Firstly I'd just like to say 'Thank you' to all you wonderful people out there in Blogland who have shown me so much support and encouragement recently. It makes such a difference knowing that when major upheaval strikes, there are people out there who offer little words of wisdom and make life seem so much better- so thank you:)
Secondly an apology- this is a very wordy post- and blogger won't appear to let me post any pictures on it- so it hasn't got its usual visual appeal- It's also got lots of big gaps on the page- and I have no idea why- can't seem to get it right at all- Maybe it has Jetlag too! Hopefully this will be resolved!!
Secondly an apology- this is a very wordy post- and blogger won't appear to let me post any pictures on it- so it hasn't got its usual visual appeal- It's also got lots of big gaps on the page- and I have no idea why- can't seem to get it right at all- Maybe it has Jetlag too! Hopefully this will be resolved!!
So life here in the Tropics continues, albeit having a little of a slow start- call it Jet lag, inertia or just pure dragging of my heels- but it's taking a lot to get back in the swing of things this week. My get up and go has just got up and went!! Usually I have great intentions of being organised and starting as I mean to go on - but it just hasn't happened that way- So I'm forcing myself to do something about it!
Firstly I gathered together my new notebooks and diaries and pledged to myself that I would definitely start using them! I don't know about you- but I have a stationery fetish and LOVE new notebooks and journals. However- I love them so much I have piles of them- fresh and clean and unwritten in- as they are just too nice to use. My first step on my 'get up and go' road to a positive 2014, was to make that decision of which notebook to open first - and then use it. Oh, how I dithered- Hard cover? Soft cover ? Lined? Blank?- Anyway I didn't just stop at one and now have two or three on the go- all ready to make some lists!
I like making lists- things to do, things to read, things to make, things to buy etc etc- the list goes on- and now I have lots of new notebooks to make sure I have them in all the same place. But this got me thinking about all those things I'd like to do, or need to think about, in the next few months, whilst I'm still here in Asia. So the great plan came into fruition- I would make myself a list of things I want to do right from the outset.
I vaguely remembered a website about making a bucket type list- and to my delight and intrigue found the dayzeroproject . Now I'm hooked1 It's quite addictive making lists- once you start you just can't stop.
I decided I needed to be quite structured and give myself a time frame to start checking off some of the things I want to do. In the end I ended up with two challenges "52 things in 52 weeks' and the '101 things in 1001 days'.
The '101 Things in 1001 Days' are my longer term goals- things that I would like to achieve someday but still have an end date to push myself to do it. I've decided to make a start gathering together my ideas, but not start it until April. This will mean that it will finish on New Years Eve 2016. In 2017 I turn 50, so it will be a bit of an incentive to get some of these things done before then!
But I need something now- and that's where my 52 Things in 52 Weeks comes in- lots of little manageable goals to get me going over the next few months. Some are things that need doing (Re writing my CV!), some are to learn new skills (Fresh Bread?) and some are just for the fun of it (Re watch all the Harry Potter movies).
It was interesting, getting ideas and inspiration for my list- some have been pretty obvious - things I have wanted to do for a while - Go to Cambodia, for example, Whilst others were a little more obscure- Learn to make a Cocktail- mmm, Why not?-
And so the list goes on- all 52 items- well actually only 46! I stopped short with my list- as this is where you come in!- If you have any ideas or suggestions of things I could add, then why not let me know- Throw me some inspiration of something you would recommend I do, or something you think I should do- and I shall add it to the list!!!
Just to bore you all to death, I've put my list below- and as you see there are still a few spaces left to fill!
