My 101 List

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

My deadline: Saturday, June 23, 2012

The List:

[001] Drink 2 quarts of water every day for two weeks.

[002] Exercise for 30 minutes every day for two weeks.

[003] Drink a glass of wine every evening for two weeks.

[004] Abstain from alcohol for two weeks.

[005] Go vegetarian for two weeks.

[006] Go vegan for two weeks.

[007] Do the one hundred pushups challenge.

[008] Read 50 books.

[009] Watch 101 movies.

[010] Make it to an advanced-level dance class.

[011] Make a six-course meal.

[012] Make a dress for myself.

[013] Make a quilt.

[014] Clean up my “web image”- (delete myspace, create a linkedin, etc.)

[015] Plant a tree.

[016] Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.

[017] Finish the Italian Rosetta Stone.

[018] Learn to shoot pool.

[019] Learn some form of ballroom dancing.

[020] Learn to read music.

[021] Learn to do a wall flip.

[022] Learn to bartend.

[023] Learn how to skateboard.

[024] Learn how to surf.

[025] Learn to SCUBA.

[026] Learn how to jump a car battery and change a tire.

[027] Learn how to drive stick.

[028] Learn how to juggle.

[029] Learn how to sail.

[030] Go rock climbing.

[031] Go dune surfing.

[032] Go boogie boarding.

[033] Go spelunking.

[034] Watch the sunrise and sunset in the same day.

[035] Get something other than my ears pierced.

[036] Go ice skating at the frog pond in Boston (note to self: learn to ice skate).

[037] Drink real Champagne.

[038] Catch fireflies.

[039] Go skinny dipping.

[040] Graduate from college.

[041] Have a straight-A semester.

[042] Wear a bikini again.

[043] Swim with dolphins or sharks.

[044] Learn to fly a plane.

[045] Go zorbing.

[046] See turtles hatch.

[047] Fall in love.

[048] Become a certified rape crisis counselor.

[049] Get a professional massage.

[050] Have my own etsy store.

[051] … and sell something on it.

[052] Go to a baseball or football game with my dad.

[053] Write a play.

[054] Donate 100,000 grains of rice via freerice.com.

[055] Go white water rafting.

[056] See the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC.

[057] Go wine tasting in Napa.

[058] See the running of the ponies at Chincoteague.

[059] Make a tourist trip to San Francisco.

[060] See the northern lights (aurora borealis).

[061] Write a bucket list.

[062] Tell a story in photos.

[063] Get my photography published.

[064] Get my writing published.

[065] Write a book.

[066] Give blood.

[067] Take a weekend vacation by myself.

[068] Finish a major paper more than a week before it’s due.

[069] Choreograph a piece for the dance company.

[070] Have my work displayed in the school art gallery.

[071] Participate in 5 flash mobs.

[072] Make a list of my regrets and forgive myself for them.

[073] Submit a t-shirt design to threadless.com.

[074] Have an evening out with friends, pretending to be richer than we are.

[075] Take a pilates class.

[076] Balls up, be the first to approach a guy at a bar, and give him my phone number before he asks for it.

[077] Make a list of 100 things that make me truly happy.

[078] Start a wine journal.

[079] Attend an opening night gala for a theatre or another theatre benefit night.

[080] Kiss in the rain.

[081] Complete a 26 things photo challenge.

[082] Finish an entire sudoku book.

[083] See or read every play that has received a Pulitzer for drama.

[084] Do the two hundred sit ups challenge.

[085] … at this point I would be copping out if I didn’t do the two hundred squats challenge too.

[086] Attend a Holi celebration.

[087] See the Western Wall.

[088] Kiss the Blarney Stone.

[089] See the Tough Guy competition.

[090] Celebrate Oktoberfest- preferably in Germany, but anywhere there’s a celebration.

[091] See the Monarch butterfly migration.

[092] Ride a camel or an elephant.

[093] Attend at least one festival included in World Party.

[094] See a castle.

[095] Fly a kite.

[096] Couch surf.

[097] Eat lobster.

[098] Be able to do the splits.

[099] Learn to whistle with my fingers.

[100] Maintain my first aid/CPR certification, and learn to do the Heimlich Maneuver.

[101] Inspire someone else to start their own list.

From California, with love.