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40 Things Before 40

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Building my 40 before 40 List

I'm a big believer in goals, and like to plan well ahead, so I've created this list to chart some of the aims I'd like to achieve before my 40th birthday in 2013. I'm hoping to use this both as a motivating tool, and also as a chart of my progress over the next few years. There's no particular priority to the goals, but I've numbered them 1-40 just to keep track.

Although I'm brainstorming here, I'm trying to keep a rough balance between health, learning and material goals. Some are big and others are small - some are easy, and a few are extremely diffcult. If I could complete all of these before my 40th birthday, I'd be really happy. I hope that this page inspires you as much as it inspires me!

The 40th Birthday List

Wishes and Dreams

Here is a list of all the goals I've listed. If you click on the entry line, you'll be taken to that part of the page.
  1. 1. Become a Published Author
  2. Top 10 Books on Writing Fiction
  3. 2. Buy a Piece of Important Art
  4. 3,4,5,6. My Next Big Travel Adventure...
  5. 7. Create a Birthday Book
  6. 8. Sleep in a Glass Igloo
  7. 9,10,11,12,13. Five Sport & Exercise Goals
  8. 14. Learn how to Make A Cocktail
  9. 15. Read A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu by Marcel Proust
  10. 16. Donate money to a Wildlife Charity
  11. 17. Learn How to Make Sushi
  12. 18. Make a New Friend
  13. 19. Make My Own Christmas Cards
  14. 20. Buy a Bigger House
  15. 21. Wear a Bespoke Suit
  16. 22. Learn How to Forage for Wild Food
  17. 23. Go on a Retreat
  18. 24,25,26,27,28. Listen to Live Music
  19. 29. Celebrate Hogmanay in Edinburgh
  20. 30. Dedicate A Stand of Trees
  21. 31. Visit Brownsea Island
  22. 32. Smile Everyday
  23. 33. Gain a Wine Qualification
  24. 34. Climb Ben Nevis
  25. 35. Take a Course at Ballymaloe Cookery School
  26. 36. Be Financially Secure
  27. 37. Use Green Chemicals in my Home
  28. 37. Hike a Long Distance Trail
  29. 38. Create a Beautiful Wildlife Garden
  30. 39. Attend the Hay Festival
  31. 40. Start A Family
  32. Have you Celebrated Your 40th Birthday? Or Do You Have a Life List?

Visitor Questionnaire

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1. Become a Published Author

This is my ultimate goal at the moment. I've been writing teen fiction for two years now and received some positive feedback from agents. I've just finished one novel and am now working on my second, which I hope to submit next Spring. It would give me HUGE pleasure to start on the path of authordom before I'm 40 so that I can build a career while I'm still relatively young. Like most budding writers, I can't think of anything better than making up stories full-time.

Top 10 Books on Writing Fiction

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2. Buy a Piece of Important Art

I've been collecting art and craft for five years, but I don't own a really substantial piece of art. I'd love to purchase something by a significant living artist. It doesn't have to be a painting - I'm also interested in ceramics, metalwork and furniture.

3,4,5,6. My Next Big Travel Adventure...

I have a hankering to visit the following places, but I can't choose which one to go to first. To make things easier, I'll pick the one that has the most votes by the end of 2010. Please feel free to point me in the right direction.

1

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Istanbul (DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide) by Melissa Shales

Istanbul (DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide) by Melissa Shales

Istanbul sounds fascinating. It has everything I e more...0 points

2

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Time Out Stockholm (Time Out Guides)

Time Out Stockholm (Time Out Guides)

Stockholm looks so clean-cut and well-designed. Th more...0 points

3

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The Rough Guide to Copenhagen 4 (Rough Guide Copehagen) by Lone Mouritsen

The Rough Guide to Copenhagen 4 (Rough Guide Copehagen) by Lone Mouritsen

Another Baltic city. I've heard many good things a more...0 points

4

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Isles of Scilly (OS Explorer Map) by Ordnance Survey

Isles of Scilly (OS Explorer Map) by Ordnance Survey

Closer to home, but still hard to reach. Tresco ga more...0 points

7. Create a Birthday Book

I can remember lots of the big birthdays, but I want to remember them all! I've bookmarked some birthday books so that I keep this one in mind.
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5) Sleep in a Glass Igloo

8. Sleep in a Glass Igloo 

9,10,11,12,13. Five Sport & Exercise Goals

Fit and Healthy at 40

I'm not the worst and I'm not the best when it comes to exercise, but I'd like to be better. I've included a list of mini-goals that I'd like to achieve before I turn 40.
9. Gain my RYA: Competent Crew Qualification
I'd really like to gain at least one sailing qualification so that I can eventually learn how to sail a yacht or a dinghy properly.
10. Complete the Yorkshire Three Peaks Walk
This walk takes in the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough - a distance of 24.5 miles (39.2km) within 12 hours. I'm a keen walker so I should be able to manage this one.
11. Run a 10K
I've completed a 5K before, but I'd like to try a 10K. I'd like to say a marathon, but this might be too ambitious!
12. Gain the Bronze National Navigation Award
I'd like to learn more about navigation, map and compass work to enhance my hiking skills. The Bronze award looks ideal.
13. Take Up Yoga Classes
I used to practice yoga and then stopped a few years ago. I like the gentle movement and the fact that it keeps the body supple and toned.

The 40th Year Debate

40th birthday - milestone or millstone?

How do you view the 40th birthday?

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Life Begins at 40

KM9999999 says:

I hope life begins at 40 since I'm almost there. I've still got a lot of things I want to try.

Halfway to Death

 

14. Learn how to Make A Cocktail

Preferably one that blows people's socks off!

