As one of my goals for the Choose Your Own Adventure February theme of complete, I decided I would finally complete my 40 by 40 list. I mean, every day is a day closer I am to 40 and that’s just one less day to work on it (I’m within spitting distance, if spitting distance is just over 2 years) and since the clock is ticking, I got my shit together and created the list.
I really struggled with what to put on it because if I’m being totally honest, I am not a daredevil. I have no less than zero interest in skydiving, bungee jumping, climbing a mountain, riding a motorcycle, or anything that might maim me. Except parasailing but I feel like I’m too fat to do that. In fact, I have a whole separate list devoted to weird reasons I want to lose weight and that’s one that’s on it (let me know if you want that list. I’m happy to share. Meh. Maybe I’ll share it anyway. It’s pretty amusing).
Anyway.
When you’re not thrill seeking, or athletic, and have zero aspirations to achieve either of those, rounding out the list is pretty difficult. I managed to do it, though! Here’s what it looks like in no particular order and no specific grouping (although I probably should categorize them at some point for easier tracking):
- Publish a book
- Visit the UK
- Get to my ideal weight (one that I’ve decided)
- Learn French
- Visit Salem, MA
- Take a cross country drive (preferably in a convertible)
- Volunteer somewhere meaningful to me
- Visit the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC
- Attend an art gallery show
- See Jimmy Fallon live
- Read through the Bible
- Take a dance class
- Write a screenplay (not to have it produced. Just to have it written)
- Vacation in Myrtle Beach, SC
- Sew an apron or blanket. Maybe both.
- Watch the AFI top 100 movies list (the 66 I have not yet seen)
- Go to a drive-in theater
- Relearn how to play an instrument (I used to play piano and guitar)
- Stay in a log cabin
- Go to an MLB All Star game or World Series game
- Sit in on a Supreme Court hearing
- Be debt free (again)
- Eat a farm to table restaurant
- Swim with dolphins
- Host a murder mystery party
- Give $100 tip to a server
- Adopt a family at Christmas
- Make candy from scratch
- Get a hot stone massage (this a big deal for me as I hate massages)
- Go to the top of the Empire State Building
- Be an extra in a movie
- Have a Twitter conversation with a celebrity (that lasts longer than a one tweet reply to something I said)
- Have a blog post go viral
- Read a classic novel (yes, Kristen, I will consider Pride and Prejudice)
- Read a book of poetry
- See a nonmusical Broadway show
- Pay for a stranger’s dinner in a restaurant
- Take a cooking class
- Visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Visit MLB Hall of Fame
Bonus: speak in public or at a conference for longer than 2 minutes
I have approximately 52 months to get this all done. Some task will be easier to complete than others but it averages out to roughly one activity per month, alloting time to budget, plan and make necessary arrangements for the items that involve travel or learning a skill but overall, it’s a completely realistic list. I aimed high but not so high it’s impossible.
I’m excited to get started. This should be a fun adventure. Even if turning 40 scares the shit out of me.
Do you have a list like this? If so, what did you put on it? Have you done any of these? What should I do first?
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great goals! i’ve done a few of these and some i’ve never even thought about that would make excellent ideas!! i did a 30×30 when i was 18 and did them all but learn to drive a stick shift and get married/have a family.
ellesees recently posted…This or That: Dior Addict Fluid Stick Vs. Maybelline Color Elixir
The married/family thing I definitely did before 30. The stick shift? Still can’t do that.
Great list! Seeing Jimmy Fallon live would be fun, he’s hilarious! I’ve been to Salem, actually a few times to do triathlons. I need to come up with my list now. Have fun getting these done!
Kerry recently posted…January Books I’ve Read
I’ve seen Conan live but never Jimmy and I LOVE Jimmy so I need to make it happen. Looking forward to seeing your list!
great list. i dont have one because i’m far too lazy to even write one out, let alone accomplish any of them. i do have some goals before 40 and i’m working on them right now 🙂
Kathy at RealTalk recently posted…guilty pleasures
Goals are great, even if you don’t have a specific list. Also, it took me like a year to get this one written because I am very lazy.
Number 14 is my FAVORITE on this list, as a matter of fact I vote you do number 14 every year from now until you turn 40 and then every year after that too. 🙂
You can do number 23 in number 14, so that’s an added benefit!
Kelli recently posted…Weekending on a Tuesday
I’ll see what I can do about that 🙂
We have a few of those here in DE, too, so that should be an easier one to accomplish.
This is an awesome list! I’m the same in not having ANY desire to jump out of planes or off of things or any daredevil stuff, so my list wouldn’t include those things either! Seeing Jimmy Fallon live would be so cool, love him! And YES to being debt free, definitely!
Julia recently posted…Confessions: My Celebrity Crushes
Thanks! Those were easy ones for the list!! What’s nice about Jimmy Fallon tickets is they are free (hard to get, but free) so no contributing to the debt!
Ok, we are on the same wavelength. I was up in bed last night putting things on my list!
Similarly, I have tip 100% of the bill (not $100, but on a similar wavelength) at a restaurant and adopt a family at Christmas on mine.
I’m stealing your farm to table idea because I love it.
This is a great list! Are you using that app to kick off your french? One of my list things is visit Paris and I need a rudimentary grasp of french.
SMD @ Life According to Steph recently posted…Shit MFD Said Vol 15
Yes, Duolingo. It should definitely help you get ready for Paris. Even if you only remember basic vocabulary. What I remember about my trip there was that if you at least try to speak French, they’ll talk to you in English. So that’s nice.
