So how's that list coming along?

I realized yesterday as I drove to and from the dentist (for my $378 filling) that it's been six months since I launched this little blog already. Time really does fly when you're having fun, and I really am.

When I got home I went back to read my first post ('One down, 99 to go ...'), which was about making a list of '100 Things to Do Before I Die,' and I pulled out my list for a review. I keep it in my desk drawer and I've been adding to it over the months as things come to me, but it's still way short of 100 items ... so I have plenty of room to grow still. I tweaked some items, deleted some, added some, and realized I can check off two items now ... so it's two down, 98 to go. My perfectionist mind immediately said two items was 'not enough,' as if I'm on a yearly quota to cross off a certain amount or something. Funny what happens when you put a list in front of me. Anybody else relate?

As I looked over the list with fresh eyes, I decided to limit myself to things that are tangible and that I can actually do something about ... which means that winning the lottery came off the list (though I'll keep buying tickets), and so did items about losing weight or ideal 'qualities' I'd like to develop. I want my list to be about fun things I look forward to doing or having, and not self-improvement projects or hard work (... dont worry, I have other lists for that).

So, here it is as of today:

1. Live in San Diego, Hawaii, or a reasonable facsimile (even if it’s only for a year).
2. Make my living entirely from my creativity … as an artist, crafter, and/or writer
3. Learn to do calligraphy and free-form hand lettering, or brush lettering
4. Learn watercolor
5. Learn fabric painting
6. Create a digital scrapbook of my life, with music (I would love to help others do the same; it would make a great memento, and I think the process could be powerful)
7. Publish and maintain a blog (done ... 2/23/05, and Lifestylepreneur blog launched 3/18/05)
8. Establish my own foundation (The Believe Street Foundation), focused on children
9. Tour Italy and ride in a gondola in Venice
10. Have the home-studio of my dreams – a large one filled with light from large windows and skylights, a state-of-the art computer and peripherals, a great desk and a separate work table for projects, a sewing area, a drafting board, great supplies and great storage systems, shelves for all my favorite books, etc.
11. Design my own memorial service
12. Write a book and get it published
13. Go for a ride in a Lamborghini
14. Have a psychic reading with Sonia Choquette
15. Eat at the One World Café in Salt Lake City (the restaurant with no menus and no prices)
16. Travel to Tibet
17. Travel around the U.S. and Canada in an RV for a year
18. Attend a taping of the Oprah show
19. Spend a week at L’Auberge Del Mar (in Del Mar, Ca.)
20. Visit John’s cousin in Hawaii
21. Visit Jamila in St. Croix
22. Learn speed reading (for fun, so I could keep up with everything I want to read)
23. Take a train ride across Canada
24. Spend a week each year at a spa (even if it’s a ‘home’ spa of R&R all week)
25. Take a cruise
26. Attend the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree
27. Go to Burning Man
28. Practice drawing and develop my own illustration style (and participate in Illustration Friday from time to time)
29. Swim with dolphins
30. Own a hybrid car
31. Have a hammock between two trees in my back yard
32. Visit Sedona
33. Have an article published in a national magazine
34. Make my own ice cream
35. Create my own Artist Trading Cards
36. Be in the front row for the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena
37. Have my own column in a newspaper or magazine
38. See Ottmar Liebert + Luna Negra in concert
39. Get a vanity license plate (Believe)
40. See a litter of puppies being born
41. Ride a horse on a beach
42. Grow my own tomatoes
43. Sponsor and correspond with a child overseas
44. Visit Catalina Island
45. Own an ipod
46. Design my own Christmas cards
47. Attend a summer Olympiad
48. Go to the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival in New Mexico
49. Have a wide, soft, cozy windowseat in my bedroom
50. Learn how to make my own jewelry (... spring '05)
51. Attend the Maui Writers’ Conference
52. Go to the Tucson Bead Shows
53. Try parasailing
54. Attend The Moth in NYC
55. Snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef
56. Win a photography contest

You know, at first I thought it would be easy to come up with 100 things, but since I'm only adding items that really make me say 'Yes!' I'm finding the list is going a long way.

So, I'm just wondering how your list is coming along, either literally or figuratively. Care to share your thoughts?

Comments

[Alexandra Wieckowski]

Well I think you have a great start! There are so many wonderful things on your list, hopefully you will get to check more and more off :) I totally want to learn how to make my own jewellery!!!

[Kerstin]

What is it about lists thake makes them so appealing?? I like this one a lot. Time to start my own, I think, and it would begin with "I want to figure out what the hell it is I want!"

You mention some interesting things like the cafe in Utah and Burning Man. Can I copy some of your items? Canada is my favourite country on this planet and I love the idea of taking the train across, although were they not going to stop doing that? I can cross off three things from your list: Gondola in Venice, the hybrid car and the iPod. I haven't done parasailing but went hangliding over Rio, it was amazing.

Many thanks for sharing this, I have only just found your weblog and I think I will come back :)

Take care, Kerstin

[Lu]

Wow. What a list. I love list for some strange reason. Makes me think I am more organized than I really am. You have some great things going. I can not wait to see how many of these you get done.

[deb]

Wonderfully revealing list. (and love the idea; i think i'm gonna copy!) :)

And guess what? I want to go to the Moth too; let's make a date girlene! :)

[Marilyn]

Hey, I've actually done one on your list...#42! (And I'm enjoying every bite of them, too.) Try not to do #21 during hurricane season, okay? :)

[stephen lawson]

U are amzing and very faithfilled and i like that .Emulating your approach to life can help focus on the things that matter most to one considering life is too short to waste a second. U know some time we regret a lot in our lifes only if we had this kind of foresight we would be a lot more happier.
Thanks for this idea...from Nigeria.

[Emily]

Did you know that Sonia Choquette has a radio show?
You can call for free and get a mini reading over the radio show.
It's great.

I love your website!