Revisiting My Bucket List from a Decade Ago

I created a bucket list in the wee hours of Doc’s Castle Media, in 2013, with the hopes of completing everything that’s on it before I die. Participating in a fashion show, recording a rap song, and releasing a mixtape are just a few things I can mark complete from my Bucket Lists. Now it’s nearly a decade later, and it’s time to revisit my bucket list from 2013 to see if I somehow continued to scratch things without staying on top of it all of these years.

At the time, I made a bucket list to keep myself busy while searching for a gateway to my career. It’s funny how that was so unnecessary to do because life has a way of making you busy with all its crazy twists and turns. With that said, I kind of forgot about my list until it started trending on Doc’s Castle Media this summer. I guess viewers suddenly have an interest in what aspirations I made for myself 8 years ago. Nevertheless, I am revisiting my list to see what I completed without the thought of conquering my list even being on my mind.

[Read 1000+ Bucket List Ideas by Bucket List Journey]

In the last decade, I learned that creating lists helps me feel fulfilled. They’re made to give me purpose. I don’t need reasons to do things, but it’s better when I set goals for myself that grant direction whenever I hit a period in my life I feel I am “stuck.” As a mental health practice, conquering bucket lists and creating vision boards gives me reasons to live.

By all means, please don’t confuse it with the vision boards I share online each year, my bucket list is of tasks to complete before I die. There’s no deadline for any of what I want to achieve on this prior to that. In fact, this particular list of goals is full of things that I think are cool saying I can complete throughout my lifetime.

Doc’s 2021 Revised Bucket List:

After living my life these few years, I find that a list of only 12 aspirations is not enough. I want to do so much more. Furthermore, I realize as I age, I should dream of more ideas for my bucket list because every time I complete a task, it feels so amazing. It’s a feeling that should be frozen in time.

Below is my revised bucket list 9 years after it initially appeared on Doc’s Castle Media. The things crossed out represent what’s completed.

~~Make a Song~~ (Listen to my rap song.)
Be in a music video
Write/Produce a video
Go to 4 different states in one year
Go to a Rave (similar to those that I see in movies)
~~Walk-in a fashion show~~ (See the recap of the fashion show.)
Go on a Cruise with friends
Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
Snow Tubing
Attend Mardi Gras
Swim with some exotic animal
~~Release a mixtape~~ (Listen to Songs From Da Dugout.)
Start a Vlog
~~Host A Tequila Tastings~~ (Read a recap of 1st ever tequila tasting.)
~~Become Certified as a Bartender~~
~~Open an Art Store~~ (Shop for Tipsy Decor.)
~~Have A Pop-up Shop~~
Purchase a school bus and paint it
Be an audience member in a live show taping (Preferably Ellen)
Write and Publish a Book
~~Complete SEO/Marketing Certification~~
Turn my house into my art museum
~~Own a personal library in my home~~

Will I revisit this list again in the next decade? Why not? Tracking and revisiting whether I completed any goal is cool. What’s surprising is having the support from my readers reminding me to always come back to it.

5 Steps to Completing Your Vision Board for the New Year

Do you consider yourself a goal-getter? I am 100% a goal chaser. I love setting goals for myself to accomplish. That’s why I chose to start the New Year right by sharing my 2020 Vision Board to Doc’s Castle. Now I want to share my thought process for how I get it done so you can do it for the next year 2021.

Creating a Vision Board really isn’t hard. Since we’re now in December prepping to cleanse our 2020 sins away, many people should be aware of what they want to work towards in the new year.

[Read: The Reason Vision Boards Work and How to Make One from Huffington Post]

Generally, I make sure I have an idea of a direction I’m headed for the coming year. I’m not a perfectionist about completing the goals I make. But I do like looking back at previous vision boards with a sense of pride that it all started from a board when I achieved them.

Here are 5 Steps for Creating a Vision Board the Doc’s Castle Media way.

Review Previous Years Goals for Setting Goals for the New Year

Quickly jot down what you are proud of accomplishing during the current year. This is an important step in setting goals for the following year because it doesn’t give a feeling of starting from scratch. Doing this will have you walking into the new year proud of what was already done. Before you make your new list, give yourself a pick me up by listing what you’re proud of completing in 2020.

Categorize Accomplishments

This is definitely an extra step I take in creating my vision boards. It’s not necessary but it helps me build on my achievements. Some goals you may have can be combined because they can be very similar in getting to a mutual endpoint. I categorize these goals because it’s easier to find an image to represent a group of similar things rather than finding images for each listed.

