Glory Days Ahead

If you listen closely to Bruce Springsteen's song Glory Days, it's really about a few people who get together, have a few drinks, and relive the past. Memory lane is often filled with great accomplishments and warm moments — and there's nothing wrong with that.

Most of us can point to seasons in our personal and professional lives when everything was clicking. The team was strong. The product was hot. Momentum felt effortless.

But here's the real question: What do we do with those memories today?

Do we face new challenges and quietly say, "I remember when this was easier" or "We were better back then"? As our roles change, what drives us changes too. The danger isn't remembering the past — it's letting it replace the future.

The bottom line is this: you should never lose sight of your bucket list.

Not a dusty list scribbled on paper, but a living, breathing reminder of where you still want to go.

Here are a few ways to keep your bucket list fresh and keep your Glory Days ahead of you, not behind you.

Lose the paper.

Your phone is almost always within reach. Use it. Dictation makes capturing ideas easy, and digital notes make revisiting and refining your list effortless. A bucket list should evolve, not sit forgotten in a drawer.

Mix business and pleasure.

Dreaming doesn't need categories. If business excites you, include it. Some of our biggest personal fulfillment comes from meaningful work — there's no reason to compartmentalize your ambitions.

Make it fun.

This isn't a performance review. There are no grades. Cross things out. Rewrite them. Let the list reflect curiosity and possibility, not pressure.

Do it now.

If an idea feels list-worthy, capture it immediately. You can always remove it later. Missed ideas are harder to recover than deleted ones.

Share it.

Review your list with your spouse, a close friend, or someone you trust. A quarterly conversation about where you're headed can be far more energizing than rehashing where you've been.

Borrow ideas.

Not everyone naturally thinks in big, creative leaps. That's okay. Hearing what excites others can unlock ideas you'd never generate on your own.

Balance attainable and audacious.

Include both. Small wins build momentum. Big dreams keep you stretching.

Review and revise regularly.

Schedule time to revisit your list. Life changes — families grow, health shifts, priorities reorder. When you remove something, note why. Those edits will say a lot about who you're becoming.

So which will it be: Glory Days or Bucket List?

A walk down memory lane is fine once in a while. But a thoughtful conversation about what's ahead will do more for your soul — and the souls of the people around you.

Your best days don't have to be behind you.

~ Bryan