40 Things Before 41

I saw this at doobleh-vay and Simple Lovely and I thought it would be a good idea for me to write down some goals I have for the next eight months or so.

Here is my list of 40 things to do before I turn 41:

1. Walk five days a week. No excuses. (Unless it's raining or my toe hurts or it's too darn cold.)
2. Master the Granny Square, beyond a shadow of a doubt.
3. Learn to knit. (Get over embarrassment at my ineptitude and ask Amy for help!)
4. Make freezer paper stencils.
5. Make my first quilt.
6. See if I can set up a compost situation in our backyard that is not smelly or gross.
7. YOGA!
8. Learn basic Spanish.
9. Be a better correspondent.
10. Strive to be more like Pip.
11. Socialize more. (And commenting on blogs doesn't count!)
12. Don't eat fake food.
13. Go to a doctor about my wrist.
14. Do not visit Amazon.com. Just say no!
15. Learn the Hebrew Alphabet.
16. Keep the blackboard in the kitchen orderly.
17. Set up a designated craft area.
18. Learn to take better photographs. (Maybe hire Maya to be my tutor? I will pay her in cookies...)
19. Learn Photoshop and Illustrator.
20. Get rid of books that are over five years old that I haven't looked at yet, or have looked at and didn't particularly care for.
21. Write thank you letters.
22. Read biographies of Winston Churchill.
23. Eat at the new Mario Batali restaurant in Port Chester.
24. Eat more vegan meals (--although, probably not at the Mario Batali restaurant.)
25. Bake an impressive birthday cake for Willa's birthday. (Bea and India can have nice cakes, too, but I'll be 41 by then.)
26. Make a fabric bunting.
27. Make a mix of slow songs as a lullaby CD for the kids.
28. Homeschool showtunes!
29. Frame all the pictures that are waiting around to be framed.
30. Make my inspiration board more inspiring.
31. Leave more interesting comments on the blogs I read.
32. Convince Auntie J and Kate to start blogs for my amusement and edification.
33. Embrace my inner hippie. (She's in there and she needs a hug.)
34. Drink a large glass of water every morning.
35. Read "Buddhism for Mothers" and "Blessings of the Skinned Knee" as often as necessary and try to live by them.
36. Organize the attic. (That might take until I'm 45.)
37. Travel with Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow.
38. Go to a retreat at the Omega Institute.
39. Write longer and more involved posts.
40. Do all of the above, and remain relaxed. Perhaps take up drinking?

Comments

[Lynne]

I totally empathise with your goal to socialise more - and commenting on blogs doesn't count. Brilliant! I so need to do the same.

[Paige]

Love your list...I see a lot of myself in there, especially with number 1! Why is it so hard to just get out there and walk? Why??

[Sherri/The Claw]

Great list. My friends are counselors at the summer camp (for kids) at Omega every year. Sounds like an amazing place.

[auntie J]

Have you called the wrist guy yet? If not, I'm going to call for you? Do you get to cross it off your list if I call?

[caroline]

OH! OH! OH! I LOVE MY PARCEL!!! WOW!!! It's AMAZING!!! LOADS of stuff!

[minnie]

i think i could get all that done in the next 7 years...
compost shouldn't be smelly ever! don't put meat in it! buy some worms!

[amy]

i just adore you xoxo

[Pam]

Wow, that's quite a list. Looks like a lot of fun. I have a link for you concerning #2.
This is where I mastered the granny square.
http://www.purlbee.com/granny-square-project/
If I can do it, anyone can do!
Good Luck! You may enjoy this book by Jill Smolinsky- The Next Thing on My List.
http://www.amazon.com/Next-Thing-My-List-Novel/dp/0307351297/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223037286&sr=1-1

[jessica]

That is a great list- I have a similar list and I'm slowly ticking items right off.

[patty]

Every morning, I look at my vegan cookbook and think, today's the day, millet for dinner! And every night...oh, let's just say it, I made tonight a Manwich night. Not even on hamburger buns. On spaghetti. With cheddar cheese. I'm embracing my inner mid-westerner.

[Andrea]

This list is totally doable. You say you have eight years, right? What a fun list! It'll be fun to see what the next eight months hold!

[elizabeth of course]

Good lukc! We have a lot of similar goals. Maybe we can compare notes.

[joslyn]

i love your list...especially "embrace my inner hippie..." i want to do that too...for sure.

i posted it today
http://simplelovely.blogspot.com/

[kristina]

I just made a life list too, and I definitely see some overlap! But I'm not sure I could just say no to Amazon. You're a much stronger woman than I am! Intrigued by learning the Hebrew alphabet...K x

[Amy]

Good luck. I have faith in you and I'm happy to help with the knitting - and also with the eating at Mario Batali's new restaurant in Port Chester - maybe a double date? Oh, one more thing: call Alan Schefer at Mount Kisco Medical about your wrist. Seriously. He will make you better.

[Sarah]

I love that last one!

[Felicia]

Uh, your list looks strikingly similar to my own! :)

[caroline]

Dang, that's a list!

Hey! You're just a couple of months older than me! YIPPEE FOR US OLD BROADS!!! WOOHOO!

[maya]

COOKIES! Awesome! I'll help you anytime. Seriously.

I need to make my own list...