100 Goals for my 32nd birthday

So here we are.  (And accomplishing Goal #80 in the process!  12 blog posts: complete!)

It's been a fun four months, trying to get all of these things done.  Some of them I was finishing as late as yesterday, trying to make these things happen. 

I often make lists like these, trying to accomplish things that are fun, some things that are serious, and some things in between.  I really challenged myself this time, though, with 100 things to complete by my 32nd birthday.

In the end, I managed to complete 60 out of 100 goals in four months.  Believe it or not, I was actually pretty disappointed with that.  When I look at my list, it's covered with stars.  It's just all those in between ones that seem to bring my numbers down lower than expected.  If I had anticipated how many I had left, I might have changed things around slightly.

Some of the ones I didn't accomplish, I have to admit; I just put them off for other goals, or just decided I didn't feel like doing them.  (Also, I repeated a couple of them.  Some like, 'Go for a painting class' are pretty similar to ones like 'create a piece of art.')  I really wish that I had given myself a little more time, or come up with some different, perhaps some slightly more 'summer themed' goals, since this year, I did a lot of summer related activities, which was really nice...and very different for me!  I wish 'go swimming' had been on this list, since that's something that Alex and I did this summer, and it was a blast.

Some of my goals were either unobtainable, or, looking back, had too many parts.  Writing 12 blog posts as one goal was a good goal, but reading 20 books as one goal, that was perhaps much too ambitious for four months.  Of course, it wouldn't have been, if I hadn't also had goal 35: do three online training courses on Lynda.com, as well as take a class (which I did, through skillshare, on illustration.)

Some goals turned out differently than I expected, as well.  I had a day of fasting when I didn't plan it (Goal 25) and visiting my family doctor meant I got my yearly physical (goal 45).  I also had to plan out getting proper amounts of sleep in higher numbers (goals 50 and 51) but meeting a firefighter was a bit of a happy accident at the taste of danforth festival (goal 17). 

Some goals, I think, were downright too ambitious for four months.  Goal 94, finish bottle of daily vitamins, would mean I would have to remember to take a vitamin daily for three months straight.  That goal was sabotaged by the fact that I often would feel ill after taking one of the vitamins first thing in the morning, which was often the most sensible time to take it.  Next time, I should probably just stick to chewable vitamins. 

Also, some creative goals, I just didn't have time for.  I wanted to do a video shoot and a photo shoot this summer, and do a really professional set up.  Unfortunately, there just wasn't time....I was too busy doing summer activities during the times that would have been best.

Probably the biggest gap in my goals list were the 'financial' areas.  I was planning on opening RRSPs (goal 29) and also trying my hand at investing in a stock or two for fun (Goal 69).  I had a bunch of other goals...but I have recently restructured my financial so I am paying down rather aggressively some student debt, and that has made me adjust over the last few months a bit more.


The one thing I have learned from this goal list, is that some of these I would like to carry over to my NEXT goal list (before 2016!) and some of them I need to complete, even if just for myself.  The creative ones that I didn't get to, I either have planned in the next week or so (timing) and things like 'visit the dentist' were reliant on my health benefits being kicked in, which they finally are, after waiting for three months.  I now have stuff I need to back claim.  Perhaps my next goals should be to find someone else to do my admin work on all this stuff! 

But overall, I'm very happy with my goals for this year....I think I accomplished quite a bit that this list doesn't reflect.  Next time, I may leave an open 'bonus section' so that I can accurately capture growth in my life! =)

Goal #22: See a Shakespeare Play

Karl and I went and saw Julius Caesar in High Park.  This is something that Karl and I now think we will do as an 'annual thing.'  I have to agree, since both of us seem to really enjoy the culture and the vibe.  Also, it's a pay what you can environment, which is really great!  The concession stand is also quite reasonable.

I have few thoughts about this particular play because it was done so well.  Brutus seemed so believable and virtuous, Cassius was very well done by the woman play her.  Marc Antony, was naked for half of the play, which was a bit weird.  But overall, very fun!!

#28: Have a dinner party

OK, it was a brunch party....so sue me!

I realized I had gotten out of the habit of entertaining with meals, and I realized how much I missed it.  So I helped cook the main meal this weekend, with none other than my amazing roomies and some guests!

