DayZero

One of the traits that I inherited from my mom is a love of lists. I make all types of lists not just the typical “To-Do” types. Sometimes when I don’t accomplish enough on the list, I go back through, write down what I did spend my time doing just so I can have the satisfaction of crossing it off. Yes, it is a little sad but gratifying.

A friend who is also addicted to lists recently gave me two separate, wonderful ones: A list of 1,001 books to read before you die. I have to read approximately 1 a month until I’m 80 to finish.

The other is a blog movement similar to a “Bucket List” or a grand “To-Do” list: 101 Things to do in 1,001 days. Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Why 1001 Days? According to Day Zero, the movement’s source, 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, better for organizing and timing tasks such as overseas trips. I’ve included a sampling of my list below. My date of completion is July 30, 2012. Which incidentally is just a few months before the world is supposed to end anyway.

Travel
Travel to Australia- Done 6/24/11
Travel to Antarctica
See the Cherry Blossoms at New York Botanical Garden- Done 4/24/10
Do 5 touristy things in NYC- Done 6/20/11
Visit the Grand Canyon
Visit a state I have never been to before- Done 4/16/11 (NC)
See the Statue of Liberty close-up- Done 12/5/09
Touch the Pacific Ocean- Done 6/25/11

Walk within photo distance of lava

"Why Not" Adventures
Get scuba certified
Fly in a hot air balloon
Go sky diving- Done 7/4/2010
Go white water rafting- Done 8/7/2010
Get disaster certified
Go camping- Done 8/17/10
Apply for a game show- Done 3/26/11
Compete in a ballroom dance competition- Done 3/20/10
Run a marathon- 1/2 marathon done 4/3/10 Full done 10/2/10
Host Thanksgiving- Done 11/26/09
Attend the Macy's Day parade- Done 11/26/09
Shoot a gun (non-paintball)- Done 6/14/11
See a Cirque du Soleil show- Done 6/11/2010
Get really dressed up and go to the movies and a fast food restaurant
Get motorcycle license
Fly on trapeze- Done 1/1/2010
Break a record- Done 5/12/2010
Be an extra in a movie
Go to an art gallery opening- Done 12/2/2010
Dance in the rain
Win a prize- 7/9/10
Go kayaking on the Hudson- Done 7/24/2010
Participate in a scavenger hunt- Done 10/10/2010
Get a puppy
Get a massage- Done 12/11/10
Leave a note in a book for someone to find- Done 2/1/11
Attend 25 live music performances

Friends and Family
Send out Christmas cards- Done 12/24/10
Get new family portrait taken- Done 12/26/10
Have a 2nd date that is just as fantastic as the 1st and 3rd dates- Done but I'm not telling when it was ;)
Allow someone else to pick my dinner at a restaurant
Kiss at one of the wonders of the world (natural or manmade)- Done 6/16/11

Self-improvement
Go w/o caffeine for a month - Done 12/16/09
Become conversational in Spanish
Get a new tattoo- Done 12/30/09
Find a volunteer organization
Try sushi again- Done 8/4/10
Cook dinner for another person and the person lives- Done 6/8/2010
Unplug for one whole weekend- Done 1/17/2010
Finish a crossword puzzle on my own. Monday version counts.- Done 1/16/2010
Get rid of 50 things in my room- Done 5/10/11
Eat vegtables everyday for a month.