What is a Kettle List, I hear you ask? *
Well, I shall tell you.
In the beginning, there was the 40×40. It was a list of 40 things I wanted to do before I was 40. There were 40 of them because I didn’t know better then, and that was how I thought a Bucket List worked.
Did I complete the list in time? No
Was I put off by my lack of success? No
I instead decided to double down, increase the tasks and start writing about them more.
Also, I feel I have picked up some beneficial knowledge regarding the psychology behind goals and planning throughout my tasks, which I hope to both expand on and share with you all.
Mainly though, I really wanted to get that original list finished.
I put this down to being a bit too ambitious in too small a time frame, being poorly organised, part laziness but mostly not having a clear plan on how I would achieve all of the tasks on the list.
This is no longer the case. New List; New Me!
First. The rules:
One thing I didn’t put in place for the 40×40 rules. If you are writing up your own list you may want to take some of these into consideration.
Most importantly: There is NO pressure to complete anything on your list. (My need to complete it is pathological, and entirely a “me thing!”)
Feeling obliged to complete every task may even subconsciously influence you into picking things you think are ‘doable’ rather than exciting or interesting!
- Photos or it didn’t happen! (tickets, vlogs and other evidence are also acceptable)
- None of the things on the list are allowed to be illegal, if something on the list BECOMES illegal, like travelling to a certain country, just swap it out.
- There is one spot on the list left at the end of my list, specifically for ‘Exciting Last Minute Additions’ – So if a Korean boy band calls and wants to whisk me off to Jeju Island, while not currently on my list, it will totally be added!
You can, of course, avoid this by having no set number of tasks on your own list – just add and subtract as you see fit. As my life becomes more interesting I may be in a position to do just that.
The Kettle List
- Sort out my blog and try to make a living from writing. Also promoting the power of Lists! and their impact on Midlife Crisis Survival!
- Finish off my 40 x 40,
- Pass my Driving Test – 5th February 2020! Now a proud Mini owner.
- Continue to learn Japanese -日本語があまり上手じゃないです!
- Learn an Instrument
- Dance Lessons -Became an “improver” in my Salsa dance class!
- A Masters Degree – this is kind of on hold – although I do have a PGC in Social & Cultural Theory now.
- Get flexible! – Still working on this one.
- A Martial Art
- RUN – I’ve decided this means Completing a Tough Mudder.
- SWIM- Currently part way through a virtual swim of the English Channel.
- CYCLE – Thinking that the gym counts too, so I can clock up some miles.
- Visit 6 out of 7 continents – Maybe as it is a list of challenges I SHOULD add Antarctica…
- Go to Japan– I went in April 2017 and I am still working through the footage and photos!
- Visit South Korea and see a K-pop concert
- Attend a post-apocalyptic-style festival with Ethan. Thinking ‘Road to Ruin?’
- Visit Egypt/Morocco – I want to do a ‘Market’
- Go to a rainforest in South/Central America and see sloths
- Stay in 5 unusual accommodations – like a tree-house, or a windmill…
- Stay in New York and see a Broadway Musical
- Visit California – See the Hollywood Sign – Stand on a Star on the Walk of Fame: Did this in Oct/Nov 2019. Must do a few write-ups of all the cool things we did!
- Go to 5 different European Capitals -That I haven’t visited already: Berlin
- Visit New Zealand
- Finally, complete the Thompson Quilt
- Decorate a Birthday cake
- Hold a craft fair with stock I have made myself
- Complete a cross stitch
- Create a Mural
- Learn a Japanese craft – Sumi-e?
- Visit the ‘Gardens by the Bay’ in Singapore.
- Do a Zen Meditation Retreat
- Publish my poetry book
- Teach abroad – Currently working on my TEFL (technically I am currently paying to extend my TEFL while actively NOT doing it!)
- Plant a Tree
- Write and sing a song
- Visit 50 Places of Worship
- Perform 50 random acts of kindness (Obviously will continue to do these)
- Volunteer for 50 + hours ( this has been completed but I feel I need to step it up) For a volunteer horror story check out this post!
- See a sunrise and a sunset somewhere cool.! (Got my sunset- just need a sunrise now!)
- Make 1,000 cranes (and take them to the Hiroshima Peace Park)
- Be happy with my home -First step? It’s ALL about decluttering
- Finish my novel/ non-fiction book. This could be my E-book, which I am now working on.
- Complete the 50 things to do before you are 11 3/4 (National Trust)
- 50 coffees in 50 different cities
- Go Backpacking – not sure where just want to travel light and stay in different places.
- Visit 50 Coasts – I will need to start a photo gallery for this one.
- 50 Clocks – only 4 so far, and the Milton Keynes Frog Clock has been the weirdest!
- Christmas abroad.
- A murder mystery dinner
- Being saved for a special addition/ an ultimate adventure
As I complete the tasks – or complete tasks towards the tasks, I will be adding blog posts and links to keep you up-to-date with my progress.
*I can’t actually hear you, don’t worry, I’m not a stalker, honestly!