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I made the scrambled eggs, which had chorizo sausage and a crumbled american asiago cheese.  It was a new creation, but quite good!  I will have to try it again.  Nathanael made crepes and Celine made the lovely salad.  It was a MILLION degrees and so hot, but still so fun.

We had a very nice time, and it inspired me....I love dinner parties! 

#34: Learn a new software

So this one came as part of another project I was working on.

Karl and I decided to record a podcast, and we ended up with a 20 minute file.

 

At the same time, I was asked at work to put together an audio file for a voiceover, which was definitely a new task, since I had to work with only waveforms (and it was with a really annoying audio format, so I couldn't just import it into a video editor and export it as mp3 or wav files)  But in the end, it was a good exercise for me to learn the basics of a track based audio editing program.

I then took that learning from work, and applied it to our podcast!  Which Karl is going to take a listen to this week, and depending on what we think, we might make it a regular thing, just for kicks.  I think he thinks it's his road to fame, but honestly, I just think stuff like this is fun!

#65: Go hiking

So Alex had a dilemma: he had a week long vacation, and nowhere to go.  His original plan with his best friend fell through, and we decided we would try to make the most of the upcoming long weekend.

We hemmed and hawed a bit, between going to Montreal, or perhaps going to Niagara Falls, and then I decided that we would try and go to Blue Mountain. And in the end, that's exactly what we did, and what a good idea it was! Because it allowed me the chance to finish one of the items on my list: Go hiking!

On day one, we took the Village Trail.  It was very beautiful, and a good 'intro hiking trail.  There was lots to see! 

The nicest part of hiking up the mountain is that you can take the gondola down.  (Which is a lot nicer than taking the gondola up, which costs $15!)

On day two, we did the maintenance trail, mainly because I think Alex wanted to challenge himself a little bit.  I'm very glad I brought a water bottle, since he nearly expired on the trail!  It was very steep, and there were plenty of people that couldn't really make it all the way up.  However, we did, eventually make it.

We also went in search of the so-called scenic caves.  However, after asking for directions, and walking for about half an hour, all we found were a few nice forest glades, some houses on top of hills and this big old sign!

The last day, we couldn't hike because Alex hurt his knee the evening before.  He managed to recover  for the next day, but we decided to skip a longer hike and went to the pool instead.

Overall, Blue Mountain was beautiful, and I can't wait to go again!  It really was a retreat from city life, which is just what I needed.

Goal #54: Lift 45 pound weigh at gym

 

On my goal to lose some weight, and be in better fitness weight....I wanted to be able to lift higher level free weights.

I felt like a complete BOSS lifting this.  It's been 2 years since I've been able to comfortably lift this weight during a regular session.  Made me feel really great. =D

I did a set of something like 12 reps with this of lifting straight up and down.  I think I also did some barbell curls with this, as well. I'm starting to get back into the shape I was in 2 years ago...eating well...it feels really good. 

Goal #81: Listen to 12 podcasts

 

I am so in love with this podcast.  It was so well done.  

It was a real-crime murder mystery, with a journalist turning her year long investigation into a story of the power of testimony.  More than anything, it showed a lot of what individuals think of someone once they became convicted of a crime.

I am very excited for the next season of this podcast!  It's right up there with my favourites from Stuff I Missed in History Class and New York Times book reviews.

 

 

Goal #1: Make a new friend

So this one happened easier than I thought.

My new roommate Celine is now a great friend to me.  We are planning trips and going to a Blue Jays game at the end of July, we eat dinner together, and maybe we'll even go for a cottage weekend in August.

She's funny, she's smart, and last week, she gave me the best massage ever! =D

She's also super bright and positive, and it just makes my day when she randomly hugs me, even if she's a little blue or I'm a little blue.  Hugs make almost everything better.

She's also super sporty...so maybe we'll do something very fun and exciting over the next little while!

Edit:  We did!  We went to a baseball game with her workplace, and wow everyone was our age.  How fun it was to go to a sports event with people your own age!

Goals Summer 2015

So I have a list of 100 things I want to do before I turn 32.  Some of them are very simple (throw a dinner party) some of them are person (remember to phone my parents) and some of them are more difficult (make an animation, develop a course, etc.). 

I thought it would be nice to catalogue here all of my achievements, since I set up a lot of goals for myself that are very ambitious, and I would like to remember them all. =)

Here's to 100 things!