Another thing I forgot from the previous post, traveling alone. Basically, doing things alone. Several years ago, I was planning on flying to Paris very early in the morning and then flying back home very late in the evening, not staying in Paris overnight. Alone, managing with my very limited French. It never happened, because I'm afraid. :-(
My mother has Alzheimer's. I haven't been able to see her since my father died and my mother's Alzheimer's became undeniable. It felt like she failed me, that she wasn't my mother any longer, that my mother had died when my father died. I wished she had. I didn't want to have this stranger in my life pretending to be my mother. I think I need to go home and face my mom.
#8b Went to a "strip" club.
Well... maybe doing a burlesque act myself could be this.
#9 Fear of Failure
THINGS PEOPLE FEAR - hard work - standing up - doing the right thing - sucking - rejection - asking for help - asking for more - chasing dreams - cooking - equality - accepting criticism - apologizing - letting go - committing - leading
I'm not afraid of hard work, I just can't do it for long :-D I'm not afraid of cooking either, but I'm terrified of sewing :-D Especially cutting the fabric. I have no problems accepting criticism, and the Karen that could make me cry or cower hasn't been born yet, and won't be. :-D I have no problems or prestige in apologizing either. Also, no fear of committing. It's more the other way around, chasing dreams, jumping into the deep water, leaving the safety and security and daring. That's scary.
I don't think I'm afraid of standing up and doing the right thing.
Rejection is a bit hard. Asking for a "chance". Asking for anything, really, help, more, love, companionship... But I'm married, so it's not a good idea to start asking for love :-D I have no problems asking for love from my husband. Or anything else. No problems. It's the "world" I have problems with, I don't think they want to give me anything. And I have huge problems using money on myself. I would need a new laptop, or take the old one to get a new screen, and that is something I'd NEED. *sigh*
Hmm... what can I ask for "more"?
#10 "Telling My Friends About This Blog"
Well... writing a book and telling my friends about that book, marketing my books, that would be a big thing. I think my friends all know about my blogs.
I would really want more interaction about my bucket list. :-( I don't know how that's going to happen, because I cannot find anyone near me who is interested in bucket lists. Hard to plan to do things together when one is alone :-D (And my hubby's things are not my things. Also, he doesn't like bucket lists. :-()
#12 was that he started writing screen scripts again. Now, that would be something.
#13: Going Home Again
This ties with #8... Maybe I'll do this. It would be nice to rent a car and take Henric with me, drive through Lapland (from Stockholm to Finland, my parents' home), and visit some places on the way... we could sleep in the car, or maybe borrow my BIL's tent and sleeping bags... That would be scary :-D
Now... it doesn't scare me, it's bothersome and I don't like it. I would need to do a Mari Kondo, and get rid of everything that doesn't make me happy, or is necessary and beautiful, that just junks up my home, and all that. I mean, we live in a pretty run-down highrise, but the worn-out surfaces are better when they are clean.
Also, it would take more than a day to clean all this up. I'm a bit of a hoarder.
His #3 was Work Presentation. I don't have that kind of work. I don't know what would be equivalent in my life...
His #4 was going to the back of the yoga class, as he was usually in the front. He didn't go to the back back, just not in the front.
I find going to yoga classes very scary :-D So, maybe starting a new class? They are just really expensive... :-(
So, I need to get more money. I read about this woman who wrote a 100 "books" a year, and two years later had $10.000 income a month. Basically passive income. I'd love to have that, but... trying to get one's books published, that's scary :-D What if I don't have her success? If I had $10.000 income every month, I could do everything I've ever dreamed of, and get a lot more things to my "scary things to do" list, and then, perhaps, they wouldn't be that scary any longer. You know, I want to take all kinds of classes and join all kinds of clubs and activities, etc. but I don't, because it costs money I need for other things. There's also some more affordable activities being organized for people, which I could do, but I won't because I'm scared...
#5 was "admitting defeat". More likely, admitting being wrong and redoing a work that wasn't good enough. Anyway, I don't have problems with that.
Now, I don't think half of the things he did were scary at all. We all have different things we find scary.
So, start by making a list of things you find scary.
His first scary thing to do was to go to a party by himself. Now, I do find that scary, but I am never invited to any parties, so it's not something I could do... perhaps I need to work a bit to get to that point. Hmm...
So - something similar; go to a Meetup meeting alone.
Take this as CBT - you go to the party to see what you need to train, practice, get better with, and what you like. What about parties you find annoying, boring, stupid, scary? What would make the experience better?
