Jan 28 2009

Things to Do Before I Die

Posted in All Posts, Everyday Life, Misc.

Notwithstanding the somewhat morbid title, I think that making a list of this kind is a fun idea.  One that I can’t take credit for, actually.  I read Mighty Girl’s list on her website and it got me wondering what would be on mine.  So here goes, in no particular order:

  1. Have a baby
  2. Have another baby (probably not at the same time)
  3. Start a business
  4. Quit my job and work from home
  5. Make a quilt (not sure why – I’ve just always wanted to do it)
  6. Learn French (again)
  7. Travel to France (to use said French)
  8. Live in a quiet town and become friends with the neighbors
  9. Visit Switzerland
  10. Learn how to cook
  11. Become a professional photographer
  12. Learn Photoshop (necessary to do before step 11)
  13. Learn sign language
  14. Get paid to give a motivational speech
  15. Write and publish a book (not sure what kind yet)
  16. Do a photo shoot for someone famous (grabbing a quick shot of someone while they’re in the line at Starbucks doesn’t count)
  17. Put together my history for my children and family (does this site count?)
  18. Take a cruise to a tropical island (I’ve never done that, if you can believe it)
  19. Go snorkling, even if it kills me
  20. Go fishing
  21. Take a class on how to shoot a gun
  22. Actually read all the books I have on my shelves
  23. Learn how to paint a picture
  24. Take an art (drawing) class
  25. Learn how to play the violin
  26. Make a mosaic
  27. Take an Alaskan cruise
  28. Enroll in a creative writing class
  29. Get into geneology to find out more about my ancestors
  30. Visit my ancestoral home (Germany)
  31. Read the entire Bible
  32. Order a meal in French (and actually pronounce everything correctly)
  33. Visit all 50 states
  34. Teach a college class (guest lecturer perhaps)
  35. Get my PHR certification
  36. Become an expert hostess and have lots of dinner parties (with a beautifully decorated table)
  37. Learn how to make jewelry
  38. Make a piece of pottery by throwing it on a wheel (like in the movie Ghost, except without Patrick Swayze)
  39. Eat cavier
  40. Go flying with my husband in a small plane (after he’s logged hours and hours behind the controls first)
  41. Completely organize my house down to the last labeled container
  42. Learn how to drive a motorcycle (tried it once, it was a little scary)
  43. Ride a bicycle around Rome
  44. Stay in a cottage in England (think: The Holiday with Kate Winslet)
  45. Take a dance class with my husband (another one – the one on the cruise doesn’t count)
  46. See our children get married
  47. Overcome fear of water or at the very least, take a swimming class
  48. Visit Mount Rushmore
  49. Get another dog (two actually – a Schnoodle and a miniature cockapoo)
  50. Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower

Well, that was harder than I thought.  But it was a good exercise to make me stop and think about my life and the direction it’s headed.  In fact, this list actually took me several days to put together.  I wanted the items to be realistic, yet not things that I do every day.  Now I just have to figure out how to start doing them.  

What are some things on your list?

 

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tags: , ,

43 comments

link to this post
email a friend
Briony - January 28, 2009 - 6:55 am

I have an ever growing list that I started a couple years ago…it’s on my site, I plan to write about the ones that I’ve done so far (that should be on my list) haha. There are some things on your list that I never thought of but now want to add to mine :)

Good Stuff!

Briony
http://brionyskerjance.blogspot.com/search/label/the%20list

Julie - January 28, 2009 - 8:14 am

Glad you added the fear of water part. I always thought I was the only “grown up” (I use that term loosely) who was afraid of water.

I don’t have a before I die list but I have a 101 in 1001 Days list. I actually have a separate blog for that.

http://lws101in1001.blogspot.com/

Kristina - January 28, 2009 - 9:16 am

Great list! Many of these I would love to do, but I just don’t think I have the skills, like for painting.

Terra - January 28, 2009 - 9:20 am

That is awesome! I think I should make a list now. :) I feel compelled to do so. :)
Quilting is pretty easy, maybe it’s something you’ll take up while you’re pregnant so you can make your little peapod a welcome home gift. :)

M to T&T&A&D - January 28, 2009 - 9:37 am

Wonderful list and many that are also on mine. Several you can do while expecting your little’s arrival (because for a while afterwards you won’t have time to do so). It’s quite important for each of us to take time to think through these sort of lists to help us put into perspective our life and direction we’re taking while on this journey of ours. Hopefully it helps us bring into focus those things that we need to put at the top of our list and help us let go of things we’ve been holding close and feeling guilty about because they’re not done and we see that they’re not so important in this journey of ours.

