Archive for the Category ◊ To Do Before 30 ◊

11 Nov 2011 Update: To Do Before I’m 30
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So it’s a little over a month to go before the deadline for my to-do-before-30 list arrives. I’m turning 30, people. (If you’re nervous about turning 30, here’s a tip: get knocked up at 29. You’ll be so scared shitless about the upcoming childbirth that the 30th birthday won’t even matter.) Anyway, I haven’t done everything that I set out to do, but I’ve done some things that I’m happy with and there are still loads of things on the list that I want to, so hey, given that life’s ever changing, I’m changing the list and renaming it the to-do-before-35 list. I’m sure the kid’s appearance will change some of the items on the list (I honestly don’t envision myself backpacking through Europe over the next couple of years) but we’ll deal with those changes as they happen. I’m also taking off the $10 per item donation thingy. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but it seems crass and selfish now. I do donate money on a regular basis but the idea of letting my accomplishments (or lack thereof) dictate just how much I will donate seems very wrong. Donating money should not be “punishment” for not meeting my goals and while I didn’t ever think like that, it is in a way, what I was saying.

Okay, so I did cross off a few more items on the list and make progress on several more. Here’s the update:

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009. Start painting again.

I did start painting again this year, though not nearly as much as I would have liked. Most of the work I threw out since I wasn’t happy with it, but I did buy supplies and allowed myself to just enjoy it. It was fantastic. I don’t think I’m ever going to paint anything that’s going to go up on my walls, but it’ll be therapeutic nonetheless.

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013. Get cured of my Internet addiction.

When you’re able to go a month without blogging, Facebook or Twitter and not miss it, I think you can safely say you’re cured. I’m cured. I baked cookies and made fudge in the time that I wasn’t spending online (don’t laugh, they were good).

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029. Buy a car.

Done as of earlier this year. Maybe the new goal should be to pay off the damn loan?

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032. Read 100 books a year. That’s 400 books. – (294/400)

I’ve actually read 99 books so far this year, but my dismal performance in the years gone by has brought down my average. Ah well, I’m sure my maternity leave will give me time to catch up. And I know I’m way too geeky about this. Don’t rub it in.

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033. Watch 100 movies/documentaries a year. That’s 400 movies. – (308/400)

Inching closer, one bad movie at a time. I was tempted while making this list to watch Ra.One simply so that I could add to the count, but I’m going to save myself from the disaster. And while we’re on the subject, I think something’s really wrong with the world when a movie like Avatar wins Best Picture. Husband and I watched it the other day and half way through, we just gave up and started making fun of it instead. Color me puzzled.

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046. Attend a yoga class.

This was the item on the list that I thought I would never in a million years get around to doing. Life’s full of surprises, apparently. I got sciatica in the last couple of months and my back and right leg went completely numb, which meant I could barely walk. My doctor suggested yoga and even recommended an instructor and because I love my doctor to bits, I resisted the urge to scoff and signed up for classes for a month. Within four classes, the pain was gone and I was up and dancing. Remind me never to make fun of things I’ve never tried before again. I’m still not a fan of the “find yourself” spiritual kind of yoga, but I’ll admit that the physical benefit was too obvious and too quick to dismiss.

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052. Get my accounts in order– figure out stuff about savings, monthly planning, retirement funds, etc.

Done. Took a few months for us to figure it all out, since husband and I are different nationalities with accounts in different countries, etc, but we’ve managed to get it all sorted. I feel very much in control of my finances now, rather than the other way around.

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053. Start investing in the stock market. Spend more time learning from Dad.

I love that I take after my father in terms of interest in numbers and more than that, I love that my husband is the same way. I grew up surrounded by people who invested in the stock market– my parents, my aunts and uncles, an uncle we’re very close to was even a broker. So I’ve got solid background. But I always said that I wouldn’t invest even a Rupee unless I understood the game for myself. Now I’ve got the time and motivation (and money) to finally begin.

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055. Meet four people I admire. – (4/4)

This is bittersweet. I finally got to meet Kiran Bedi, a woman who has inspired me since I was a teenager and I was absolutely thrilled to have the chance to sit and talk to her. (We took photos but they’re in my editor’s camera so I don’t have them yet.) The bitter part of the story is that Ms. Bedi made some bad choices and ended up in a controversy on the front pages of the country’s newspapers. Her actions are indefensible, unfortunately (and she’s not denied them), which means that pedestal I’d put her on has suddenly collapsed. It doesn’t take away from the work she’s done, but it does put a damper on my excitement over having met her.

