Two times a year I have an existential "what am I doing with my life" breakdown; January 1 and August 27. I sit back and evaluate my life...am I happy...am I where I want to be? The answer is generally 'ummm, I'm ok but I could be better". Well, I have decided that 43 is the year to try and do something about it.
I decided to try (publicly) to come up with 43 things that I can do to make my life better. I need a goal with clear measurables and a concrete deadline. I developed this list through a combination of things I've wanted to work on a google search of "how to improve myself". Most of these are pretty simple things...but I am hoping that they will help me expand my horizons, focus on what's important and improve myself in areas that are important to me. I think I am also hoping that some become a lifelong habit.
Here is the list:
1) Walk in the morning 43 times
2) Finish writing 43 short stories about travel
3) Send a message to 43 friends that I have lost contact with
4) Try 43 new foods
5) Cook 43 new recipes
6) Lose 43 pounds
7) Watch 43 TED talks
8) Review 43 things that I have purchased on Amazon (I always use these...time to give back!)
9) Write 43 entries on this blog
10) Write end of day gratitude summaries 43 times
11) Donate 43 items to charity
12) Write 43 TripAdvisor reviews
13) Take/select 43 photos that I feel sum up my year
14) Send 43 birthday messages (not to family)
15) Eat vegetarian for 43 days
16) Identify and research 43 new places to visit in the world
17) Finish reading 43 books
18) Complete 43 10-minute meditations
19) Put forth an effort (hair and make-up) for 43 'just because' days.
20) Send Christmas cards to 43 people
21) Finish 7 self-help books
22) Make 7 new friends
23) Try 7 new restaurants
24) Invest 4300 dollars into mutual funds
25) Admit I was wrong and apologize 43 times
26) Get up early (between 5 - 6 am) to increase productivity 43 times
27) Do a 43-second plank, 43 times
28) Watch 7 full-length documentaries
29) Do 7 things that scare me
30) Listen to 43 podcasts (not my favourite radio show!)
31) Donate an average of $43 a month to charity ($516/yr)
32) Select the Green Tea option 43 times
33) Unsubscribe to 43 e-mails
34) Watch the sunrise or sunset 43 times
35) Learn 7 new French words a month
36) Send 43 thank you notes or messages of gratitude
37) Write positive messages to yourself 43 times
38) Stop 7 bad habits
39) Learn 43 new words (and be able to use them in a sentence)
40) Floss 43 times (I am quite embarrassed how infrequently that occurs now...)
41) Have 43 "perfect" days
42) Stop talking and listen 43 times
43) Identify 43 people/role models who have traits you can aim to achieve
(Everything is either in groups of 43 or 7 (4+3=7)...I like numbers)