Keep us updated occassionally on what you do from the list. Remember that life has a way of bringing opportunities our way to accomplish many of them at times we don’t expect but enjoy them as they come along and take pictures to share!!!

Jana - January 28, 2009 - 9:44 am

When you visit Mount Rushmore, make sure you go during Sturgis. Then you can cross learning to ride a motorcycle off your list, too!

It looks like a very realistic list. Have fun doing all the things on it!

Eryn - January 28, 2009 - 9:47 am

Oh this is good. I think I will do this on my blog…but it will probably take me a while! I love that your goals are ambitious but possible. A lot of people put things on their list like “Travel to the Moon” and “Be a Famous Movie Star.” For most people those things will not happen, but yours are ambitious while also possible. :)

Stephanie - January 28, 2009 - 9:58 am

Wow! This is sucha a brilliant list. I have no clue what would be on mine, but it’s very thought-provoking.

admin - January 28, 2009 - 10:01 am

Hi Briony – I’ll have to go check it out. I’ve not done one like this before so it’s been an interesting project.

Julie – ha! no, you’re not the only one. in fact, there are at least three of us, you can count my sister too!

Kristina – yeah, I don’t know if I have the skills either, but I want to try.

Terra – I know, I keep seeing all these cool quilts made of old sweaters and such and they look so easy. do I have to have one of those big quilting frames to do it though?

M to TTAD – Will definitely keep you updated! At least on the ones that I don’t completely embarrass myself! :)

Hi Jana – so funny, I had to look up Sturgis because I didn’t know what it was. All I saw was the picture of hundreds of riders. My husband would love that!

Eryn – Thanks, it was hard to do. Originally I only had 28 but the CPA said I could come up with more and he was right.

the weakonomist - January 28, 2009 - 10:09 am

I help take care of a schnoodle, “Romeo.” He is the loudest and most annoying dog I’ve ever met. But he can jump really high and is fun to play with. I’m a cat person, my fiance loves boxers, between them we’ll have enough pets. I think I’ll make a list of things to do before I die. Most of us probably have a lot of goals in common. Carpool to Paris anyone?

Gennaro - January 28, 2009 - 10:15 am

I love creating these list. I’ve been doing it for a bunch of years and the list keeps growing. I find it useful to place dates of accomplishment next to the goals along with an approximate time span within which I’d like to complete each thing.

Mindee - January 28, 2009 - 10:40 am

You didn’t say what size quilt so a baby quilt would do. :)

And yes, this blog counts as your “history”. It the most well organized and categorized blog out there!

MommyAmy - January 28, 2009 - 10:54 am

My suggestion? Do #18 and #41 BEFORE you do #1 and #2. :)

Jenna @ Newlyweds - January 28, 2009 - 10:57 am

Great list! I have a 30 things to do before 30, and I have quite a few things crossed off, but I do have to say one thing, start some of those things before the kiddos come, because if you like me after the kids, you just might forget, lol!!!

Kathy - January 28, 2009 - 11:08 am

Hi there. I came to your site via Pioneer Woman and have enjoyed your writing. A few comments about your list: #14 sounds HORRIBLE to me. Although, I suppose that doing something terrifying (public speaking) would be a good thing. (I did cross sky-diving off my list recently!)

And #45: “Take a dance class with my husband (another one-” I swear when I read that I was like, You want to take a dance class with another husband?? :-)

Good list. My youngest (of four) just turned 22, and I’m revisiting all of my old lists. Fun times!

admin - January 28, 2009 - 11:12 am

Weakonomist – How big is Romeo? The Schoodle that belongs to our friend is about 90 lbs. He’s big but so sweet!!

Gennaro – good point, there should be some dates and steps in order to achieve them, I agree.

Mindee – awww.. thanks! Maybe I will let it count. Besides, I don’t know if I’d have time to write an additional record!

Mommy Amy – ha!! Isn’t that the truth!