07 Feb 2011 *Yawn*
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On Saturday, for the first time in months, I felt like writing articles again. And as I write this, I’ve managed to send out seven story ideas and receive three assignments. So yes, a working weekend, but one in which I managed to squeeze in lunch with a friend, a visit to the vet (the puppy managed to contract an infection), two movies, and another emergency visit to the vet almost immediately after getting home from the first one (the cat ate a thread from my bookmark, got sick, and had to be sedated so that the vet could pull it out) and finished reading two books.

Productive weekend, but I’m knackered!

I am totally not used to being 29 years old. Someone asked my age the other day and I had a short-term memory lapse and said 27. As I mentioned in a previous 365 post, I was interviewed recently about my “To Do Before 30″ list and as it happens, I’m turning 30 in December and have accomplished only 37 of the things in the 150-item list. I knew it was ambitious to begin with, but I’ve got only a year to go and I’d really like to do some of the things I’ve written about, because I actually WANT to. That was the point of the list. Think work has crept up on me again?

So with that, the efforts to continue doing things on the list are renewed. Here’s what I’ve been able to check off since the last time I updated it.

020. Have my picture published in a national newspaper/magazine (not as a contributor).
047. Sleep early, rise early.
080. Overcome my fear of closed spaces.

10 Sep 2010 Update: “To Do Before I’m 30″
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I go through phases of thinking this list is the bane of my existence, sitting out there for everyone to see, mocking me and making me feel insignificant and unaccomplished. Until I decide to update it, of course, and end up crossing out several things, some of which I’d even forgotten were on there. Been a while since I last looked at it, so here’s what I’ve managed to cross off since January.

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022. Be interviewed on TV (preferably because of my work and not because I was present at a crime scene).
This hasn’t happened yet, but I got a call today asking me to be on a TV show talking about an article I’ve written. I haven’t said yes yet (terrified), but I’m thinking maybe I should. Should I just do it and get the first uncomfortable time over with? It is national TV, so I’m already having visions of becoming the joke of my entire social circle. I’ve decided to sleep on it.

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025. Get 300 published credits. – (275/300)
The last time I updated this list, I wrote below this entry, “If it’s a goal you no longer care about achieving, should you change it?” Well, I did change it. My career is going in a new direction and I’m hoping that I won’t have to do too many articles per month any more, which is why this goal is now meaningless to me. For that reason, I’ve downgraded a bit.

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032. Read 100 books a year. That’s 400 books. – (100/400)
Almost three years down and I’m nowhere near close to achieving this. I can’t read 300 books in a year and a half, no matter how hard I try, so I’m prepared to miss this one. I have read a respectable 30 books this year, though.

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033. Watch 100 movies/documentaries a year. That’s 400 movies. – (254/400)
No trouble here. In fact, I can almost guarantee that I’ll cross that 400. The name’s potato. Couch potato.

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071. Create a library of at least 1,000 books.
I’m at a miserable 250 or so, and this is so easy to achieve. But I swore that I’m going to read most of the 100+ unread books that I own before I buy any more, so… *sigh*… I’m forbidden from buying new for now.

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077. Write for The New York Times.
Done. I have to admit that it is a real high to see my byline in the Times, since this wasn’t just a before-30 goal but a life goal.

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113. Learn how to cook.
Who knew this day would come? Well, I’m happy to report that I can actually cook a decent meal, maybe even a few. I’m still stupendously uncomfortable cooking for more than two people, but it can be done. I’ve seen the light.

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115. Win an award.
Earlier this year, I found out that I’d won an award for a story that I cared deeply about and spent a lot of time on. Love it when that happens.

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134. Watch all the seasons of 24.
Hey, the last season had Anil Kapoor. How could I resist?

21 Jan 2010 Update on “To Do Before I’m 30″ List
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Oy vey.

So I created this list a couple of years ago, 150 things I want to do before I turn 30, giving me four years to get it all done. For a while, I worked on crossing out those things and then, while I didn’t forget about the list, it kind of got pushed to the background and I lost focus.

Well, I turned 28 last month, which means I’m at the halfway mark agewise, but clearly not at the halfway mark on this list. Hmm. I’ve got some catching up to do.

It’s been a while since I updated this list, and part of me feels a bit silly doing so. I don’t want it to ever feel like I’m doing something because it’s on a list somewhere, rather I want to experience the new things that come my way and while I want to make an effort to go do some things that I think would be cool learning experiences, sometimes, it feels like I’ve outgrown certain goals and don’t feel the need to do them.

