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by Caroline 28 Comments
I am twenty-three years old today. I had a failure of a year if you’re comparing this list to the one I wrote this time last July. I crossed off only 5 items (couchsurfing, going on a spontaneous trip, meeting 5 blog friends, going on a solo trip and learning to budget, in case you were wondering).
Maybe this year I should pick items that are a bit more realistic. Some items are repeats in an effort to follow through and others are stolen from my Life List. I’ve made this list to steer me towards a happier, healthier, more productive year. Blog-related and career-related goals are in bold. Life-related goals are in italics. Travel-related goals are in red.
- Run or walk a half marathon. And get back in shape as a whole.
- Get another tattoo. I’ve got so many ideas, but at the moment I’m fixated on Avett Brothers lyrics (“decide what to be and go be it”).
- Get a travel story published in print. It’s never going to happen unless I start seriously pitching.
- Bungee jump.
- Scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef.
- Give blood for the first time.
- Learn how to surf.
- Switch my blog to WordPress.org so I can change themes, widgets, etc. (If you are good at this and can give me a good deal, please let me know!)
- Get under a 500,000 global Alexa ranking. It has fluctuated for the past couple of months, especially the Australian number.
- Visit every state and territory in Australia. So far I’ve done New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. That still leaves Tasmania, Western Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory.
- Take a writing course.
- Learn to cook a souffle.
- Reach 1000 followers on Twitter. Follow me!
- File my own taxes.
- Donate money to the College of Charleston, my alma mater, as well as attend an alumni event.
- Host a Couch Surfer.
- Repay owed money to my parents.
- Send a postcard to Madison every place I visit.*
- Go one month without drinking.
- Cook Thanksgiving dinner.
- Send out a Christmas card (or maybe an e-card).
- Visit one more brewery to finish up my Life List goal.
- Get one of my photos published.
- Make enough money from blogging to pay for photo storage, website hosting and everything else I need to make this site great!
Most of these things are in efforts to turn myself into some semblance of a grown-up. While I’m not excited about filing my own taxes (numbers aren’t my thing), I think it’s important that I take some steps to learn how to do things for myself.
*Madisonis the daughter of my former dance teacher. I mentioned on Facebook that I was sending out some postcards and she asked me to send her one. I was more than happy to do it. Madison was born with DiGeorge Syndrome, which brings her to the hospital a lot. She wants to go to Paris one day. If you are interested in sending a postcard, send you can reach me on the Contact page.
What do youwant to do this year?
Reader Interactions
Comments
Adam @ SitDownDisco saysSounds like a good list to me. In fact, any list is better than no list which is what I have at the moment…
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- Amy Eubanks says
It is always great to have a list! Remember to give blood before getting that second tattoo, or you will have that long waiting period you encountered last summer.
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- Kelly P says
How funny…I do the exact same thing every year too!
http://flipflopcaravan.blogspot.com/2010/10/26-for-26.htmlAnd I love mixing big goals with smaller ones. Good luck – it should be a great year!
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- carolineinthecityblog says
Thanks for reading, Kelly!
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- Seattle's Travels says
Happy Birthday!! (belated by now?)
I’m also 23, so I like this list.. especially #2 :DReply
- Rebecca says
Such a baby. I do love reminiscing on my past birthdays when someone tells me how young they are turning. 24….2005. Oh! San Francisco! Wine tour! A decent birthday:-). Hope you are having a good one!!!
And you left out (ugh) Queensland from your Aussie state list!!
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- carolineinthecityblog says
Hahaha how could I forget Queensland! I’m headed there next!
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- Kieron says
Nice list! I probably could give you some help with #8 – bit busy at the moment but maybe in a few weeks. :)
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- carolineinthecityblog says
Whenever you get the chance! You guys have a great site and I know mine needs some tweaking to get more traffic.
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- Cailin O'Neil says
Good luck with the list!!! :)
I’m giving myself only to the age of 30 to get to all of the continents and I just turned 27 so wish me luck! :)Reply
- carolineinthecityblog says
Thanks Cailin! I have faith that you can accomplish that! You’re off to a good start. I would also like to see all the continents by 30, but I still have 7 years. My friend Ali of Ali’s Adventures did it!
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- Caz Makepeace says
Happy Birthday! A good list of goals. Just focus on one at a time and you will get there. Celebrate each achievement no matter how small
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- carolineinthecityblog says
Thanks Caz!
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- Heather says
I really like your list — and it’s a good reminder for me of some things I’ve been saying I want to do O:-)
Have thought about a tattoo for years and thought Oz would be the perfect place but it never happened.
I’d love to send Madison a postcard when I go to London in a couple of weeks — email or FB me details :-)!!!
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- Don Faust says
Nice list – that’s a lot, so keep going through it!
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- carolineinthecityblog says
Thanks Don!
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- Amanda says
dont leave the nt later then October. Right now the weather is amazing, the national parks are open. When the rains start its crazy hot and unbearable for most travellers and most of the cool stuff is flooded! Still Uluru will always be there :)
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- carolineinthecityblog says
Hoping to make it up there in September/October! Can’t wait to explore some more!
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God, so young you are! ;) Great list there… I have no list, so I can’t really put such goals into list form, but I guess it might look something like:
1) Be awesome
hehe and that’s all! Good luck on getting this year to be what you want it to be. Sorry I couldn’t make your b-day drinks!
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- carolineinthecityblog says
Haha such a baby. No worries, hope you’re feeling better!
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- gautamic says
hey,
it looks similar to my list..but it will be things i want to do before 27. And minor difference is i have just started with it..lol ..Anyways i have one year to do everything..wish me luck.. hope we will be able to tick off evrything next year and create one more list..
Gautami
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- fritty81 says
I don’t think I knew you used to dance. We will have to compare notes — and maybe take a dance class together in Sydney :)
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Good luck with all the things you have not achieved yet!
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- carolineinthecityblog says
Thanks! I’ve got lots to cross off!
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- Samantha says
I’m not going to lie since I feel like 24 is right around the corner September 16 yay Virgo I was like oh sh*t I better get on these things on the list, lists fascinate me and him some weight with me. However after reading your list and although I think it is very specific I realized we all obviously have our own to do list. So I’ll share some insight that could help you with your list and then I’ll share some items on mine. I started wakeboarding last year for the first time and I loved it!!! I suffered two major falls but that only earned menmore street cred so go for the surfing don’t be afraid but also what is fun for others doesn’t mean it has to be fun for you. I only kind of liked surfing but I’m up for it every now and then wakeboarding onthe otherhan I’ll do that all day!
My list
Pay back parents* same but I think every 20something should feel this way and make efforts to do so
Finally do a photo shoot of my skateboarding brother
Find a race to do in Lexington
Advertise my photography to Greek life events
Launch Sororities for Soldiers – A non profit I have been working on for quite a while * email me for info
Go to Mardi GRAS
Read one non school book a month * starting graduate school so I have school books still
Apply to sephora
Apply to livingsocial
Write some stories
Be happier
Maaaaaaaaaybe get a tattoo
Sky dive
Loong list but I have confidence in myselfReply
- Yasmine says
I have never made one for each year, i just have this giant one and list the ones i want to achieve with my quarterly goals… http://www.gonelivin.com/bucketlist/
This year im trying to get my blog into shape so i can make some money off it and quit my full time job
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- Caroline says
Good luck Yasmine!
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[…] told me he wanted to stop drinking for a month, I said I would do it too. It’s was on my 24 Before 24 list, at #19. I think having someone to do this with will help, having someone to check in on me […]
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