Jenna – That’s a good idea, 30 before 30, I like that. I know, this year I’m already planning on signing up for these community art classes cause who knows when I’ll do them later!

Kathy – Hi, nice to see you! I’m impressed – you couldn’t pay me enough money to sky-dive so I’m always amazed when people do it willingly. My friend did it for her 30th birthday and they made a video – did you do that too? I had close my eyes when I watched it.

Oh – and that’s pretty funny! I’ll have to show the CPA, he’ll get a kick out of that!

Sandy - January 28, 2009 - 11:27 am

Good ideas. I think I’ll do this on my blog. I think it’s interesting how when we get older our lists change. My daughter spent her honeymoon in Paris and she and her husband were able to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower for dinner, she said it was awesome!

The Wife of Odie - January 28, 2009 - 11:51 am

I hereby volunteer to take you snorkeling. Given that I’ve been once and it made me a pro, I’ll take you for free. And we can do it while we’re on a cruise so it’ll take out TWO of your to-do items.

The Wife of Odie - January 28, 2009 - 11:51 am

P.S. I think this weekend I’m going to make one of these lists. Great idea sis…

Melody C. - January 28, 2009 - 12:44 pm

I need to make a list like this.I guess it could be 50 things to do before 50. But that also might limit me a bit (I’m 42). But I’ll tackle it! Thanks for the inspiration.

the domestic fringe - January 28, 2009 - 12:49 pm

Write a book or maybe two or three. Write as many books as they’ll publish from me. Readers can only handle so much. See my kids grow into adulthood, marry, and have children. Learn another language – Portuguese. Go on a cruise. Visit Europe.

I’ll stop now. -FringeGirl

Robynn's Ravings - January 28, 2009 - 1:24 pm

Excellent! GFY for actually making the list that rolls around in my head. But if I got it out of there the vacuous space would be cavernous! At least this way no one can say I’m empty headed.

Drop over and see me anytime.

Robynn's Ravings - January 28, 2009 - 1:27 pm

Excellent! GFY for actually making the list that rolls around in my head. But if I got it out of there the vacuous space would be cavernous! At least this way no one can say I’m empty headed.

Drop over and see me anytime at http://www.robynnsravings.blogspot.com.

admin - January 28, 2009 - 1:58 pm

Sandy – that’s so great about your daughter, did they get some good pictures?

WofO – hey, now that you’re a pro-snorkeler, I fully expect free lessons and for you to go with me.

Melody – You can do it! What would be at the to of your list? You’re almost done with school, right?

Domestic Fringe – great list! Portugese huh? That’s a good one, do you know any of the language yet?

Robynn – nice to see you! Ha!! I’ll have to go by and say hello. :)

r8chel - January 28, 2009 - 3:56 pm

You might want to hold off on #19 ’til you’ve done everything else on the list. ;)

Carol - January 28, 2009 - 4:09 pm

Oh, dear! I’ve already completed a lot on your list. Does that mean the end is near? Or, that I’ve just been here longer and had more time?

Seriously, I’ve had a list of my own for years and I still work on it regularly.

Isabelle - January 28, 2009 - 5:27 pm

“Riding a bike around Rome” …… but make sure you are covered by life insurance first. And then again those cobblestone streets wouldn’t help much either.

“Visiting Switzerland” …. well just take the plane, and I pick you up at the airport about 5 miles from my house. ;-) ) And you could learn and practice your French here – though less in my zone, but the French speaking Welsh zone is only an hours drive away ;-) ))

Isabelle - January 28, 2009 - 5:30 pm

Or we could swap houses, because I would have given a lot to be at the president’s inauguration the other week. Was glued to the TV here at home all evening long.

Sandy - January 28, 2009 - 8:54 pm

Oh yeah they have lots of great pics. They went back to Europe visiting several countries, have tons of pics. Her fav was of Venice. I think she has a few on her blog..
http://clarissaandmatt.blogspot.com/

Stephanie - January 28, 2009 - 10:12 pm

Fun list! I have a similar one that is constantly evolving as I grow “older.” It’s fun to cross things off every year. Here are 10 of the things on my current list: http://metropolitanmama.net/2008/11/just-like-cinderella/. :)

P.S. Flying on a small plane definitely is NOT on my list. I get horrible motion sickness so that just sounds like a recipe for disaster! ;)

Alzo - January 29, 2009 - 5:03 am

What a nice idea! It is one thing to start a set of goals for the year, and quite another to make a list of lifetime accomplishments. It really got me to thinking about what should be on my own list. Thanks.

admin - January 29, 2009 - 6:03 am

Rachel – ha!! Isn’t that the truth! People keep telling me it won’t kill me, but I don’t believe them.