For example, I am able to look at my 2019 Vision Board and see that the majority of goals were for personal development. I had goals to work on planning and organizing. I also had a goal to practice writing. I labeled these goals as self-development goals. When looking for relatable images, I’ll group all pictures for organizing and writing as self-development. This helps me later down the line when viewing my board because any self-development image in use should bring thoughts of these aspirations.

http://www.instagram.com/p/BdOQxMqHnKS/?igshid=75qjhkl68pfm

Choosing a Vision Board Template that works Best for You

When looking for vision board examples, you’ll find a variety of different ways people get creative making vision boards. Poster boards, Pinterest boards, and even goals and grids. My vision boards are digitally created, saved as a PDF file, and printed and posted in numerous spots. I like it best this way because I can manage the size of my vision board. I like posting my vision board as a screensaver on my phone or print it out to hang on my fridge. I make sure my goals are very visible.

I also complete my vision board using Adobe’s Photoshop each year. But there are many free apps and software, like Canva and Picmonkey, which gives the same digital flexibility. But if all else fails, you can always make one using pen, paper, and your imagination.

Search for visual representations for Vision Board Ideas

This is where you’ll focus on grabbing vision board supplies and images. My search for inspiration is quick and done using the Google search engine. I research images and terms I created by categorizing my accomplishments. But for many people who opt out of that extra step, they choose an image that will remind them of what they want to accomplish. You can include other cool visuals on your vision board like quotes, places you’d like to visit, and people you’d like to see. The point of your board is to inspire. So you should include any material that will motivate you whenever you see it.

Hanging Your Vision Board

http://www.instagram.com/p/B42bre8JmfR/?igshid=1w2td9m3hc9nw

When your board is complete, post it where you’ll always see it. By the computer workspace, next to the bathroom mirror, or on the refrigerator door are great places to post inspiration because these are places most people go at the start of their day. Posting your board wherever you look the most should trigger your mind towards what inspires you. But posting it wherever you start your day is an extra plus because of the anticipated motivation expected to gain from viewing it 365 days of the year. That’s even more encouragement towards your target. So I’d post it high and mighty if I were you.

Now that you have the steps, will you be making a vision board for 2021? Leave your comments below.

2020 Vision Baby: Sharing My Vision Board

We’re going to conquer our dreams. We’re getting back to master planning and sharing vision boards.

Boom! I’m coming back to use this zombieland of a blog I’ve had for over a year in hopes of inspiring people to take on the new decade in high confidence! We’re going to conquer our dreams. We’re getting back to master planning and sharing vision boards.

I’ve been on a hiatus from blogging for numerous reasons that I promise I’ll update in a later post. Today I want to share the vision board I created while prepping for my Doc Castle return. My board is solely my vision for 2020. Though I did draft a plan for a better decade in my daily notebook, I chose to share only what I have in mind for this year so I will not bore you all.

Read: The Benefits of Creating A Vision Board on GoalCast.

These things are what I consider to be concrete and achievable plans. I’m sharing and posting my board online to solidify and make declarations for my desires. I’ve written yearly goals since attending college, and it has proven to be very effective for me because it helps me get things done. It helps me make steps toward becoming the best version of myself each year. In achieving my goals, my life feels more colorful and more meaningful, and more recently I’ve found that my writings about my experiences completing my goals are my greatest motivation when I’m not feeling 100%.

I’ve shared bucket lists on Doc’s Castle Media in previous years with follow-up blog posts of sharing what I’ve done. Those experiences lead to creating music with friends and being featured in fashion shows. I met amazing people who introduced me to exploring a bigger world. It might not be a bucket list but in sharing my goals for 2020, I hope I can see more vividly and continue living more meaningfully.

Just a few things on the 2020 board…

Travel More
#Thirsty30
Living and Growing Happily with My Boyfriend
Honoring Taylor University Hours
Utilizing my office as a space for productivity and as box of inspiration for brewing ideas.
Stop living in your what if’s and just do what it!
Make Dozens upon dozens of Decorative Vases

When entering into a new year, do you make goals? Share some of the goals you have in the comments below.

Life Anew in 2016 (Plans for Doc’s 2016)

As I enter into every new year, I like to reflect on my past experiences. It helps me to discover the next steps needed to excel to a higher level of self. I usually start with a list of goals I hope to accomplish before year’s end. There’s no limits to how few or many goals I may set. I just write out a list of things I want to do. The next thing I know, I’m forming a sense of happiness as I scratch off tasks as time surpasses.

But last year in 2015, I didn’t do what I always set out to do. Instead, I wanted to try something new by focusing on one word for the entire year, rather than lists. The word chosen was “self-discipline,” and I wouldn’t say that I’ve done a good job with remaining focused on living up to its meaning, which left me quite disappointed in myself. But I can’t beat myself up in 2016 for it.

There were incidents in 2015 that will remain unspeakable. For the first time in my life, I’ve done something I’ve regretted, and this year I’ve come up with a plan to never put myself in such a position where I’m ashamed of something I’ve done. So I’m going to remain focused on this one word. I’ll just make sure to incorporate my habits of listing things so I can keep my eyes on my success.

