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The bucket list. Everyone seems to have one these days. It’s the popular thing to do and indeed a good exercise should you want to live an intentional life that is fulfilling, impactful and fun.

Like my bucket list, most are a bit narcissistic, filled with quests that will make “me” happy and do little to improve the lives of others – but that’s okay. We all need adventure and enjoyment in life. And there is a certain overflow that being happy and fulfilled has on those around us that makes our world a better place.

While being primarily focused on things to do and places to see, most as well include one similar life list goal: To Learn Another Language.

It excites me to see this on so many lists and confirms the hunch I’ve had for a long time that everyone, everyone, wants to learn another language.

It excites me as well because it is one of the goals on these bucket lists that has a positive influence not only on ‘me’ but on the world we live in.

Learning another language will open up opportunities to help, to understand and to connect with people from other cultures. Learning another language is a powerful force for peace.

I won’t say it is the most important goal on everyone’s list, but I’d venture to say that it ranks higher in importance than ‘go bungie jumping’, ‘swim in every ocean’, ‘be an extra in a movie’, ‘climb a volcano’, ‘visit the Great Wall of China’, ‘eat a bug’ or ‘look ten years younger than I am.’

Most people have a few amazing goals on their bucket list that are probably more important than learning another language as well.

But learning another language holds a special place on these bucket lists. It is because of this that I want to encourage everyone to consider a little bucket list triage – start learning another language now – or remove it from your list.

Cross if off. Erase it. Remove it.

Learning another language is special for a number of reasons and my hope with this post is to offer a little kick in the pants to those of you who have yet to begin to work toward your bucket list goal to learn another language

Why is Language Learning Special?

I write this post to help you begin to learn another language today – not someday. Hopefully it will be enough to convince you to get started right now. If your not willing or ready to start right now, then I don’t think you are serious about learning another language and you should probably remove it from your list. Really.

But before you remove it, let me try to convince you with five reasons you should get started today.
Reason One

Learning another language is a life long endeavor. It’s not like climbing a mountain or swimming in every ocean or eating a bug. Those you do once and check them off. You plan a trip, find some free time, cough up the money and your done.

Check mark. Cross it off the list.

But learning a language is not so much a destination as a journey. It begins with a single step – an easy step to take – but continues on for months and years and requires daily interaction and long term commitment. And that single step is as easily taken today as it is ‘someday.’

Get started today.
Reason Two

Learning another language is cheap. No, check that, it’s free. If you are reading this article then you are on the Internet and if you’re on the Internet then more resources for learning another language are available to you than at any other time in the history of our world. And most of them are free. Money is not an issue.

Get Started Today.
Reason Three

Language learning is something that for many is a new idea. I know the feeling and the questions:

Where do I begin?
What should I do?
How do I get started?
How do I know how I am doing?

I understand. If Joe the mechanic asked me to overhaul the engine of my car, I’d feel the same way – even if it were parked in a garage full of tools.

That is why I created the Ten Week Journey. It’s a free email course that is designed to walk you step by step into the world of language learning.

It will introduce you to great, free tools on the Internet.
It will teach you how to go about learning another language and help you become an independent language learner.
It will provide accountability and encouragement. (Learn More)

There are also hundreds of blogs out there, including this one, teaching people how to learn languages. There are great guides and books. The resources for learning how are nearly as unlimited as the language specific resources themselves.

So not knowing where to begin is no longer an excuse.

Get Started Today.
Reason Four

Time. Most feel they do not have enough time to learn another language. I say hogwash. You can get started now with even ten minutes everyday. Start small. Start convenient. Do one thing a day. In Turkish there is a proverb, “Damlaya damlaya göl olur.” – Drop by drop a lake is formed.

Some of you are waiting for the “right opportunity.” Sure, a downpour will form a lake quicker, but you’re not in a race. If you were, you would have started already. Everyday you wait to begin is time not spent learning another new word.

By not starting, you are not learning anything. If you learned even one word a day for the next year, you’d know 365 new words. And 365 is a lot more than zero.

Zero is zero and that’s where you’ll be if you don’t start.

So Get Started Today
Reason Five

Perhaps the most important reason to get started today is that learning another language is a powerful force for good in our world. It will change you in ways you cannot imagine. It will open your eyes to other cultures. It will introduce you to new friends. It will allow you to help others in ways you never could before. Charlemagne said that, “To have another language is to possess a second soul.” Nothing but positive will ever come from your learning another language.

Get Started Today

Learning another language is one of the most impactful life goals you will ever complete. But it takes time. It takes commitment. And it will never happen if you think you’ll get to it ‘someday.’

There is no reason not to get started today. It’s free. It’s easy. It doesn’t need to take up tons of time. There is plenty of support.

It’s time to do a little bucket list triage. Get started or get it off the list.

*If you have a friend or family member who has ‘learn another language’ on their bucket list but they are doing little about it, please share this article with them. I want to help as many people as possible learn another language. But they have to get started. I’d love to be a part of that. Thanks.