I have been a baseball fan for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, there was nothing more meaningful to me than watching, talking, or playing baseball with my dad. One year we even went on an epic road trip, and the climax of that trip was watching the Reds (my favorite team) versus the Cubs at legendary Wrigley Field.

I remember the moment we emerged from the tunnel, saw the green grass and the sacred ivy in the outfield, and stood right next to my dad. It was pretty amazing, and I am positive that it cemented my love for the game.

Years later I would begin to write out my bucket list: basically the things I wanted to do before I died, epic adventures of my own that would shape not only me, but my own kids.

One of those items was going to see the Baseball Hall of Fame with my dad and my son.  This summer, I was able to mark this incredible trip off my list. Walking into this incredible space was special, but doing it with my dad and my sons – well, that made it legendary.

The Hall itself was cool, but not nearly as cool as spending those precious moments standing next to some of the most important men in my life.

As we left Cooperstown, New York, I began to think back on my bucket list and mentally drew a line through this task. As I completed that, I was so glad that no matter what happens tomorrow, no matter what happens next year, no matter what professionally, financially,  or physically I was able to cross this off the list.  No one will ever be able to take those memories away from me, my dad, or my sons.

Here is the thing about bucket lists: a lot of people leave this Earth with a bucket full of good intentions. I think this trip reminded me that I refuse to be one of them.

What are the things on your bucket list and what are you doing to mark them off?

In the words of the epic movie The Shawshank Redemption: “I guess it comes down to a simple choice really. Get busy living, or get busy dying.”