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40 Before 40

by | Dec 30, 2011 | 40 Before 40, My life, Travel | 20 comments

The New Year is almost upon us… so I thought it was high time I finally put this list ‘out there’! I’ve been working on it for a while, and it’s something I will no doubt refer back to over the coming years as I achieve/experience things on this list.

I have left the final 10 things blank because, well – how am I to know all of the things I want to achieve before I turn 40? Life changes, so I wanted to give myself a little leeway to add things over the next few years.

A lot of these are ‘big things’ – but there are also some important ‘little things’ on my list. Because while the big things are awesome, important and life-changing… the little things are the ones we live with every day.

And so, before I turn 40, I want to…

  1. See the Aurora Borealis
  2. See it snow (nope, I have still never seen snow fall)
  3. Get really fit, just once.  So I know I can do it
  4. Go blonde, just to see what it looks like on me (I’ve done every other ‘normal’ hair colour!)
  5. Go for a hot air balloon ride
  6. Do a yoga course
  7. Get a book published
  8. Spend one whole week taking care of Nick – i.e. he has a week off all chores (if he’ll let me!)
  9. Visit New York city. Preferably with my best friend
  10. Experience a full spa treatment
  11. Host a proper dinner party, where we all dress up
  12. Visit Paris again, for at least a week
  13. Spend a long weekend in Melbourne with Amanda, vintage shopping
  14. Spend one whole summer in Tasmania
  15. Meditate once a day for a whole month
  16. Build our own home!
  17. Grow at least 50% of our own food
  18. Turn over more than $100,000 in one year in my business
  19. Do Karaoke at least once
  20. Walk the Overland Track in Tasmania
  21. Sew a whole week’s worth of clothes for myself
  22. Simplify – get rid of all the junk I have accumulated – have a place for everything and everything in its place
  23. Visit Japan and see the cherry blossoms
  24. Ride a motorbike
  25. Go out dancing all night
  26. Learn to scuba dive
  27. Drive a race-car around a racetrack
  28. Write a hand-written letter to the people I love telling them why they’re awesome
  29. Become proficient in a martial art again (I almost got to black belt in Tae Kwon Do once upon a time)
  30. Go to a music festival
  31. ?
  32. ?
  33. ?
  34. ?
  35. ?
  36. ?
  37. ?
  38. ?
  39. ?
  40. ?

I have just about 9 years and 4 months to achieve everything on my list… wish me luck!

***

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20 Comments

  1. Trudy Florence
    Trudy Florence on December 30, 2011 at 10:15 pm

    This is an awesome list! Perhaps I’ll do 30 before 30. I think some of the things on your list I might need to borrow!

    • Anonymous
      Anonymous on December 31, 2011 at 11:16 am

      Borrow away!

  2. Vickie Simons
    Vickie Simons on December 30, 2011 at 10:28 pm

    those all sound like amazing goals – & I think leaving the last ten things blank is a great idea, you want to have room to add new things you discover 🙂

    • Anonymous
      Anonymous on December 31, 2011 at 11:16 am

      Thanks Vickie – yep, I want to leave myself a little room to grow! 🙂

  3. Deanna
    Deanna on December 31, 2011 at 4:38 am

    What a great list! I too want to see the Aurora Borealis (preferably from Alaska!) and I have a strong (STRONG!) desire to simplify my life.
    Good luck to you on accomplishing it ALL. And I hope you keep us posted.

    • Anonymous
      Anonymous on December 31, 2011 at 11:16 am

      I will, absolutely! 🙂

  4. Ka-Kaw
    Ka-Kaw on December 31, 2011 at 8:45 am

    We can totes make #19 happen next time I’m up. I know the place and where we can get cocktails first! *hugs*

    • Anonymous
      Anonymous on December 31, 2011 at 11:16 am

      Hurrah!!

  5. Vic
    Vic on December 31, 2011 at 9:10 am

    Looks like a great list; I’m not organised enough for a list like that; even if I had 40 years! Good luck!

  6. Trish Goodfield
    Trish Goodfield on December 31, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    I knew you were a closet rev head.lol

    • Anonymous
      Anonymous on December 31, 2011 at 1:28 pm

      TOTALLY am, Trish! 😀

  7. Leah Deighton
    Leah Deighton on December 31, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    i might join you in my 40 x 40 list… i have 3 years and 8 months! great list jess xxx

    • Anonymous
      Anonymous on December 31, 2011 at 1:31 pm

      Hooray! I’d love to see it when you get it together!

  8. Sam
    Sam on December 31, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    Jess!! Love your list! …and you’ve got 9 years before you’re 40!!! You are a babe in arms my friend :0) Happy New Year – thank you for all your support and wonderful blog in 2011! XO’s

    • Anonymous
      Anonymous on January 1, 2012 at 11:38 am

      Right back atcha, lady! xx

  9. Elizabeth Norris
    Elizabeth Norris on December 31, 2011 at 6:13 pm

    Great list. Wish I’d written one before turning 40. I can highly recommend: 

    snowcherry blossoms in Japan
    scuba diving
    music festivalsAll the best for 2012!Elizabeth

  10. Kathryn
    Kathryn on January 1, 2012 at 12:50 pm

    I think lists are the new resolutions.  Lists are so much more fun and workable!  Actionable!  They are actionable and usually have verbs.  Resolutions are wishy washy.  Awesome list.

    • Anonymous
      Anonymous on January 1, 2012 at 2:17 pm

      I think you’re right, Kath!! I like action 😉

  11. Charis Sharpe
    Charis Sharpe on January 5, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    You have some awesome things on here. I can’t believe you’ve never seen it snow! It’s funny what you take for granted simply because of where you live.

  12. Stacey Ihler
    Stacey Ihler on February 9, 2012 at 6:43 am

    I love this idea! I am going to start my own 40 before 40 list! I have less than five years but that’s plenty of time to do awesome things! Thank you!