Certain people are probably getting sick of me referencing Chookooloonks, but it’s my favourite blog. It lifts my spirits, always. It calms me, always. And something like that deserves a special place in my life.
Karen Walrond is the beauty behind the blog, and about a year ago I read her life list. I love this idea. I also love her tips for creating your own life list. Maggie Mason, aka Mighty Girl, who inspired Karen to do this, suggests that everyone should create a life list. I thought about doing this for a long time. It percolated. It existed as fragments in the space where my mental lists live. And then one day in early January 2011 I wrote it down.
I’ve since pondered this list some more, though I haven’t done a whole lot with it. I intended to post it here much sooner, but other stuff took up space in my brain.
Well, now I want to take my brain back.
This list isn’t complete – a couple of things might come off and lots more might go on. You’ll see some themes here, and I’d like to expand the variety a bit. I’d like to do more with some of Karen’s great tips, like doing something you love many, many times. But that will come.
For now, this is my list of things I want to do during my life:
- Go on an African safari/photo tour.
- Spend a month in Hawaii.
- Volunteer again.
Attend a bloggers’ conference for strong women. - BlogHer ’11, August 2011!- Speak at a blog conference.
- Attend a TED talk.
- Spend a month somewhere tropical (other than Hawaii) by the ocean.
Take a photography course. - June 20, 2011. Read about it here.Get in the habit of taking more photographs.– I’m going to count this as done thanks to my iPhone and Instagram.- Live in another country for a year.
- Visit Ireland again.
- Visit Bad Neuenahr/Ahrweiler (Germany) again.
- Take language classes for a new language.
- Run a marathon.
Cut my hair really short.Done! July 13, 2011. Short blurb here.- Create a philanthropic fund.
Do a public speaking engagement about postpartum depression.Done! Read about my radio interview here and my TEDx talk here.- Travel across Europe.
- Celebrate New Year’s Eve somewhere fancy.
- Really learn how to use a graphics editing program.
- See the Northern Lights.
- Ride in a hot air balloon.
- Get another master’s degree.
- Take Connor and Ethan (and Rich) to Disneyland.
- Write something and have it published in a major magazine.
- Win an award from a well-known professional organization for my work.
- Teach a course.
- Write a children’s book.
- Learn how to play poker.
- Learn how to make a cup of tea – properly.
Have another child.– Done!Read the story.
- Complete a triathlon.
- Be an extra in a movie.
- Act in a stage play again.
- Visit Antarctica.
- Learn more about my family history.
- Take flying lessons.
- Stay in the ice hotel.
- Have a tree house. A really nice one.
- Visit all the continents.
- Own a house outright.
- Own a vacation property.
- Get to Mt. Everest’s base camp.
- Pay for a stranger’s dinner in a restaurant.
- Improve my 10K personal best.
- Take part in a silent retreat.
Spend a weekend alone.April 27, 2011. Not as expected, but it counts. Read about it here.- Visit the Galapagos Islands.
- Learn CPR.
- Learn to hit a golf ball on the first try.
- Speak in front of a large audience (over 500 people).
Get my personal email inbox to zero.(I’ve done this with both my personal and work email. It’s a miracle! This strategy from 5 Minutes for Mom is brilliant.)- Get some form of exercise every day for 30 days straight. – In progress, January 2013.
Get a colourful streak put in my hair.Done! Read about it here.- Give blood 5 more times. – 1 down (July 5, 2011), 4 to go!
- Write a book and have it published.
- Participate in a flash mob.
- Get a tattoo to commemorate beating PPD.
- Help someone else with her life list.
I’m going to start doing some of these things and will post updates on my progress.
Anyone else have a life list?
Thanks for the kind shout-out! These are awesome. You're making me want to add a few more to my list!
Good luck — have fun attempting them!
I love that you made this list!
I also love that it's so full and varied. Sounds like a fabulous way to live, you know?
And *sigh* if you make it out to anywhere tropical- I'm coming, too!
Wow, your list is great. Lots of things you can work on doing immediately (like 14 & 43) and plenty to look forward to doing a little later. So, a whole lifetime of ambition and happiness and accomplishments!
Love the list….full of travel and adventure and new and crazy and not so crazy and fun and laughter – a little bit homework which can suck sometimes – but also full of confidence, expansion, love and life. Go get it girl !