1.Collect seaglass from Seaham Beach
2.make fresh pasta
3.Host a tea party
4.Attend a music festival in another country
5.Write a short story
6.Write a poem
7.Keep a “My Day in Six Words” journal for 6 months
8.Make a list of 50 places I would like to visit in my lifetime
9.Make a list of 25 things I like about myself
10.Make a list of the simple things that make me happy
11.Take a picture for each letter of the alphabet
12.Open a cookbook to a random page and make whatever is on it
13.Do some bird watching
14.Watch a play at a local theatre
15.Go for a hike in the woods
16.Adopt an animal
17.Do a Couch to 5k running plan
18.Donate money to charity
19. Go on the Borneo Steam Railway
20.Buy a Wreck This Journal and finish it
21.Host a dinner party
22.Make ice cream from scratch
23.Document a "day in my life" in photographs
24.Take pictures in a photo booth
25.Tell someone that I love them
26.Learn a new word every day for a month
27.Vist a new city on my own
28.Sleep under the stars
29.learn to make a cocktail
30.clear out my wardrobe
31.visit Malacca
32.learn 5 new ways with photoshop
33.Send a card a month to friends, just to say hello
34.create an inspiration board
35.rewrite my cv and personal statement
36.donate old clothes to charity
37.Save $5 for every task I complete
38.enter a competition
39.Send flowers to someone
40.Eat at five new restaurants
41.Try 20 new recipes
42.Get a massage
43.perfect a signature dish that I can call my own- one sweet, one
savoury
44.Have afternoon tea at a nice hotel / restaurant
45.Make bread from scratch
46.Make a list of my 50 favourite movies
With that I will leave you to ponder- as I'm off to tackle my wardrobe- Number 32 and 37! :)
Until next time,
Amanda x
I love lists too. So many things to do on your list and hope you achieve them all, it sounds a great idea. I know exactly what you mean about notebooks - I can't help buying them and then, because they're soooo nice, can't bring myself to use them. What are we like? Enjoy your weekend
ReplyDeletePatricia x
Obviously we are like minded people- Stationery shops must just love the likes of us!
DeleteI wish you well with your list projects - I think you must have a typo though, surely you can be the age that you indicated from the age you will be when your long list is done? I had you down at about 30 years old (actually about 25!). I think you should add throw a huge party before you leave to come back to England, and then another one when you are back to say farewell and hello. It will make for a positive finish and start to each place. I hope blogger gets over it's jet lag for you! xx
ReplyDeleteOh you are so kind- Yep 46 the last time I looked at my passport! But I feel half that- And yes a party does sound a good idea- I might have to add that one...:)
DeleteI'm the queen of lists, so I definitely see the value in doing things like this. I'm really excited for you, I think these sound like really good things to aim for and I know you will accomplish them. I buy a lot of notebooks too. I bought one a few months ago in the back-to-school clearance sale for about 50 cents just because I liked the colors on the cover. Why didn't they make cool, mod-looking notebooks when we went to school. It was all unicorns and dolphins!
ReplyDeleteLOL: So true. I must have quite a stash of notebooks purely on their aesthetic value!
DeleteWell that list should keep you occupied for a bit! Love a list but mine is a bit more boring- clean the bathroom that sort of thing, oh and I must sort out my wool!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment yesterday, yes I always find it hard to say goodbye to Alice, but she is always excited to be off again, I expect you know exactly what it is like!
Oh I have the boring lists as well- but they're always the ones i put to the bottom of the list!! :)
DeleteThat's a great idea and I enjoyed reading all the things on your list. I will look forward to seeing how you get on. I think I would add either watching the sun rise or set. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteThanks- I've added that one to my list- But I've taken it one step further to try and get a sunset and sunrise in the same day! It might have to wait until I'm back in the Northern Hemisphere for that one though- Just to make it a bit more challenging- It's too easy here- 6 am and 6 pm (more or less) all year round!
DeleteI agree with Amy, definitely more 30 than 50!! I was going to say your stationary and notebook addiction reminded me of my daughter but then I thought I can't say that as you're older than me!! Great idea with the lists and I'd put the lack of mojo down to all the changes that are on the cards but you seem to have just the right attitude with your to do lists xx
ReplyDeleteWell,I do try- And thanks for the sweet comment- I maybe 46, but I feel 36 and probably act like 26- They say age is just a number- It's a good Job- I don't feel mature enough to be a proper grown up- even at my age- Must be because I'm around kids all day!
DeleteHi Amanda, thank you for your sweet comment on my blog! Of course you are welcome to join in with the meme as and when you have time. We will be delighted to see you!
ReplyDeleteThanks abi- Looking forward to it:)
DeleteI love the sound of both of these lists but I know I could never think of so many things to do - I'm such a boring person and I wouldn't think to put small, simple things down! You've got some great things on your list and lots that are really achievable too. I'm a serial list maker with a stash of notebooks too!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure if you started you would come up with a few- I cheated and got a lot from the Day Zero project website- They are a list maker's dream:)
DeleteI love these kind of lists (seems to be a common trait among bloggers!) and always have several on the go myself. When a colleague retired she passed round a large notebook asking for activities she could try in retirement. On my list for her I put things which were no cost (walk around her town exploring all the nooks and ginnels), low cost (take a bus and get off at a random stop and explore) and aspirational (hot air balloon ride). Yours seems to be a good combination of the same. Hard to think of other ideas for you because you've done so much already. Mine would have a horse ride along a beach and see a meteor shower. x
ReplyDeleteI love the notebook idea:) And I like the idea of a meteor shower- might have to look out for one of those:)
ReplyDelete