Carol – I’m thinking no, it means you just need to keep adding to your list. :)

Isabelle – that sounds like fun – do you live somewhere warm and toasty?

Sandy – very cool, will have to take a look!

Stephanie – I know, it’s not one of my favorite things on the list, but I told the CPA that maybe once I would do it with him since he loves flying.

Alzo – thanks, it’s kind-of fun to do. What would be on your list?

Melody C. - January 29, 2009 - 9:17 am

T – at the top of my list would have to be – Get a full time university teaching job (been doing it part time for years) so I can fully concentrate on the subject matter, the joy of teaching, and mentoring students! That would also be on top of Mr’s list for me!

Margi - January 29, 2009 - 12:03 pm

I just linked to your blog from Zen Habits and I think I’ve seen your name other places too. Maybe Pioneer Woman and maybe SUM? Anyway, I really like this list and will now start actually writing down the things in my head.

Hubby and I have a goal to spend at least 1 night in every state. Together. :-) And I’m terrified of water and can’t swim and have been snorkeling several times and it still hasn’t killed me! It’s a ton of fun.

Irena - January 29, 2009 - 2:25 pm

Alaskan Cruise is great – one of the best things we ever did – it is beautiful!!! You will get amazing pictures. Eat caviar – do the Russian way – on a good white bread, slathered with some real butter, caviar on top… this is my favorite way to have it. For some reason, blini (buckwheat?!) and creme are very popular, but I will go for bread and butter (good quality) any day. Good luck on your goals :)

Love Letters to the Middle East - January 29, 2009 - 11:13 pm

I have a large list as well!

I agree with your learning French. I’ve taken introductory- basic French. But I need to continue it, if I’m ever going to learn how to say “and can you put extra cheese on that, please?” when I order food. Ha! Seriously, though.

And finding out about my ancestry/family history is also one on my list!

admin - January 30, 2009 - 5:18 am

Melody – that’s a very noble and worthwhile goal. What is the subject?

Margi – welcome, welcome! Good to know you made it through the snorkeling without incident, it gives me hope!

Irena – I can’t wait, one of these days we’ll actually go on our Alaskan cruise. Maybe four our fifth anniversary.

Love Letters – ha! Especially if you’re in France you’ve got to ask for extra cheese given all the cheeses they have over there!

inadvertentfarmer - January 30, 2009 - 5:14 pm

I would like to have a good old fashioned barn raising…I know kinda weird. I would love a barn and I adore our friends and think it would be just a heck of a good time building something together….oh yeah and one more thing…have no more kids!

Great thought provoking post! I think I’m gonna make a list of my own, thanks, Kim

John von Cannon - January 30, 2009 - 5:27 pm

Great List!!!! I especially liked the trips–I’ve done several of those and would go again. Like the “label everything in site” was good as I do that as well. As to Germany, make certain you go to Steinfort where our family came from–beautiful in that part of northern Germany. Lastly, is the CPA taking flying lessons?

belle - February 1, 2009 - 9:30 pm

Thanks. This is a very motivating list. I am starting my own list now. hm… :)

Out-Numbered - February 3, 2009 - 1:25 pm

Couldn’t have laid the list out better myself. As a matter of fact, can I just borrow your list? :-) nice post!

Werner - March 23, 2009 - 3:18 am

Just as a suggestion, You said you wanted to write a book? Why not write it about all of these things after you do them.

Pages tagged "vacuous" - February 1, 2009 - 9:20 am

[...] bookmarks tagged vacuousLooking for Argos Sports Articles Massive sale all items nearly half price Things to Do Before I Die saved by 1 others     princesssakura300 bookmarked on 02/01/09 | [...]

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

*

*

There was an error submitting your comment. Please try again.

CommentLuv badge

© 2012 From Single To Married to Baby | ProPhoto Photography Blog by NetRivet

B l o g r o l l
C a t e g o r i e s
M y   B u t t o n
R e t u r n   H O M E