I first want to start of with the word’s meaning.

Self-Discipline means to have a level of control over yourself.

Self Discipline is all about having self-control. It requires you to be focused on the direction you see as best for yourself. It requires you to have a plan. It requires you to ignore your lazy impulses. It requires you to strive for the better.

Last years failure resulted from not continuing to keep up with my usual habits that help keep me focused. It was my mistake at the beginning of 2015 to not carry on with what I already know that helps me. This year will be different.

I know I can take this same word and create a brighter year in 2016. But as I’m getting older, I’m learning the habits I have which I shouldn’t break that were already helping me and making me proud. Creating lists is what I am good at so let me tell you my list of plans for my upcoming days.

My 2016 Goals List

Learn How to Cook. (HaHa!)
Move into my own place.
Complete two things from my bucket list.
Complete my first manuscript for my first book.
Provide more professional services under Doc’s Castle Media brand.
Expand my knowledge by reading at least one book a month.
Seek more opportunities to inspire others.
Make Myself Proud, again.
Create and Follow an Accomplishment Box.

I thought about explaining more on why I have all of these specific goals. But I thought of how sometimes when I share things with people they start to expect it, and if I don’t follow through with it they’ll become disappointed. Well, for the sake of those type of people, I’ll rest my pretty little fingers. I rather I not disappoint myself, let alone others, by talking about it too much.

I do plan to blog more of my successes. So be on the lookout for a better explanation as I foreshadow those successes being goals from my 2016 Goals List.

I hope that everyone is preparing themselves to becoming better people this year, as well. I’d love to hear your dreams. Leave your what awesome goals you plan on achieving in 2016 below.

I didn’t have a list of goals for 2015 but I sure did accomplish quite a bit in 2014. I also made sure I kept up with completing tasks on my bucket list. To see what I’ve done, read “Bucket Listing It Up” on Doc’s Castle Media.

#SongsFromDaDugout Released from the Chambers To The Public March 2015

It’s here. After the wait, I can no longer say “Sorry for the Wait” like I’m Mr. Weezy F. Baby, himself. My first EP is here for you to take a listen to. It’s about time!

As part of my list of tasks to complete on my bucket list, I can say this is one of the most lengthy projects I completed thus far. However I caught myself not wanting to finish it a few times, and the production process was bumpy along the way. Anyway, I said “eff it” to my woes and decided to drop what I had anyway. It’s the first of what I hope will be more music projects, so I won’t beat myself up for how it sounds. I know I’ll produce way better material in the future. I’m just glad to have the opportunity to do something like this. Writing music has become one of the many creative activities I do to keep my mind busy.

It’s now official; I will scratch off release mixtape off my Bucket List! Yay!

You may download my EP “Songs From Da Dugout” via my Bandcamp page or Soundcloud at Alissa Feré. So it’s easier for you, take a look at the Playlist below and download it. Thanks for listening!

Special Thank You to the lovely staff of people who helped me with this project:

Producer and Engineer: FLuX; Album Cover Art: Boutzie; Photographer: Rebellious Rebel; Promotional Art: Alissa Fere; Creative Consulting: K.A. Walker and Tony Bonez Sinatra; Featured artist: Quinn Shabaz, Leon Dominick, and Boutzie; Studio Production: The Dugout Dojo

Do you think I should make more music? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

To check out photos from my “Songs From Da Dugout” photo shoot, read “Alissa Feré Takes It To The Field For The Release of 2015 Mixtape “Songs From Da Dugout” on Doc’s Castle Media.

Alissa Feré 2015 EP “Song From Da Dugout” Artwork Finally Released

With less than two weeks away from my EP “Songs From Da Dugout” release, I am pleased to finally release the official cover artwork for my project to the public. The EP is expected to release March 21, 2015 via the Alissa Feré Bandcamp and Soundcloud music pages.

Like many of my other projects, Briana Ragler was given the pleasures of handling majority of my visuals. Starting from taking on the responsibility of styling my creative persona to designing my cover of my first musical project, Briana, also known as recording artist Boutzie’, utilizes all her creative abilities to make sure Alissa Feré was ready for the world to take in. She was my photographer, stylist, and graphic designer.

Ayeee!

I’ve decided to take the Rebellious Rebel approach while working on my EP because Briana’s creative style is that “clear and clean” image I was aiming for that steers away from the average look associated with sports and hip-hop. I commonly see a more “rigid and rough” images used for things associated with both hip-hop and sports. Both are hard topics dominated by men, which I am not. So my thoughts for my project already being assumed as “hard” had to be challenged to seem more “fluffier” for Feré’s sake.

