A couple of weeks ago I read an article in the paper called ‘Thirty things to do before your thirty’ which got me thinking. The article itself wasn’t that great as it was populated by mainstream expectations such as buy a house, settle down, earn x amount of money etc but it did get me thinking about my own list. Annoyingly I’m 34 already, so my list goes up to forty. Time flies when you are having fun.
The list
1. Give a speech in front of thousands of people
2. Complete the Three Peaks Challenge
3. Set up and run my own business
4. Visit every continent in the world
5. Learn to play guitar
6. Perform stand-up comedy
7. Learn to windsurf
8. Bungee jump off a bridge
9. Fly a plane
10. Complete a triathlon
11. Go scuba diving
12. Write a novel
13. Become fluent in Spanish
14. Go to the opera
15. Play a part in a play
16. Learn how to meditate
17. Learn to ride a motorbike
18. Ride a jet ski
19. Take singing lessons
20. Learn to salsa
21. Learn how to use an SLR camera
22. Paint and sell a painting
23. Volunteer for a development project abroad
24. Make a short film
25. Win an award
26. Live in a foreign country for six months or more
27. Go on a silent retreat
28. Get a tattoo
29. Become a coach
30. Go go-karting
31. Climb Kilimanjaro
32. Write a non-fiction book
33. Run a retreat
34. Fall in love
35. Create and sell an e-course
36. Write a song
37. Detox for a week
38. Cycle the Camino de Santiago
39. Ride in a hot air balloon
Writing this list really did get me thinking. Firstly it made me realise how many things I’ve been talking about doing for years and haven’t yet done. Once I’d put those down I then had to spend some time thinking about what else I’d really like to have done or achieved by the time I hit my 40th birthday.
Time waits for no man
Writing this list has also scared me on a number of levels. Firstly It’s made me realise that I am six years away from being 40, which is just crazy and it’s also made me realise that if I want to achieve everything on this list, I’m going to have to complete between 6 and 7 things a year, every year, for the next six years, that feels like an awful lot.
But I’m not so scared that it would put me off – I like a challenge and I think this is one I can handle.
What dreams are made of
The biggest thing that writing this list has brought home to me is that if I don’t take steps towards doing these things, then this list isn’t a to do list, it’s a wish list. I don’t wish for these things to happen, I know that to achieve many of them will take bloody-minded determination and hard slog.
I hear people all the time talking about their dreams and their wishes in a wistful way as if they are already resigned to the fact that they will never happen. The definition of wistful is ‘having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing.’ Not a feeling I’m comfortable with.
I’m not sure how common or how strange this is, but I think about my deathbed a lot and I’m 100% committed to not lying in it with a heap of regrets. We only get one shot at life and it is fleeting, 80-90 years if we’re lucky and I don’t want to waste a second of it feeling wistful.
Over to you
“There are only 39 things on your list!” I hear you cry. I know, I know, there is a good reason for this. After I put all of the things I’ve already talked about doing on the list and then thought about what else I’d like to do, I was left with one slot. I sat and thought hard about what that 40th thing should be but I started to feel like whatever I came up with was just something to fill a space rather than something I would really love to do and then I had an idea.
I’d like to throw it over to you, my readers and ask for suggestions for the 40th item on my list. I’m sure there are some amazing things that I just haven’t considered and so I’d love to hear what people think. Maybe it’s something that you’ve done yourself or maybe it’s something you’d love to do. It could even be something that you don’t think you would dare to do and maybe, just maybe, I’m crazy enough to do it.
Do you have a list? Have you actually written it down or is it in your head? Do you have a deadline? Let me know your thoughts and suggestions in the comments. I would love to hear from you and if you’ve enjoyed the post please do share using the buttons below.
Hi there, I'm Caroline. Welcome to Life is Limitless, my blog about personal development with a focus on facing fears and living a life without limits. Check out my about page to find out more and pop your email in the box below to subscribe for regular updates.
Interesting list Caz. Not sure whether I should worry that I’m only 6 months off turning 40 (ouch!) or take solace that I’ve done 9 of the things already (you know me pretty well, so I’ll leave it to you to try and guess which 9).
Love the idea of the list and, if you don’t mind, might well borrow the idea for a blog post of my own. Though might have to give myself longer than 6 months to achieve mine.