The secret of being an extrovert is finding others more interesting than yourself, being enthusiastic and open-minded, and having a streak of entertainer and exhibitionist in you :-D Now, the last one isn't something one should train if you don't have that streak. It's totally fine to be quiet and not the center of happenings. You can let the true extroverts have that scene. But finding people interesting is not difficult. See them as characters from books, for example, if you cannot see anything interesting in actual human beings. Also, being enthusiastic and open-minded - practice saying "yes" to most things.
Another thing that makes your parties more enjoyable to you is to dress appropriately and comfortably and see you are clean and smell nice. And smile. Be friendly. Be open and welcoming.
So I got the crazy idea of that I want to "have done it all", too!
But what is "it all"?
This list is compiled of several I found online.
actress
aerobics instructor
air force thunderbird
ambassador for world peace
american beauty pageant girl
animal trainer
architect
arctic rescuer
army medic
art teacher
artist
astronaut
baby doctor
baby photographer
babysitter
bakery chef
ballerina
ballet teacher
ballroom dancer
baseball player
boutique owner
business executive
canadian mountie
cat burglar
ceo
chancellor
cheerleader
chef
chef doctor
children’s doctor
computer engineer
concert pianist
cowgirl
dance teacher
dc
comics superheroines and villainesses
dentist
designer
doctor
doctor army officer
dog washer
dog park sitter
dog trainer/competitor
dolphin trainer
downhill skier
dress designer
elementary teacher
engineer
equestrian
executive (career girl)
fashion designer
fashion editor
fashion magazine intern
fashion model
figure skater
firefighter
flight attendant
football coach
formula 1 driver
guest editor of international fashion magazine
gymnast
gymnastics coach
hair dresser
ice capades star
ice skater
junior designer
kid doctor
lifeguard
magician
major league baseball player
make-up artist
marine corps sergeant
marvel comics superheroines
mcdonald's cashier
miss america
movie actress
movie star
music video star
nascar driver
naval petty officer
nba player
newborn baby doctor
news anchor
nurse
ocean treasure explorer
olympic athlete
olympic gymnast
olympic ice skater
olympic skater
olympic swimmer
owner of willow's cafe
paleontologist
pan am flight attendant
paratrooper
pediatrician
pet doctor barbie
pet sitter
pet stylist
pet vet
photographer
pilot
pizza chef
police officer
pop singer
preschool teacher
presidential candidate
princess
producer
professional wnba basketball player
race car driver
radio city music hall rockette
rap musician
rock star
scuba diver
seaworld trainer
secretary
see's candy cashier
sign language teacher
singer
skier
snowboarder
soccer coach
soda fountain waitress
space camp
space explorer
spanish language teacher
special education teacher
squadron leader
stewardess
street rapper
student teacher
summit diplomat
surgeon
sweets chef
swim instructor
swim teacher
teacher
teacher barbie
teenage fashion model
tennis pro
tour guides
tv chef
tv news reporter
us air force pilot
unicef ambassador
united airlines flight attendant
united states air force jet pilot
united states air force thunderbirds
united states army officer
united states marine corps officer
united states navy petty officer
united states president
veterinarian
waitress
wedding stylist
women’s world cup soccer player
yoga teacher
zoo doctor
zoologist
There's over 160 "careers" on this list.
What do we say about people who have had over 160 "careers" in 50 years? ;-)
I really don't think you can call any of those "a career"... Maybe being a model, as that she has been through all these years.
Now... are all of these "careers"?
Firstly, are superheroines "careers"? I don't think so. Unless you're Black Widow, perhaps. >:->
But - I would say she is DRESSED UP AS a superheroine. "Barbie AS Catwoman"
So - those can be counted as acting.
"Actress", "Movie Actress" and "Movie Star" are basically the same thing.
"Model", "Miss America" and "Beauty Pageant Girl"... Kind of the same thing.
Stewardess and Flight Attendant - the same thing
Pediatrician, Baby Doctor, Kid Doctor - same thing
The first Ballerina outfit wasn't a "career" choice but a hobby.
So was the tennis outfit and the ice skating outfit
I always thought that babysitting was something she did to earn some money when she was a teenager, not a career. Like cheerleading and marching band majoring.
"Ambassador for World Peace" and "Unicef Good Will Ambassador" are not careers. You do that on top of your occupation.
Running for President is not a career. Though considering that Barbie does that every fourth year she might qualify :-D
No, the career is "politician".
