My 101 Things in 1001 Days List

     So today as I was browsing the internet, I found a blog post about a challenge called 101 in 1001. The idea is to come up with 101 goals to accomplish over the time span of 1001 days. Being that 1001 days is around 3 years, this is like a fun twist on a 3 year plan. The cool thing is that its a reasonable amount of goals in a reasonable time and you can start at any time during the year, unlike new year's resolutions. My plan is to have fun and get some things done with this. I have goals on my list ranging from silly, fun things to serious things like starting college and getting my driver's license. Its a bit hard to come up with 101 things to put on your list, but just take some time to think about what things are most important to you and go from there. Don't worry about it either, you can always start a new list when you're done with this one. 

I found some helpful tips to follow on another blog called Say It, "Rah-shay" who got it from a blog called My LA Blog. 

"The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past -- frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 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, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Goal setting tips:

1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.  

2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress. 

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy. 

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.  

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking."

Start date: April 19, 2015

End date: January 14, 2018 

THE LIST

1. Finish and publish 101 in 1001 list on my blog

2. Finish cleaning and organizing my bedroom

3. Graduate from high school or get my GED

4. Read at least 50 books from BBC's Top 200 Big Read list

5. Set up an Etsy shop to sell my art

6. Complete the 365 photos project

7. Lose at least 145 pounds

8. Plant a herb garden 

9. Get my first tattoo

10. Take the SAT

11. Ride in a hot air balloon

12. Make a time capsule to open in five years

13. Leave 101 anonymous happy notes and Bible verse notes

14. Finish my Eren Yeager cosplay

15. Get my driver's license

16. Stop eating meat

17. Start college or start applying for college

18. Buy a yoga mat and do yoga three times a week for a month 

19. Clean up my phone, computer, and internet presence

20. Finish my Elsa cosplay

21. Get my hair professionally done

22. Swim with dolphins

23. Sleep with sharks

24. Write and publish 101 blog posts

25. Complete a Smashbook for 101 in 1001

26. Meet my best friend

27. Prepare bug out bags for each of my family members

28. Read the Bible all the way through

29. Save $300 and put it in a savings account

30. Talk to my Pastor and dad about some questions I have

31. Complete five Pinterest crafts

32. Blog about at least 30 things on my list

33. Memorize a prayer to say to myself before communion

34. Attend five concerts or music festivals

35. Get gauges to start stretching ears

36. Learn how to sew

37. Complete French in Duolinguo

38. Buy a new camera charger

39. Double and triple pierce ears and cartilage

40. Memorize a poem

41. Buy an address book and put friends and family in it

42. Go to an anime convention or Comic-Con

43. Learn how to knit and make a scarf

44. Learn how to ride a horse

45. Dance in the rain

46. Carve my name into a tree

47. Get a job

48. Learn how to play bass guitar 

49. Learn 100 new words 

50. Bake croissants from scratch

51. Start watching the news and reading the newspaper

52. Subscribe to a monthly box

53. Do 20 volunteer projects

54. Learn to write in cursive

55. Learn how to do laundry

56. Decorate my room

57. Find and keep five more penpals

58. Buy supplies to send pocket letters

59. Complete my 4-H Historian Book

60. Complete my 4-H Record Book

61. Enter at least five things in the Solano County Fair

62. Start a blessings journal

63. Answer the "50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind"

64. Research my family tree

65. Fill a sketchbook with drawings

66. Make vegan cheese

67. Make a cookbook of my own recipes, my favorite recipes, and family recipes

68. Lose 100 pounds

69. Lose 50 pounds

70. Start a hope chest

71. Enter the Bible Camp t-shirt design contest

72. Build a table

73. Do the 5k Color Run

74. Participate in the Day of Silence

75. Vote

76. Donate blood

So I'll be updating as I go along, adding more goals and crossing off ones I've done. 

Some Things To Know

   I thought for my first post on my new blog, I'd let you guys/ girls know a bit about me! I used to have a blog last year, but I got overwhelmed with school and it fell through the cracks of my busy life. Well, here I am a year older and wanting a creative outlet to get my thoughts out into and make friends in the process. There is probably nothing I enjoy more than writing, its really one of my true enjoyments in life. Amongst the craziness thrown at me from day-to-day I can always find peace and strength in a pen and paper (or in this case a keyboard, haha). I hope this new start of a blog can help me to be happier and feel more accomplished in the things I do.

   So first of all, I am a 16 year old girl living in California, I've lived here my entire life. Honestly it gets a little boring being in the same place, but also comes with an added sense of security that I know my family won't just up and move. The thing I love the most about living here is the weather, its something I can always expect to be unpredictable. But I love that unpredictability, the way it rains so hard I feel like my roof will blow off and then the next day its so hot that you have to stay in the shade. I love it when the weather changes. 

Late afternoon view over Petaluma

   Something you should know about me is that I don't eat dairy, it makes me very sick. I won't go in depth on that right now because that's another blog post, but I will say its brought a lot of challenges. I wouldn't change being allergic to dairy if I could, its something that makes me who I am and it keeps me away from bad foods. I would love to post some of my recipes I've developed over time being dairy-free. 

   Being creative is a huge part of my life every day, I never go a day without doing something artistic with my hands. I like scrapbooking a lot, I use a Smashbook for that. I also have recently started snailmailing and just sent a letter to my first penpal yesterday. 

This is how an indoor cat sunbathes

     I hope you keep reading and follow me on my journey and adventures, don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin'. Thank you.
Megan