And… if you ever do learn to play the guitar, I look forward to your first gig.
xx
Thanks for your comment Ross! Never worry about growing older, with age comes wisdom or so they say! Borrow away but I’d suggest that you make it ‘Fifty things to do before you’re fifty!’ That should keep you busy and out of trouble
I think I have a pretty good idea which 9 you’ve done but feel free to enlighten me. You’ll have a free ticket for the front row 
x
Love your list, Caroline. It really does put things in perspective, makes me realize how little time we really have to accomplish everything.
Anyways, a suggestion for you for #40: Attend a conference like the World Domination Summit. Nothing quite like being surrounded by all those people who just get you and the whole non-conformity thing. High-fives are likely when you tell them you’re going to sell all your stuff, quit your job and travel the world indefinitely. Happy days
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Thanks Niall. Yeah I’ve really noticed time goes fast and annoyingly even more so the more fun you have! I like your suggestion but without wanting to appear too ambitious I was hoping that your suggestion is covered by number one on the list: Give a speech in front of thousands of people! Does your suggestion count if I speak at rather than simply attend said conference?
#40. Finally have the Leon/Spall/Doherty meetup of the century. Doherty has chucked a spanner in the works regarding this one (I’ve got a bet on that he’s secretly flying Ryanair to each destination) but it’s still possible within the time frame!
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Ben this is the suggestion I’m going to go with – let’s make it happen!
hi Caroline~sleep outside under the stars for a week***…or maybe more…
Hi Kara, I love your idea – think I’ll move somewhere warmer than England first!
Thanks for the suggestion.
How wonderful that you have written your list down and been willing to share it so publicly. It sounds like we are kindred spirits in that my goal is to always take the option that leads to the best story in at the senior center later in life. Your list will definitely give you lots of material!
For #40, I suggest dancing in a competition. It’s less scary than it sounds (in hindsight only, I think!) and it is an incredible experience.
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Hi Tammy thanks for your comment! I love what you said about your goal is to always take the option that leads to the best story in at the senior centre later in life – that really made me smile! Dancing in a competition is a good one, I was in a dance troupe as a kid – does that count?
Does bungeeing count if it isn’t off a bridge? (twice)
Nailed 14 but just past 40. Playing catch up here.
Numbers 1 and 26 are two that I would like to knock off the list.
Number 40 for me would be sailing on the ocean for a minimum of 1 month.
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Hi Rob, welcome to Life is Limitless! 14 out of 40 is good going! And I love your suggestion of a sailing one – I did think about doing something boat related but couldn’t quite work out what it should be so thanks for the comment! I already did a bungee jump so for me it has to be off a bridge to make it on my list
Wow caz! An ambitious and challenging list. If you want to get one in before Christmas (knowing your get-up-and-go you’ll probably have knocked off a few by then!) then I’d love to come do 30 with you – give me a shout if you want to put a date in the diary!
As for number 40, I think the comment above about attending a conference is a great idea, and there are so many to choose from. You could go abroad and knock off another continent! Personally I’d also love to see the Northern Lights (would need to be able to spell their real name first!).
Ellen x
Thanks Elles! I would love to go go-karting with you! Let’s do it. I’m actually hoping to speak at a conference one day (covered by number 1 on the list) but I’ll happily nab seeing the Northern Lights from you
x
As a 49-year-old, here’s my recommendation for #40: Relax about turning 40!
You can do any of these things quite well after turning 40, I promise.
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Hi Sue thanks for your comment – I have no doubt that they are all things I could do after 40, it’s just that I’ll have a whole new list of things to do by then!
Caroline,
Great post!
However, I think that this list came too late since I’m turning 40 next week (October 20th), so I’ll try to make these happen when I’m 50
OK, so item #10 (Complete a triathlon) is taken care of – actually 3 times already this summer
Cheers,
Timo
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Thanks Timo, sounds like I might need to come to you for tips on completing a triathlon!
I’m getting close to the business end of 40 and think about this stuff often, but have never made my own list. Not sure I will, i like to enjoy it as it comes. There are a few things on your list that sound interesting though. I’m curious, which one on this list replaced skydiving?
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Hi Craig, I totally respect your approach of enjoying it as it comes – I feel I’ve tried both approaches and as long as I’m doing things that I love to do then I’m happy whether I planned to do them or not. Not sure specifically what thing replaced the skydive – in terms of adrenalin and facing my fears probably learning to ride a motorbike!
I have been thinking of making a list. . . but so far thinking about it is all that I’ve done. I think your post was what I needed to get me to put it down in writing. I turn 40 next month so perhaps the tick tock of the clock has something to do with it as well.
