I've been doing a lot of thinking about her, what it must have been like to be resigned to the fact that there might have been things on her bucket list that didn't get accomplished, because we all think there will be more time. We think about things in terms of when I retire, or when the kids go to school, or when the baby is older, or when we have time, but the simple fact is we don't know if time will even be there tomorrow. That isn't to say that you can't plan for the future, I'm certainly not telling you to not have a plan. I'm just a big believer in not staying stagnant, we should all be evolving as human beings, we should all be doing and not just talking. And sometimes we all need a little reminder, a little push to keep that in the foremost piece of our minds. My girlfriend and I were sitting at dinner last night with our husbands and she summed it up perfectly, "you can spend a whole day cleaning or doing laundry or other mundane things and before you know it, you've realized that your entire day is gone." So here is my reminder not to let the days slip by so quickly.
First, all the info can be found here...
Second, here are the particulars...
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
And finally here it is... MY LIST expires on Sunday, May 27, 2012.
- add a stamp to my passport
- blog daily for one month {0/30}
- send a package to Any Soldier
- learn to sew
- organize our house ideas binder & find our dream house
- pay cash for a new car
- save more monthly for our house downpayment
- visit 3 US cities I've never been to before
- visit New England
- visit San Francisco
- read 50 books {0/50}
- go on 12 dates with my husband in a year
- lose 15 pounds {0/15}
- learn Photoshop!
- got to bed by 10 pm every weeknight for 2 weeks {0/14}
- have another technology free day
- join BlogHer
- take one photo of Finnegan every day for 30 days {0/30}
- get our will completed
- get a membership to the art museum
- get started on baby #2
- try geo-caching
- re-vamp our budget
- get a massage
- host 5 game nights {0/5}
- host a Christmas party
- get a pedicure with my mom and my sister
- try one new food I am not sure I'd like
- visit Elise in Kentucky
- call my Meme, GramCrackers, and Oma once a week for a month {0/4}
- be the one to apologize first
- go to bed with a spotless kitchen every night for a week instead of leaving dishes for the morning {0/7}
- use my 'good' watercolor paper to create something beautiful with Finn
- learn to use the manual setting on our camera
- spend money locally 20 times when the option is available {0/20}
- write 50 handwritten letters {0/50}
- do something kind for a complete stranger
- do something kind for a friend
- clean out our cup/glasses cabinet
- buy a lottery ticket
- do the 29 days of giving challenge for the second time
- visit Revolver again
- write 101 comments on other people's blogs
- watch every episode of The Office this season
- help Annie get her Etsy shop up and running
- take Finnegan sledding
- Meet my blogging readership goal.
- be a better friend
- have a family photo taken
- join Toastmasters with Dave
- research {and buy} an electric tea kettle
- go apple picking
- set up an auto payment for Finnegan's 529
- hug someone that needs it
- go to Zingerman's again
- go to Mackinac Island
- go to the drive-in
- watch The Tudors first season {0/10}
- visit Steph, Sirius, Violet, and the dream killer in Chicago!
- go to a concert
- brush Dexter once a week for 6 weeks
- be conscious and try to avoid using the word 'like' for one week in conversation {0/7}
- create a list of meaningful gifts for Christmas rather than being absorbed in the commercial
- create a new tradition in our family
- go camping!
- double our monthly family income
- take my vitamins every day for a month {0/30}
- watch 5 foreign films in 5 different languages {0/5}
- research and find the best pre-school fit for Finnegan
- remodel the bathroom
- eat at 7 new restaurants
- have the hallway plaster fixed & paint the hallway
- learn how to knit
- put in the front flower bed edging and mulch
- make macarons
- cut out all fast food for 6 months {0/6}
- get & make Lisa's recipe for briased short ribs
- make Bridget's awesome potato soup again
- create a weekly menu plan for 6 straight weeks {0/6}
- re-hang the photos in our living room & add more
- clean out the basement and get rid of/donate all of the unwanted stuff
- clean up the basement laundry area and make it a more enjoyable place to do laundry
- buy a new laptop
- buy and install new kitchen sink
- win something
- complete 30 consecutive days of the 30 Day Shred {0/30}
- get Finnegan's baby book up to date
- have a picnic with my friends
- make a household inventory for insurance purposes
- find & buy a new pair of favorite sunglasses... my faves got broken
- make a vision board
- practice french once a week for 3 months {0/12}
- make someone laugh
- make a donation to PBS & NPR
- buy a pair of red shoes
- let someone know how they've changed my life for the better
- make Dave an amazing breakfast in bed
- rent a house on a beach
- host The Night Before again now that we have a 'real' table
- Take Finnegan to the Butterfly House
- inspire 5 others to make a 101 list... if you do this after reading my post, please let me know & you can do this even if you don't have a blog... just grab a pen and a piece of paper! {05}