By creating a more cleaner representation for this project, I hope to promote interests that’s grabs the onlooker’s eye. I want my listeners to know from the moment they see the cover that there’s meaning behind being left in the Dugout for women. This clear and concise illustration captures the beauty behind what I believe this game we call love really is. It’s a cloudy, mysterious, dangerous, and very uneasy to understand, but it continues to be alluring, mesmerizing, and worth taking. Briana captured that we’ll in this very simply put work of art.

On top of it all, it’s very professionally presented. *applauds*

Along with the help from Baltimore artist FLuX, who’s the owner of the Baltimore brand The Dugout Dojo and the engineer of “Songs From Da Dugout,” I was ensured that each song would sound superb. I had no doubt about how my EP would turn out because listening to FLuX’s previous works, I was already blown away. (Listen to The Sky Is Blue by FLuX, here.)

The EP’s track listing is also finalized with six semi- complete songs ready for me to share.

José (Liquor Talkn) ft. Boutzie (prod. Doowy Lloh)
Rufus Bush (prod. mjnichols)
Only You Ft. Quinn Shabaz
Tonight (prod. Cmbeats)
When The Stars Align ft. Leon Dominick (prod. Davinci)
(Bonus Track): Pleasant Nightmares (prod. André 3000)

“Songs From Da Dugout” is expected to release this month March 21, 2015. For more updates on Alissa Feré, subscribe to Doc’s Castle Media social sites.

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View photos from my “SongsFrom Da Dugout” shoot on Doc’s Castle Media.

Alissa Feré Takes It To The Field For The Release of 2015 Mixtape “Songs From Da Dugout”

As an insider for the release of my 2015 mixtape Songs From Da Dugout, I decided to give my readers a few snapshots to look at while they wait for my project to drop next month.

I decided to get a little creative for this release. I thought Why should I leave you guys with only an expected date for my project? I should give you a little more, and maybe some more background to what to look forward to. So I partnered up with my favorite photographer/blogger to give something extra as we wait for my dropping day.

Songs From Da Dugout is a representation of my emotions. Often I feel I’m left in limbo on a lot of issues when I’m dealing with guys. I think lots of women can relate. It can feel like I’m sitting in a dugout waiting to be called on for the next play. It can get restless waiting on these guys, and they should know that I don’t wait very long for my moment.

Women have so many questions that could be left unanswered while waiting on their next call in a partnership; there’s so many expectations that should be fulfilled on the behalf of the man that aren’t met in relationships. I relate to those women because when someone’s left in the dugout, how is anyone expected to win the game? How is anyone expected to conquer the battle?

These brothers got us yelling to the coach like, “Come on. Call me, coach! I’m ready to play.”

The photo shoot was conducted by Briana Ragler of Rebellious Rebel, also known as hip-hop artist Boutzie’. She did a great job. What do you think?

Look out for “Songs From Da Dugout” dropping in March 2015!

Have you heard “Pleasant Nightmares,” single from 2015 tape Songs From Da Dugout? Check out “Alissa Feré Releases Title & Promo Art For Spring 2015 Project” on Doc’s Castle Media.

Watch behind the scenes of my photo shoot via Briana’s Blog, Rebellious Rebel.

http://youtu.be/1uU6n3zTuko

Alissa Feré Releases Title & Promo Art For Spring 2015 Project

Something new had to be brewing in the Doc’s Castle Media kitchen for there to be such a long and lasting silence. It’s been almost a month since my last blog post….sorry, guys.

My silence is partially justified with the new goals I’ve acquired throughout the last two quarters of 2014. While I’ve aspired to become a master resumé and songwriter, I’ve neglected my original hobby for writing blogs. But as you can see, I always come back of course.

Since May 2014, I took on a mission to complete my bucket list, which I thought would be easy to do. I was sadly mistaken, and since then, I’ve even added more tasks to my bucket list. I can’t help the feeling I get from accomplishing a new goal. Though sooner or later, I’ll have to set limitations on these goals because I don’t know how much of my list I’m willing to take on now. Haha.

One of the tasks I’ve added to my lengthy list is the release of my 2015 mixtape. It began another duty on my list the moment after I released “José (Liquor Talkn).” Eight months later, I give you the promotional art for my project!

Songs From Da Dugout is as general as it sounds. It’s a project compromised of multiple tracks about my life, or emotions I’ve experienced, between the time period of May, when I released José (Liquor Talkn), and January. All the songs were recorded in Baltimore city studio The Dugout Dojo with head producer and artist FLuX.

Songs From Da Dugout is an EP formulated to speak on the thoughts and emotions of a woman in heartache. Feel the agony and scornful words of Alissa Feré as I speak upon situations every girl can relate to, and every man probably heard of before. Listen to a new rhythmic style only sure to be found in underground Baltimore hip-hop.

Are any of your favorite indie artist releasing any projects that you’re anticipating? Let us know about it in the comments below.

Have you seen my Bucket List? Read “Bucket Listing It Up” on Doc’s Castle Media.