more photos on flickr >>

 

(This is cross-posted at BlogHer.)

In January 2007, I started a list on my blog called 101 Things in 1001 Days. Those 1001 days ended last month on October 2nd. Many people have created their own lists, but I’d be interested to know how many of them end up completing everything. I only completed 78 of the 101 things on my list. But you know what? I’m okay with that.

The reason I’m okay with it is because it was my choice to stop making the list a priority. I did most of the things that I really wanted to do (as well as some things that were just “ehhhhh” but didn’t take a lot of time and energy to accomplish). Earlier this year, I stopped posting my regular end-of-month recaps because there were no longer any updates to make.

Am I disappointed that I didn’t complete the entire list? Yes, it would have been cool to be able to say, “Look guys, I did it!!” But no, I’m not disappointed. The reason I didn’t do most of the these tasks — with the exception of maybe two or three things that I would have liked to do — was simply because I didn’t want to. This is my life, and while of course there are some things I have to do that I’d rather not, there are also things like this that I do have control over.

Here are the 23 things that I didn’t do (the numbers designate where they’re located in the list).

1. Volunteer somewhere for at least 1 hour: I didn’t complete this before my end date of October ‘09, but I have two volunteer events scheduled for this month. I was just a few weeks too late.

11. Do at least 1 unassisted pull-up: I may not be able to do a pull-up, but I’d like to note that I’ve maintained my regular weight workouts ever since I started lifting weights back in the summer of 2007. Over two years and counting. Go, me!

16. Buy a complete outfit purchased from thrift stores: I went to a few places this year, but I never found anything I wanted to buy, much less an entire outfit.

18. Plant something from seed: Instead of helping a plant grow, I killed one.

20. Host a sleepover for at least 2 females: I’ve had girls stay over at my place, but never two females at the same time.

22. Fly a kite: Lame. This was just a space-filler.

25. Compile emergency supplies for home: I guess I’ll be in big trouble if an emergency happens.

30. Attend a church service: The only time I’ve been inside a church since January ‘07 was when my friend Teresa got married in a Catholic church last fall, and when my friend Eddie got married in a Baptist church a few months ago. I decided not to count these since they were special occasions and not sermon-type services.

32. Memorize something and demonstrate it for someone as proof: I asked for recommendations, but I didn’t follow through. Technically, I could have memorized a sentence or two and crossed this one off, but I didn’t think that was fair.

40. Participate in an online writing contest, or submit a piece to a printed publication: I blog, and for right now, that’s good enough for me.

42. Go to a country where I have to use my passport again: Oh, woe is me. One day I will do this.

43. Tour a vineyard/winery, or go to a wine festival: I’ve been to three beer festivals. That should totally count.

49. Stay in a haunted hotel room, or visit a place that advertises itself as being haunted: Earlier this year I was supposed to visit a haunted hotel at Fell’s Point in Baltimore, but my plans fell through and I never rescheduled.

51. Visit Lyndsey in Texas: I haven’t been to Texas, but I did see Lyndsey in Las Vegas last fall.

52. Visit Christina in Columbus: I’ve seen Christina several times in the past few years, but only when she’s come to Virginia for a visit. The last time I was in Columbus was July 2006 when I was a bridesmaid in her wedding.

54. Take a Sisters-Only Getaway with both of my two beautiful sisters: I would have liked to do this, and still hope to do so.

68. Obtain a piece of original art for the wall: I would have been more motivated to do this if I lived in a place by myself. My roommate has stuff on our walls right now.

69. Paint a picture: I didn’t have the supplies to do this, nor do I know anyone who paints.

83. Be an extra in a movie or TV show, or be part of the audience at a TV recording: This would be fun to do, but I never got the chance.

85. Learn at least 50 ASL signs: My friend Julie could have helped me out with this one.

88. Transfer 8mm camcorder tapes to digital format: I’d still like to do this at some point. It wouldn’t take very long, because I only have a few tapes. But it would be interesting to see what I looked and sounded like ten years ago when these were originally recorded.

98. Dry my own fruit using a food dehydrator: Regular fruit is pretty darn good. I don’t feel like I missed out.

101. Make a new list of 101 Things by the time my 1001 days are done: I won’t be making another list with a specific time frame. I’m thinking about doing a Life List, just to keep track of the things I’ve done and have a central place to record it, but I don’t want anything else with a deadline.

The most important thing is that there are so many things I’ve done over the past 1001 days that weren’t on the list. I’ve grown as a person, done a lot of cool things, been to new places, and met a lot of awesome people. And that’s more than enough for me.

Do you have a 101 Things list? Has anyone actually completed one?

Related Reading:

My friend Leah started her 101 Things list in March 2008, and she’s been really good about posting regular updates. (She also credits me with being the one to inspire her to start her list.)

The blogger at Cherry Blossom Adventures is an Aussie living in Japan with her Japanese husband. She just posted a 101 Things list update.

Sarah is a newbie, having just started her list last month. (Good luck!)