And because her "political career" consists solely of running for President every 4 years, I don't think that counts either.
"Pet Doctor", "Pet Vet" and "Veterinarian" are basically the same thing.
Also, a "Zoo doctor" is a veterinarian, unless she is working on the people working at the zoo... that might be possible, too.
Musician, singer, rapper, rock star, yadayada...
"I can be... space camp"? I don't think so, Barbie.
I don't know what the camp instructors, leaders, guides or what ever they are called, are called, but I suppose that's what's meant with that.
Considering that she is an astronaut, I think she's more than qualified to lead space camp.
And "Concert pianist"? Because she has a grand piano? X-[ Come on!
It really starts to feel a bit like this famous person, who lists as hobbies, talents, careers, whatnots anything this person has ever tried, practiced, been interested in or read about.
Or the list of Polymaths that counts George Foreman as a polymath because he was a boxer and then gave his name to be used to sell grills. Oh, and he's an ordained minister, too. And a father.
I really don't want to diss Barbie, because she is supposed to be every woman - or every girl's dream of womanhood, which makes her by necessity a polymath having hundreds of "careers", but... there are people out there who actually have made a career of sports, arts, etc.
Also, there's no shame in being a homemaker and a mother. How about that as a career for Barbie? Can feminists take that?
Mount Roraima is the highest of the Pakaraima chain of tepui plateaus in South America.
It was first described in Europe by the English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh in 1596.
The mountain serves as the triple border point of Venezuela (85% of its territory), Guyana (10%) and Brazil (5%).
The plateau on top of the mountain is 31 km2 and has some unique plants and animals. It is a national park and protected, and the access is highly restricted because of the vulnerability.
Most of the nutrients flush away over the edges in the several waterfalls, falling some 400 meters, making them some of the highest waterfalls in the world.
It rains every day.
The mountain is holy to the people of the area, and there are myths explaining it as the stump of a giant tree once holding all the fruits and edible vegetables in the world.
There is only one route to the top that doesn't require mountain-climbing skills and equipment.
Fly Geiser
It used to be an ordinary well. Then it started shooting hot water. Since that the waters have brought up minerals and that has been collecting during the years. This pile is about 1.5 meters high. The colors are due to algae.
Fly Geiser is not a tourist attraction but on private property.
Bermuda triangle
There's a lot of myths about this place. Most of it is just that, myths.
It is a very large area with no islands and not much traffic, so there are no eyewitnesses, nor can the disappearances be proven, as the Gulf stream takes any possible debris quickly away.
They say that "At least 1000 lives are lost within the last 100 years. On average, 4 aircraft and 20 yachts go missing every year." (I have my suspicions about this data, though. Also, how many do not go missing? I can imagine there's quite a lot of small planes and yachts in that area that are not influenced in any way by this mysterious force.)
Most of the disappearances can be explained with natural reasons like equipment dysfunction and storm. but the people who want to believe explain these as part of the mystery. "It might be natural, but it ain't normal and it happens there more often than not..."
Some of the disappearances haven't happened even close this place, but as they are disappearances, people are saying that it is POSSIBLE they DID happen here.
These "disappearances" have been explained with aliens or Atlantis and other such things.
US government has their Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center in this area.
People claim that there is "electronic mist" and "time warp tunnels" in the area.
The first person to report about Bermuda Triangle was Christopher Columbus. He wrote in his journals that inside the triangle, the ship's compass stopped working and he also saw a fireball in the sky.
Blood Falls
This is in the Antarctis, South from Australia. It is, of course, iron oxide - rust - that colors the water, but the interesting part of this is that the water is highly salty and there are micro-organisms living in it. It also look pretty impressive.
Travertine Pools Of Pamukkale
Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The city contains hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water.
People have been pretty horrible using the site and the water, so people are not allowed to the terraces and bathing is only allowed in some selected small pools. It's worth visiting, though.
Richat Structure
This is the "Eye of Sahara", in West Sahara in Mauretania. The thing with this is that we don't know how it was formed. Was is a meteorite? A volcano? Atlantis? Aliens? As many theories and explanations as people, nothing certain.
Moeraki Boulders
The "giant's marbles" are round stones about the size of a person. They say it's calcified mud - basically natural cement - and have been eroded from the surrounding stone, which was softer. As the shell is harder than the heart, these boulders break sometimes, and people like to sit inside them or so. As far as I know there are no restrictions on visiting this beach in New Zealand, just be mindful of your behavior, manners and the environment, AS YOU ALWAYS SHOULD.