I'm going to email you mine right now. Have not done a very good job of keeping it up to date but you'll get the idea and see our similarities! xo
My goodness, so many of these (especially the PD and writing ones) are so like my goals! And some travel too. I will think about writing a list one day. Thank you for inspiring me and starting this! And we would gladly join you on a few of these adventures.
I love this list! It was funny reading it because we're so similar in many ways…I've always wanted to take flying lessons, run a marathon (did a 1/2 once), a lot of the places you want to travel, etc. LOVE #5 – I'm actually on the board for TEDxDetroit (TEDx conferences are off-shoots from the actual TED brand – all affiliated) and I, too, would love to attend TED. We'll do it together someday!
Should I make a life list, it would be very similar to yours.
I have always wanted to go on an African safari. When I was younger my dad said when I graduated college, he would take me anywhere I wanted to go. I promptly said 'Africa'.
After looking into how much that would cost (with guides, shots, etc.), my dad quickly changed the offer to 'anywhere within reason that I wanted to go'.
Beautiful list. I hope you accomplish and enjoy each and every item on it.
Here is my Bucket List: http://www.lettersforlucas.com/2010/07/my-buired-…
Fun! I have one too, but I misplaced it. Actually did an African safari–it's amazing. I highly recommend it!
Thanks for reminding me to dream!
This is a great idea. I'm a real list person and always have dozens of lists going. I think that the way to make a life list for myself will be to make it a living document that I store electronically (i.e. do up a Word document and update it as needed).
Thanks for this wonderful idea! Your list is great!
Love this list! You've inspired me to create one too (or to start creating one, anyway
I like your list! It says so much about you, and made me start thinking about doing some of those things. Can't wait to see you get them all checked off!
What a fantastic list!
I have a lot of similar things ie; have another baby, go to Disney, have an article published, exercise for 30 min's a day for 30 days.
You really have a array of things you are interested in!
My number one is to go to a Blogging conference! I just don't have a lot of support right now in regards to my "silly internet addiction."
Themes?? You betcha! I think we're kindred spirits — not only do we both have a lot of travel on our lists, but some of the same places! Get to it, lady! You would not believe how much fun it is to cross things off.
Also — I've already changed mine a bit. I've subtracted. I've added. I still don't have 100, but I'm ok with that. It's YOUR list. Go with it.
Yes, I have a list as well, and we have quite a few items in common!
You can see my list (It’s 100 things!) here: http://bit.ly/hGwClk
Oh, love that you do too! Will check it out.
I lived in Alaska as a kid-The Northern Lights are absolutely beautiful. I miss them
Love your list!
I love this list! It was funny reading it because we're so similar in many ways…I've always wanted to take flying lessons, run a marathon (did a 1/2 once), a lot of the places you want to travel, etc. LOVE #5 – I'm actually on the board for TEDxDetroit (TEDx conferences are off-shoots from the actual TED brand – all affiliated) and I, too, would love to attend TED. We'll do it together someday!
+1
I LOVE your list! You’ve inspired me to add a few more things to mine.
i got a list! http://bit.ly/wNaXpR
I’d love to do a flash mob too and a flash crowd while I am at it. Where did you visit in Ireland the first time? My husband and I spent two weeks there for our honeymoon. Thanks so much for linking up. Good luck with your great list.
I visit Ireland while I was backpacking, so I started in Dublin then went to Galway and basically did a big loop. I also got up to Northern Ireland for a few days, which was awesome as well. I loved Ireland so much. Beautiful country!
Glad you linked up, Robin! I love your list. And love you crossing stuff off. Yay!
I especially love the PPD tattoo. I am sure it will be an incredible moment. <3
Hot air balloon is on my list, too. And I was just telling someone I want to go back to Ireland (it was on their list) again with my husband because I want him to see it. It's beautiful.
I really need to do that. Might wait until the boys are bigger and take them. It would be so fun!
I’m trying to find my life list because I don’t have a copy of it on this computer and wasn’t sure if I posted it here or emailed it.
As I reviewed your list I noticed:
You can check off # 30
and
We’ll join you for #47. Jeff really wants to go to the Galapagos Islands
I’m going to check my email for my life list
I sent you your life list.
And thanks for the reminder! I kept meaning to update this, so I’ve done that. And would love to go to Galapagos with you.
Awesome list! Makes me want to add some more to my list!