15. Read A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu by Marcel Proust

or "In Search of Lost Time" or "Remembrance of Things Past"

In Search of Lost Time: Proust 6-pack (Proust Complete)

In Search of Lost Time: Proust 6-pack (Proust Complete)

by: Marcel Proust

Amazon Price: $56.00 (as of 05/25/2012)Buy Now

I've read many classics, but have never tackled this colossal masterpiece. I'd like to find out what the hype is about and decide whether this really is a book to beat all books.

16. Donate money to a Wildlife Charity

I already donate to several charities, but there's room in my life for another. I'm from the UK so I'll set up an account here, but it would be great if people feel they can donate on this lens too.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary, formerly the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Conservation Center, near Denver, CO and is a state and federally licensed zoological facility. They have been rescuing exotic wildlife and endangered species since 1980. The residents of our

17. Learn How to Make Sushi

I'd like to make Japanese food in general

I can't get enough of Japanese food, especially sushi so this goal is a must for my 40th birthday list. I'm hoping that it's easier than it looks.
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18. Make a New Friend

It would be great to meet someone that I really get on with.

19. Make My Own Christmas Cards

I'm not sure how I'm going to do this yet. I might paint them, or would perhaps use a kit like the one here. It looks quite easy to use.
Design Your Own Christmas Greeting Cards With This Fun And Easy Designer Kit

Design Your Own Christmas Greeting Cards With This Fun And Easy Designer Kit

Amazon Price: (as of 05/25/2012)Buy Now

20. Buy a Bigger House

20. Buy a Bigger House 

21. Wear a Bespoke Suit

I'd like to commission a tailor-made trouser suit in fine grey cloth.

22. Learn How to Forage for Wild Food

Finding food for free

This has been a long-held ambition. I'd like to be able to identify plants and find food naturally.
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Important!

23. Go on a Retreat

It would be great to take a moment to reflect on life before my 40th birthday. This could either be a meditation or a writing retreat.

24,25,26,27,28. Listen to Live Music

My Favourite Music

I'd like to hear some of favourite music played live (and in the case of living bands, preferably played by the artist themselves). I'm restricted by tour dates, but please feel free to vote for which live rendition I should try to track down first. I'll review at the end of 2010.

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Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes

Seattle's Fleet Foxes traffic in baroque harmonic more...0 points

3

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The Flying Club Cup

The Flying Club Cup

Since the release of Gulag Orchestra in May of 200 more...0 points

5

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Debussy: La Mer / Nocturnes / Jeux / Rhapsodie pour clarinette et orchestre - The Cleveland Orchestra / Pierre Boulez

Debussy: La Mer / Nocturnes / Jeux / Rhapsodie pour clarinette et orchestre - The Cleveland Orchestra / Pierre Boulez

Pierre Boulez made his early reputation as a Debus more...0 points

29. Celebrate Hogmanay in Edinburgh

Happy New Year!

Celebrate Hogmanay in Edinburgh

Every year I intend to celebrate New Year in style and every year, I end up in my home town. I'm determined to crack open the champagne in Edinburgh before I turn 40. Ideally, I'd like to stay in a nice townhouse and have enough time to visit the art galleries and cafes too.

30. Dedicate A Stand of Trees

I'd like to pay for a stand of trees and present them as a gift to my husband.

31. Visit Brownsea Island

I've always fancied visiting Brownsea Island, a National Trust site in Poole Harbour and it's one of the few places in Southern Britain where indigenous red squirrels survive. Sadly, you can't stay here, but it is possible to make a day trip.

32. Smile Everyday

Make time to experience joy.

33. Gain a Wine Qualification

WSET Level 2 Intermediate Certificate in Wines & Spirits

Wine & Spirit Education TrustI only drink occasionally, but when I do, I like to choose a good wine. However, although I'm confident about the basic differences between grapes, my knowledge only goes so far. I'd like to study for a wine qualification so that I can widen my tasting skills and understand the variances between vintages. The WSET qualification is fairly basic, but it offers a good foundation and can also be taken online. Click on the logo to go to the website.
34. Climb Ben Nevis

34. Climb Ben Nevis 

35. Take a Course at Ballymaloe Cookery School

Cooking in Ireland

Ballymaloe Cookery SchoolI've wanted to do a course at Ballymaloe for years now. It's the only cookery school in the world located in the middle of its own 100-acre organic farm and there are usually lots of courses to choose from. It's also in Ireland, a place I've never visited before so this would be the ideal opportunity to fulfill two ambitions. Click on the photo to go to the website.
Important!

36. Be Financially Secure

It would be nice to feel financially secure by the time I reach my 40th Birthday.

37. Use Green Chemicals in my Home

Eco-Friendly Stuff

I'd like to migrate all the products in my home to eco-friendly alternatives. This includes all cleaning products, detergent, bath products and garden chemicals. I'm also planning to switch to renewable energy.
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37. Hike a Long Distance Trail

The West Highland Way is top of my list, but the final choice will be down to a few factors. I've already completed the Queen Charlotte Track in New Zealand and this took 4 days. It would be great to do a long hike on home turf.
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38. Create a Beautiful Wildlife Garden

We're not far off this one. Our garden is entirely organic and houses a number of different species including toads, frogs, butterflies, bats and bees. The plan is to add a few more trees, encourage insects and possibly to make a pond. I'd also like to buy some sculpture for those hidden corners.

39. The Guardian Hay Festival

39. Attend the Hay Festival 

40. Start A Family

Last, but by no means least. I'm getting on a bit so this might be more difficult. I hope that this, of all my goals, comes true.

Have you Celebrated Your 40th Birthday? Or Do You Have a Life List?

I'd love to read your stories.

  • KM9999999 Jan 13, 2011 @ 3:18 pm | delete
    I've got about 2 months left before I hit *gasp* 40 years old. I guess I better get started on that list.
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