Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about long-term goals and the proverbial bucket list. Sure, there are tons of things that I want to do (or wanted and have since done them!), but I never really stopped to write them all down…until now. Over the last month or so, I’ve been working on putting my desires and goals onto paper to create my first-ever bucket list. I decided to finally give them some sense of organization after Andrea’s shock at my lack of list and finally finishing up Tim Ferriss’ “The 4-Hour Work Week.”
The completion of the list just so happens to coincide with a pretty big milestone for She’s in Love with the World. This blog entry is my 50th post, something I was never quite sure I’d actually make it to. It’s been an amazing ride through Southeast Asia and the blog world and I finally feel like SILWTW is coming into its own, regardless of who does or does not read it. To celebrate, I’ve decided that this post is dedicated to the first 50 entries on my bucket list. I’m working on coining my own unique name for this list as I HATE the term bucket list — probably why I never made one — so suggestions are welcome.
- Write a book.
Completing No. 47 in Chiang Mai.
- Live abroad for one year.
- Learn three foreign languages fluently (Spanish, French, Hebrew).
- Learn to play the guitar.
- Start a blog. (Completed November 2009)
- Sustain myself on a freelance career.
- Visit all 50 states.
- Visit all seven continents. (Completed North America, Europe, Asia, Africa as of June 2010)
- Go to graduate school.
- Live on the West Coast of the United States.
- Visit every country in the world.
- Work for a global nonprofit or NGO.
- Attend the following multi-day music festivals: Glastonbury, Coachella, SXSW and Reading/Leeds.
- Make a speech in front of at least 500 people (aka – get over stage fright).
- Participate in a long-term volunteer program.
- Retrace the footsteps of the Beatles from Liverpool to Hamburg to London to India in one seriously hippie trip.
- Work on a political campaign.
- Take a summer road trip to every baseball stadium in the country.
- Own and learn how to take photos on an SLR camera.
- Get published in “The New Yorker.”
- Travel for more than three months straight. (Completed January-April 2010)
- Get a tattoo.
- Donate at least $1,000 to a cause I care for and believe in.
- Learn to surf.
- Adopt a child.
- Teach English in a foreign country.
- Host a dinner party for at least 10 guests.
- Gamble in Las Vegas.
- Lobby to Congress.
- Interview a celebrity for a magazine or newspaper article. (Completed May 2006, June 2007, September 2008, December 2008, January 2009, August 2010)
- Live in a culture opposite from my own. (Completed March-June 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand)
- Visit Machu Picchu.
- Dance at Carnivale.
- Visit Angkor Wat. (Completed March 2010)
- Attend the Holi Festival in India.
- Take ballroom dance lessons. (Completed February-May 2008)
- Win a contest.
In June I can cross No. 31 and 49 off the list!
- Write a song.
- Be a UN volunteer.
- Spend Saint Patrick’s Day in Dublin.
- Have a beer (or 10) at Oktoberfest.
- Make my lifestyle as eco-friendly as possible.
- Take an international trip with Mom.
- Take an international trip with Dad.
- Take an international trip with my sister, Diana. (Completed June 2009)
- Take an international trip with my brother, Michael.
- Ride an elephant. (Completed February 2010)
- Campaign/influence public policy on two of the following: education, equal rights, health care, environment, HIV/AIDS outreach or election reform.
- Live and work a location independent lifestyle for two months. (Completed March-June 2010)
- Be on the other side of the interview: make the news instead of writing it.
Well, there you have it: the first 50 entries (extremely loosely organized) into some form of a bucket list. I contemplated releasing the second half in this post too, but realized a few things. Firstly, the post would’ve been too long and secondly, I was really, really tired of trying to put my notes into some sort of coherent, logical order. I’ll release the second half some time between now and my 100th post, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, have you ever made a bucket list? What’s on it? Do any of our “to do’s” match? Leave your entries in the comments section.
Twitter Updates
I love the list, I’ve created my own bucket list but haven’t crossed as many off mine. We even share a few.
I have contemplated a bucket list for some time now…your partially completed list and a recent Newsweek magazine issue ( http://www.newsweek.com/id/236064 ) has encouraged me to begin putting things into something that looks like a formal list. Your posts have been great and it looks like you are having a great time! Keep the posts and pics coming!
@Cornelius Aesop – I just checked out your list as well. Awesome! You’ll be surprised how many MORE things we have in common when I finish up organizing the second half of the list.
@Lauren – I loved that article you linked to. Most awesome; beautiful photography, great locations. It’s really rewarding to sit and put down all of your desires and goals onto paper. I hope you have as much fun (and difficulty) as I did!
I love bucket lists, I just created mine too
Good luck with yours!
Here is a great site to create,manage and share your bucket list.
http://www.sharebuckets.com
check it out.
These bucket lists are freaking fun! Read yours and many others in the process of putting my own together FINALLY! Here’s my attempt at an ambitious list of awesome life goals: http://www.thrillingheroics.com/my-bucket-list-awesome-life-goals
When you coming back to Thailand for more awesome adventures?
@Cody – The bucket lists ARE fun. I just updated mine to cross of Nos. 31 and 49. I still have the other 50 to publish some time soon. Saving it for my next monumental blog moment (or when I’m really desperate for content!).
Thanks for including me on your list of cool blog bucket lists!
My return date to Thailand is unknown. I’m headed back to the U.S. at the end of the month and will anxiously await my return to my new second home.
Thanks for the post.. I just realized that I crossed living abroad for two years off my list and didn´t realize it..
http://savvyroundtheworld.wordpress.com
You’re off to a great start! Good luck with the rest of your list.
I have been living life through my bucket list for years & it has changed my life! I might have to steal a few great ideas from your list!
Best wishes on your adventures.
http://mslistologist.com/