As I thought about it I came across someone’s blog post with a “30 before 30” list. Once I had a look round I realized these are quite popular. Some call it a bucket list while others use the “x before x” format. Still the idea appealed to me. I commonly make lists, but they are generally “to do” lists for work or grocery lists or house projects or whatnot. Here was a way for me to think, not in a morbid way, about all the things I might still like to do that I haven’t done yet or want to do more of or do again. It’s a list to help me focus on what matters.
While it would be easy to come up with loads of wild items like “take a safari in Africa!” I tried to stay within the realm of what I truly want to do and think is somewhat reasonable. That said, some will be a stretch to do in what are sure to be four short years. So without further ado, I share my:
50 before 50
1. Take a digital sabbatical for at least 24 (continuous) hours
2. Update my blog site with a look that really reflects me
3. Read the books on my TBR shelf
4. Read Ulysses by James Joyce
5. Take a really great trip (a week long) anywhere with my husband
6. Reach my goal weight
7. Continue my exercise regime
8. Finish the journal for my daughter and give it to her
9. Read and follow the Maeve Binchy’s Writers Club book a friend gave me
10. Take a writing workshop
11. Participate in a writers group
12. Take part in NaNoWriMo http://www.nanowrimo.org/
13. Paint a painting for my home
14. Take a trip with my mom and my daughter
15. Meet at least 5 more twitter friends in person
16. Go to NYC with my BFF
17. Record some of my mom’s childhood stories
18. Listen to my dad’s stories that aren’t in his memoires
19. Write each of my brothers a letter telling them the influence they’ve had on my life
20. Write a letter to my parents, thanking them for raising me and being there for me
21. Write letters to my brother’s children telling them what their dad was like as a boy
22. Update the scrapbook I started for my bff and I
23. Eat more veggies
24. Go to a yoga class at least once a week, for at least 4 weeks
25. Read the psalms again
26. Get a new couch
27. Take up the carpet and refinish the wood floor in the family room
28. Write a work of fiction
29. Attend an opera
30. Attend a ballet
31. Go to live theatre at least once a year with my bff
32. Take Italian language lessons with my husband
33. Take Italian cooking lessons with my husband
34. Pick some of husband’s photos and have them printed and framed
35. Learn to use a camera properly
36. Organize the DVDs
37. Go through my books and DVDs and give some away
38. Walk on the beach, holding hands with my husband, collecting shells or sea glass
39. Clean up the files on my computer
40. Go through the hard copy photos that aren’t in albums and sort them by year
41. Clean the attic (gasp)
42. Clean the basement (double gasp!)
43. Go through the Christmas decorations and pare them down to 3 boxes max
44. Bring up the LP records from the basement and do something useful with them
45. Learn more about the Holocaust
46. Every day for one month, learn a new word
47. Watch our wedding video with my spouse
48. Learn to cook 5-7 new dishes really well
49. Do up (clean and decorate) the side porch…and use it
50. Read the gratitude journal I started after 9/11/2001
Whew! These are no particular order, though I did group some and rearrange some. It was a challenge to think of 50 without including a few trivial ones. But even the trivial ones add something to my life, like order or joy. I don’t want this to be a chore. If I do them, I do them. If not, at least I’ll know I’ve given conscious thought to what’s important to me. Writing this is enough to help me think, dream, and in many cases do.
Do you have an “x before x” list? Have you found it fun or frustrating trying to work your way through it? I’d love to hear your stories and please share a link to your own list if you’ve posted one.
14 comments:
That's a great list. Several of those things would be on my list, too, if I had one. Mine might have to be a little shorter though, since I'll be 50 in (gasp!) only 2 1/2 years. (Wow, thanks for that reminder!! ;))
I'll tell you what, I can help you knock off at least a couple of those things, if you want to come over. I can give you and your husband lessons in Italian cooking, and give you at least 7 great new recipes to learn. Plus, you'll be meeting another Twitterite in person.
See how well that works out?
Toni! I would love to meet you and learn Italian cooking from you. And while that sounds unreachable, I'd settle for just the meeting you part. One day!
Well, if you ever want to take a trip to Niagara Falls, just let me know. We can make a plan.
And the cooking thing isn't so far out there. I do teach classes every month. My husband has been trying to get me to video them and post them on my blog with the recipes. But that sounds too much like work.
Toni - Do it! Make the videos! Then I can virtually take your classes :) There used to be a B&B in Iowa (near the covered bridges of Madison County) where the owner did art restoration and gave painting and Italian cooking lessons. I took my husband there for his birthday years ago. He got the cooking lesson and I got to sip wine, read, and journal all from the luxory of our gorgeous room. Wish they hadn't closed! Hey - maybe you should open a B&B :)
Quite a list! I bet you accomplish all!
Keep me in mind for #37. Ha!
Cathy - ha! You'll get first dibs on the results of #37.
I love your list and I love this idea. I may "borrow" it when I have my birthday in November. :)
All the best in your quest to cross off things from your list.
For the first time ever I wish I were not yet 50:).
Hi Sue - reconnecting after such a long time to say that I hope you'll add to your list.
51. Read "Teens Gone Wired: Are You Ready?"
Yes, the book to which you contributed so long ago is finally coming out! Please e-mail me from my website
www.lyndsaygreen.com so that I can mail you a copy!
Lyndsay
5. Take a really great trip (a week long) anywhere with my husband
Why stop at a week?! Go for two! Or more! The trip Cheryll and I took to Greece was the best idea we've ever had (did I send you pictures?). Especially for your 50th birthday... you deserve it!
Go for it!
LPC - your comment made me smile. :)
Lyndsay - just emailed you via your site. Congrats on the book!
Joe - Yes, that would be fantastic. Sadly, I'm lucky if I can manage to store up 2 days of PTO let alone 2 weeks. Will work on it though. Would love to see the pics from Greece!
Here's one on my list... MEET SUE!!!
I have meet you but would love to see you again. I have a bucket list but I love this list with x before x. Awesome list!! You can do it. LOVE LOVE the idea of having some of Tony stuff framed. He takes awesome pictures.
Breanne - thanks for reading. It's hard to come up with a list. Oh, some items are easy, but 50 was hard. Thank goodness I have a few years to work on these. :) I told Tony what you said about his photography and he was tickled.
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