Decorate with potato theme
- color brown in all its varieties, from gold and beige to chocolate
- have a rustic, autumnal theme, like potato sacks and crates, and potato harvest
- don't think "Irish", think earth, soil, dirt, think potato flowers, think Peru
Don't forget these: Irish potato candy mashed potato candy potato cake (made with mashed potatoes - doesn't taste like mashed potatoes)
In Sweden they make these cute little "potato cakes" - with ordinary cake layer, topped with creme patisserie and formed to resemble potatoes, then covered with marzipane, shaped to look like potato, and dusted with cocoa powder to look like dirt on potatoes. Delicious.
In Finland they make these cute little potato balls, it's basically mashed potatoes mixed with cake crumbs and sugar, rolled into potato like shapes and rolled in cocoa or covered with chocolate. Potato petit fours
They have identified over 100 different varieties of potatoes in Peru. There are cultivated and wild varieties. The wild potatoes are usually much more irregular in shape, have often very deep "eyes" and sometimes look like they are made of a bunch of tiny potatoes.
* potato is related to nightshades. The potato fruit (the tomato like berries that develop from the flowers if allowed) are poisonous. This same poison, solanum, exists in green potatoes.
(Dorothy L. Sayers wrote a short story "Leopard Lady" about a murder committed using this poison.)
* Potatoes have fascinating use as traditional medicine.
For example, potato tea (tea made of raw potato, potato peels, dried flowers and leaves of potato) is said to have a soothing effect to ingestion problems and help bile, liver etc. I wouldn't know.
Also, raw potato supposedly has anti-inflammatory and qualities, so you can put a slice of raw potato on top of wounds, bruises and swelling.
* potatoes have more potassium than bananas, more vitamin C than oranges and more fiber than apples. In fact, potatoes have enough nutrients so that a human being can survive with only potatoes and dairy. (Milk fat (cream) has everything the potatoes lack concerning human essential nutrients, that is, fat soluble vitamins,)
I just went through another Big Achiever's list of over 2000 goals she has achieved.
I find that very inspiring. I, too, want to have thousands of goals I have achieved!
Now, there are some things that irritate me on the list, and some things I think are "cheating" - as if there was the One and Only Proper and Correct Way of creating bucket lists :-D
Nevertheless, there's quite a lot of things on the list that "I want to do, too!" and quite a lot of things that "I don't want to do that, but something similar..." - there are goals that make me consider my life, situation, likes and dreams.
1) Photography
- there are a couple of "30 days to better photography" on-line. Go through those lists to improve your photography
- then practice by taking one of those hundreds of "photography bucket lists" on-line, giving you a theme or subject to shoot every day of a month.
- you can have an album at Facebook with your photos, arranged in different themes, like "album with things that are yellow" or "metal" or "winter-y" or what ever you like.
2) One of the easiest things to do is food and drinks. You have to eat and drink... or not necessarily, but most people do eat and drink every day. So with a little effort, you can get quite a lot things done worth doing and bragging about ;-)
- there are dozens of lists online about things you should try, taste or eat/drink
- there are dozens of lists of specific food items, drinks, like cocktails etc.
- you can cook, bake and make anything, or learn to do that. Brewing your own wine is a very impressive skill, smoking your own hams and lox, baking your bread, making your condiments, jelly and jam, and all kinds of things. That you can do at home, without needing to travel or pay a lot for the equipment or ingredients.
3) Books, movies, tv series, music
Another great bucket list fodder. Things to do, cheap, at home, things you can do NOW.
Try to challenge yourself. That's kind of the idea with Bucket List. :-)
Some things to add to this kind of lists:
- find out data about your favorite author, actor, director, screenwriter, composer, singer...
- try out the art; write a small "play", act, write a song, sing - perform your creation at YouTube. That gives you quite a different appreciation of the art.
- create a "complete experience".
Make some movie snacks that are somehow connected to the story. Try to find some candles or potpurri or something like that so that you have an "appropriate" smell in your nose as you watch the movie. The taste and smell are the senses that are not touched in movies, but the more senses you bring in, the more perfect experience you have.
Another sense is touch - so try to find something that appeals to that sense... might be hard to do, but one suggestion is to stage the movie watching area as if you were arranging a theme party, even when it's only you watching the movie.
And try to collect 2-4 movies that "belong together". For example, same theme, same actors, same director, same setting. I feel I "get" more that way.