For your #40. . . how about studying a martial art or taking a reality based self defense course?
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Hi Vic, thanks for your comment, I can’t recommend writing a list down enough, it certainly put a lot of things in perspective for me. And yes, can’t believe I didn’t put a martial art on there – that’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while – can you recommend one?
I’m 63 and I still see life as limitless, 40 is so young…
What I want to know, though, is what do you REALLY want to do? If you had to pick just one item from the list what would it be?
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Hi Graham, thanks for your comment, whilst some things are definitely more of a priority, I honestly don’t think I could pick one thing – that’s why I write lists
I’m glad to hear that you still see life as limitless because I think that’s true at any age! 
I have my own list that I add things to constantly. I can’t manage to limit it to 40.
Each year I pick a few things off the list I want to accomplish and then make up a plan for each quarter to get me there and schedule stuff at the beginning of the year. It’s been great over the years and I’ve managed check off a lot of stuff. I’ve done 10 of the items on your list and 4 years until 40. Over the years I’ve managed to check off about 70-80 things off my list – so it’s definitely possible and more importantly it’s been extremely fun.
For your 40th item, leave it open and see what comes up. My latest item was to take a summer break like when I was back in school. I took 3 months off and it was awesome.
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Hi Shana! Thanks for your comment – I know exactly what you mean – there are so many things I want to do that I’ve already thought of a load since I posted
I totally agree that making the effort to do things that you want to do is extremely rewarding not to mention fun! Plus I love your idea of leaving #40 free to see what comes up 
Wow, this is a great list and started me thinking too. And I have half the time, so whatever I put on a list (if it has 40 things) will be very aggressive to complete by 40
, it was such a lot of fun.
BTW, I have completed #28 just recently
All the best
Ajay
Hi Ajay, thanks for your comment, I’m glad my post got you thinking, let me know if you write a list – I’d love to read it. Well done on #28!
Hey Caroline,
There’s only one thing on my list, to conquer the world. No, but seriously I believe it’s so important to have a list such as the one you’ve provided.
Life is too short and the worst thing any of us could do is to not experience it. Whether you have a list of 40 things or a list of 100 things, the point is…do them!
As you’ve stated, time waits for no man! I’ll say that again…TIME WAITS FOR NO (WO)MAN.
Stay motivated!
~Jeremy
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Jeremy – I LOVE your comment – “conquer the world” why didn’t I think of that
You’re absolutely right that the point is to do the things on the list – I best get cracking 
Thanks for commenting!
You can knock off number 12 next month!
http://www.NaNoWriMo.org
NaNoWriMo is a challenge to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. I’m doing it for the 7th time. It sounds like a lot, but it’s only about the size of A Brave New World or Great Gatsby. A pace of 1700 a day would easily have you reaching the 50K mark.
I think I need to make my own 40 by 40 (or maybe I should do 50 by 50, since I only have about 2 1/2 years left for the 40).
Thanks for sharing!
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Hey Grady – I signed up to NaNoWriMo last year and failed miserably. I’m so impressed that you’ve done it 7 times. Have you had any published? Would love to peruse your list if you do one!
Hello Caroline!
I ran into your site via Corbett Barr’s tweet. I love your list. I have some of the same things on mine. I just turned 50 and I decided that between my 50th and 60th birthdays that I would make an impact in every country in the world. You can check it out at http://www.questforanewperspective.com/mission-227
Can’t wait to read more from you!
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Hi Gene, thanks so much for your comment. I love the sound of your plan and your blog, I’ve just signed up. I’ll be watching your journey with interest!
Thank you for inspiring me this morning. You have a wonderful blog. I will be writing my own list in the period leading up to 31st December 2011 and COMMIT with immediate effect.
Brilliant Post.
It’s quite a coincidence this has come up really. A friend of mine recently has been feeling low, due to having a kind of “nothing interesting is happening with my life” mid-life crisis thing. So I took the liberty of writing them a ’45 things to do before you’re 45′ list. Being 44, this it a lot of things to get through in one year!
Needless to say she’s instantly perked up and is quite happily working through her list! She’s the envy of all her friends and I would temp everyone to have a go yourself!
Just do something you’ve always said you would. Stop making excuses and have a bit of fun!
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Hey Jake, thanks for your comment. What a lovely thing to do for your friend. What I’ve found amazing is how quickly I started to do things once I’d put them on THE list. Funny really but yes I agree, everyone should have a go