Hiked the Glass House Mountains
7. Splendour in the Grass
8. Sandboarded the Carlo Sandblow at Rainbow Beach
9. Partied in Noosa and recovered on the beach
10. Wineries and waterfalls on the Gold Coast
11. Snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef
12. Hiked the Daintree Rainforest and ate lunch at Cape Tribulation
13. Bungy jumped in Cairns
14. Pet a rhino at the Australia Zoo on Steve Irwin Way
15. Sky dived... twice
16. Introduced my Aussies to Halloween and Thanksgiving
17. Watched Hunger Games at the Yatala Drive-In Cinema
18. Spent a week in Brisbane and Byron Bay with Mom
19. Watched the sunrise from the most easterly point in Australia
20. Climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge... twice
21. Sun baked on Bondi Beach
22. Spent three days on a boat on the Reef with Dad
23. Went scuba diving
24. Swam with a sea turtle
25. Swam with a sting ray at White Haven Beach
26. Celebrated Christmas in my togs on the beach
27. Spent New Years with hostel friends in Melbourne
28. Visited the Brighton Beach bath houses
29. Drove the Great Ocean Road and visited the Twelve Apostles
30. Couch surfed in Apollo Bay
31. Spent a week in a camper van in New Zealand
32. Hiked Mount Cook
33. Cruised the Milford Sound
34. Went canyoning and canyon jumping in Queenstown
35. Australia Day cockroach races
36. Countless Broncos games at Suncorp Stadium
37. Partied in Surfer's Paradise
38. Camped in Byron Bay
39. Three days of music at Byron Bay Bluesfest
40. Fell in love - with Brisbane, with new friends, with an amazing guy, and with life itself

Here's my video that attempts to capture at least some of the amazing things this year has brought me...