I've always been a little bit of a dreamer, but tend to lack the confidence needed to propel myself in one direction or another. I remember talking to my mom before I went to London and telling her how proud I was of myself - how long it took me to realize (ie: act upon) that I really can do what I want. I wanted to go to England. What was stopping me? The only thing stopping me was FEAR. I was afraid of telling people I was going and letting them discourage me (which didn't happen). I was afraid of the restrictions of the real world and being able to take time off work (which worked out very well eventually). I was afraid of going into debt (I may have some debt, but it's manageable and not linked to my England trip).
I've also always loved lists. I don't make as many lists as, say, Rory Gilmore, or even as many as my sister does (she makes a lot - and does a good job at crossing things off). I make lists as more of an outline - just to get things out of my head and on paper so I can look at them and make sense of them. Topics of lists include finances, music, books, boyfriends, groceries, homework assignments, etc.
And I've always liked the idea of a pre-made list of goals. I like to look at a huge list of what other people find curious/exciting/interesting and I like to check things off. It reminds me that, yeah, I am pretty cool and sometimes I take risks and they work out and I have some fun stories to share.
I think people can get so bogged down in their day-to-day life/worries that they forget to look around them and be proud of what they've accomplished. It might be annoying, but for my benefit (and others) I try to point out good things in the midst of stressful times. It is really hard to do when you are wallowing in your own self pity - but that's what is challenging and it can make a big difference.
So, I found this while I was a-lurkin' and thought I'd browse through it and see what I've done.** Check out the bold-faced type.
1. Sang the National Anthem at a public event (Something I can say with 100% confidence that I will NEVER do. I don't sing...especially in public.)
2. Swam with dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive (no...but I have been in the passenger seat of a Porsche, which I LOVED)
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Won a pie eating contest, or any eating contest
8. Said “I love you’ and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm (oh so many, unfortunately)
13. Seen the Northern Lights
14. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on slurpees
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Overcome a fear
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse (I'm pretty sure)
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Can recite something over 100 words long (I'm sure there's something...)
42. Have amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign- and road cone
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Slept in a castle
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played some sort of game for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Eaten food you had no clue what it was but did it out of respect for your host
76. Gone without food for 5 days (not by choice, but from sickness)
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Been skinny dipping
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Stood up for something against the crowd
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Asked someone for forgiveness and received it
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Gotten stitches
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived (perhaps my car accident could be considered this - although I came out relatively unscathed)
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Pet a stingray
110. Been afraid for your life
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show or the radio
113. Broken a bone
114. Gotten a tattoo
115. Lived longer than a year in another country
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery (I have no tonsils...does that count?)
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper (probably local for something in Elementary school)
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Pet a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life
**I have done some things that are VERY close to things on this list, but tried to just answer yes or no. Also, there are some things I'm glad I haven't had to experience and some things I can honestly say I will never choose to do (tattoo, bungee jump, sky dive - I'm not a thrill-seeker).
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