The same with books. Engage your senses; have some soft music in the background, some snacks, wear something that could be from the book, etc.
The same with music. LISTEN to it. Find out information about the lyrics, is there history behind the lyrics or the composition, what about the performers? How did their lives look at the time of the writing of the music, songs, albums. Read their biographies, if you can.
- Also, start writing "playlists". You know, "the best Christmas movies", "my exercise playlist", "Summer reading list". When you watch a movie, read a book or listen to music, try to come up with some events or holidays it might fit.
You know all those "100 best movies"... someone wrote the list. Someone like you. That someone has most likely a lot of experience, have seen many movies, listened many songs, read many books, but there is no other difference. So share your opinion with the world. Share your favorite movies with the world. There are bound to be people out here who agree with you, and who will benefit from your opinion.
4) Travel
- start saving for travels.
- educate yourself about languages (I'm Finnish. 99% of the world speaks different language to me :-D), places to visit, buildings and monuments to see, or natural phenomenon to experience, and learn to make itineraries, learn to pack wisely, learn different tricks and tips to make your traveling experience better etc. There is a lot you can do to prepare for the day you have managed to save enough money.
- improve your physical condition - get fit, so that you have the energy to walk and walk and walk which is quite a big part of traveling, and learn to take care of your feet.
- play tourist in your home town. That is actually a great way to prepare yourself for "real" traveling :-D
- get practice in writing travel journals, if that is what you wish.
- get better with your camera, if you want to take photos when you travel.
- plan your travel wardrobe and "test drive" it at home. :-)
5) What I would like you to do is use Pinterest.
Collect all kinds of things you find beautiful, likable, attractive, inspiring, interesting, fun, all things you would like to do, or be able to do.
Then look at it, and find out how you can learn to make those things. Everything is made by someone.
If you love jewelry, learn to make it. Silversmithy is quite manageable to do at home, and there isn't much space and equipment required to cut and polish stones, or to make glass beads.
If you love glass, learn to make it. You can start with stained glass windows or lampwork glass beads, and continue to blowing and cutting glass.
If you love cabinets, learn to make them.
If you love swords, learn to make them.
If you love motorcycles - yes, you can learn to make them, too, and at first, you can learn to drive one. Then you can learn to fix it. Then you can learn to build them.
If you notice you are mostly pinning clothes, learn to sew and make accessories.
If you pin mostly traveling, exercising and outdoors activities, do more of those things. There are no "one list fits all" lists. This is about what makes YOU happy. What YOU find fulfilling, fun and wonderful. Things YOU want to do, have always wanted to do, try, taste, experience.
Now, the whiny part - so if you don't want negativity in your life, stop reading!
Over 100 of those 2000 goals are duplicates.
Some of them are multiples; that is, mentioned several times but with different words or combinations.
Like "climb a tree", "climb a tree in ---" "climb a 10 feet tree" "climb a 100 feet tree" etc.
or "watch [movie]", "see [movie]" or "watch [list of movies which this movie is part of]"
I'm not too fond of that kind of goal counting. I feel it's cheating.
So - again, if you want to have a lot of goals on your list, list every movie you have ever seen, every book you have ever read, every place you have ever visited, every thing you have ever tasted, eaten, drank or cooked, AND find out lists where these things appear, so that you can complete lists with less things to do.
Another thing that I find irritating and not "worthy" of being on the list is different brands and labels.
"Visit this [tourist attraction] or that [amusement park]". "Buy all --- thingamajoys and gadgamathings". Collect 'em all!
Also, the lady in question has listed "become a minimalist and reduce your things" AND "have a huge collection of ---". Several things, actually, like cups, shot glasses, souvenirs and movies.
Well... the "100 things challenge" counts collections as one item >:->
Sex, drugs and rudeness...
Why would anyone want to do something stupid, mean, destructive, inconsiderate, illegal?
Why would anyone want to have "one night stand" on their "must do before I die" list? Have a quickie against a wall wearing a skirt and no underwear?
I really wish people would leave the sex in the relationship with one's SO.
(Why? Because it is better and safer that way. Quality over quantity.)
Also, this woman has "never smoke" together with experimenting with all kinds of drugs and being high and drunk in all kinds of combinations and doing things when drunk, high or both. Using coffee, alcohol, hash and cocaine but not tobacco sounds a little weird.
I wish people would keep their bucket lists "clean".
I wish people would find more kind things to do, more RAKs, helping people, smiling, sharing, donating, engaging in good things, productive, considerate, fun and lovely.