Steal away. I definitely borrowed from other people’s lists. Can’t wait to see yours!
Oh wow, we are the same age! I would love to do a list like this. The only thing I have planned (in my head) is to do a girls weekend with friends at some point. I need to think of some things I want to accomplish before the big 4-0.
Karen recently posted…Spotlight On Suzanna Linton: Willows Of Fate
Hooray for 37! A girls’ weekend sounds like a fun thing to plan (since I’m working on that one, too).
I love it 🙂 What kind of candy are you going to make? That seems fun
Stephanie recently posted…What? You Never Ran Around In Your Underwear?
Probably peanut butter cups because they are the best candy ever. Nothing too difficult.
awesome! I like these goals!
Ashley Servis recently posted…Does High School Prep You for College?
Thanks! I’m excited for them!
40 is nothing to be afraid of. My life got infinitely better in my 40s and honestly if I could stay in this decade forever, I would. (Although I’m hoping my 50s will rock, too – I’ll find out in 3 more years.)
I’m not so much terrified of 40 as I am shocked that it’s so quickly approaching.
Obviously I love your list Jana! I’m still in shock that we are turning 38 this year, let alone 40 😉 I’m not a daredevil person either surprise surprise, but I did go parasailing on my honeymoon and it was awesome. I was in Hawaii though, and probably had one too many mai-tai’s, so that probably helped with the whole “we are attached to a rope and a parachute in the sky and how is this is a good idea” thing, lol.
Mackenzie recently posted…Goodbye For Now…
Yeah, that’s the part that kind of freaks me out but I want to do it bad enough that I think I’ll manage to deal with it.
I can’t believe we’re going to be 38, either. What the hell?
I love the variety of all these goals! You are going to have an awesome next few years if you get all this stuff accomplished!
Sarah @ Beauty School Dropout recently posted…Be My Transformer Valentine
That’s what I’m hoping for! Should be fun, trying to conquer the whole list.
Love your list. Oh, the weight thing. By 6 I was starting to get chubby. No one was chubby in the 60’s. By today’s standards, I would have looked normal. I am going to be 60 next year. I wish I was 62 to collect SS lol! No good jobs when you have no college degree. I do tweet and Instagram talk with the author/ screenwriter Tracey Jackson ! The Internet is awesome.
Goddess speed to happily complete your list.
Love, SMD’s Momma
The Internet is the best! Love all that it can do!
Awesome list. Amazing too! I can barely think of 10 things I want to get done by the time I hit 35 let alone anything more! Massive kudos to you.
Yes to #2 – Visit the UK! And don’t just do London. Go out to the countryside, maybe even visit Wales, or Scotland! Whatever time and budget allows. There’s more to the UK than London, that’s for sure. Coming from a Londoner 😉
Jaina recently posted…Nutshell Film Review: Big Hero 6
I want to do the WHOLE UK, so exploring outside of London is definitely on the agenda 🙂 When I plan my trip, I’ll have to get suggestions from you!
And I will do my absolute best to give you some fab ideas 😀
Jaina recently posted…Nutshell Film Review: Big Hero 6
I love your list!!! And that you have it finished. My list has been sitting half completed for almost a year now. I need to get on that. I love that most of your stuff is things that you can do easily if you just make the effort. That is how most of my list is.
Nadine recently posted…Confessions
Exactly! I need the reminder to put in the effort if I want to finish the list. Easy but hard.
love this list 🙂 i am (re)learning french right now, so fun. and YAY PRIDE AND PREJUDICE!! I will make ALL the people read it! though truthfully you’ve convinced me you wouldn’t like it, so i’m scared. i’m sure you can find a classic that’s more up your alley.
i think i went a little too high with my 30 before 30, especially with travel. i have way too many places i want to go and only 2 years to do them, which with 2 weeks vacation and me not being a millionaire is kinda hard!
Kristen recently posted…28 years ago today(ish)
I probably would not enjoy it very much but I’m willing to give it a try 🙂
Uhm, so … I feel like a big loser. I’m forty-one. That’s right. And, I did NOT have a 30 before 30 OR 40 before 40 list. I have a girlfriend who does something new once a month every month. She’s done this for a few years now, and I think it’s a fantastic idea.
I did accomplish and do a lot of things during my 20s and 30s. Looking at your list: I’ve adopted a family at Christmas. I’ve visited the UK. I’ve been to a drive-in movie. I’ve seen a MLB World Series AND All-Star game. I volunteered for Make-A-Wish (an organization I highly recommend to anyone looking to volunteer). Somewhere during that time, I was my ideal weight (definitely NOT now). I swam with sharks (no, not dolphins…sharks!) I’ve attended an art gallery show and a dance class. I went on a driving trip from Texas to New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and back to Texas. That’s kinda cross country. So, maybe I don’t feel like a loser after all.
Should I come up with 50 before 50? Oh good god almighty, I can’t think about being 50 yet.
Erin recently posted…List #21 – I’ll show you my books; you show me yours…
Great list girlie!!
Kay R. recently posted…Recipe: Trinidad Pelau
I’m not into making these types of list in seriousness, but for fun, maybe. I’d put like snorkeling in the Great Coral Reef on it, right after I put “learn to swim”. I’d learn to ride a motorcycle. Pick up the violin and tennis racket. Ride a bicycle (maybe) cross country. Of your list, hope you get to visit the cherry blossoms. It’s so hard to come at their peak unless you can come down within the first few days. It’d be cool to be able to give a waitstaff $100 tip!
Seeing Jimmy Fallon would be bad ass!
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