I might shift around some of the goals on this list, but for now, here’s an update.

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001. Travel to 15 countries. – (4/15)
I traveled to Nepal on my return to India. Did I ever tell you that? Was hoping to get another stamp on my passport, but you don’t need a visa (or anything) to get into Nepal if you’re an Indian citizen, and they didn’t even bother stamping it. But I was there. I have the pictures to prove it.

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025. Get 500 published credits. – (257/500)
I’m at 257 now and have a feeling I’m not going to reach this goal by 2011. Because, you know, it took me six years to get these clips, I don’t think another two is going to double that number, especially since I’m not trying to increase quantity anymore, but quality. If it’s a goal you no longer care about achieving, should you change it?

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032. Read 100 books a year. That’s 400 books. – (71/400)
So, you know, when I made this list, it was the year of massive heartbreak, little work, and not that much money that could be spent on anything but books. It was the year in which I read 100 books, but since my life has changed since then, and I’ve gotten more work (not to mention, a life!), that’s my number. It’s embarrassing, I know. I’m working on it (reading more, that is, not feeling less embarrassed).

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033. Watch 100 movies/documentaries a year. That’s 400 movies. – (179/400)
Hey don’t judge me. This is what a person does when they’ve worked all day and can’t be fussed to read ONE MORE WORD. Mindless TV is good, mindless movies, even better.

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055. Meet four people I admire. – (3/4)
The last time I updated this, I told you that I’d met a writer whose work I had been reading forever and he’d treated me so graciously, I was stunned.

Since then, I had the pleasure of meeting Maria Shriver (and interviewing her) and that was a fun experience, especially since my recorder conked off (always check your batteries, people!), and, of course, I tripped (I’m very graceful, I know).

On my return to India, I met a person who has held very high regard in my eyes, and I was thrilled, absolutely thrilled, to get the chance to hang out with Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak. We talked for several hours, had lunch together (along with his team and women whose lives he has changed) and it was magical to witness young girls become starstruck on the sight of him as if he were Brad Pitt. To them, of course, he was that and much more.

Of all the people I’ve met and interviewed so far, I have never been more impressed with anyone. (He even called me once the piece was published to personally thank me.)

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106. Let someone feed me peeled, seedless grapes.
I have the someone standing here ready and at attention, now where do I get those peeled, seedless grapes?

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117. Finish the Rubik’s cube in under 5 minutes.
Yep. I’ve forgotten the last step now (again), but yep.

21 Jan 2009 Update on “To Do Before 30″ List
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Fellow writer Cyra Miles Valdez wrote on her blog that I had inspired her to make a list of things she wanted to do before 35. (Thanks Cyra!)

I realized that it’s been a while since I looked at my list of things to do before I turn 30. Let’s see what I can cross out.

001. Travel to 15 countries.
The number is now 3/15. I’m looking at heading to Nepal after June, and parts of South America after August, but that’ll all be dependent on my money situation, my living situation, and my work situation.

032. Read 100 books a year. That’s 400 books.
It’s now 40/400. Pathetic, I know. With all the traveling, I just didn’t have the time to cozy up with as many books as I would have liked.

033. Watch 100 movies/documentaries a year. That’s 400 movies.
But because I was on the road a lot with my laptop last year, I saw over a hundred movies. Total now stands at 117/400.

035. Hug a stranger.
I think I’ve done this enough times now that (a) people think I’m crazy, (b) it no longer makes me self-conscious.

063. Take four proper vacations. – (3/4)
I’ve taken three in 2008 alone. The first was in June when I went to Mcleod Ganj, India, where I supposedly went to work, but finished early and took time off. The second was to Jodhpur, again before leaving India, which was super fun. The third was here in the SF Bay Area over the winter holidays. I’m so happy that I can no longer be classified as a workaholic and that I’m slowly learning the fine art of balance.

131. Go back to school.
I’m really grateful that not only did I get to come back to school, but I got the best of both worlds– I got to come to school, take any class I want in the entire university system, and not have to give papers or submit assignments.

133. Say “I love you” every day.
Easy peasy. I can’t even remember why this was ever a goal. That’s progress for you.

149. Laugh every day.
It’s funny, I can’t remember the last time I was upset or had a day when I didn’t laugh. I really have come a long way.

150. Love myself.
The fact that I can check this one off is probably the biggest accomplishment by far. When I wrote the list, everything else seemed easy compared to this one item. My life has taken a complete 180-degree turn since the time I wrote this list a year ago. But I don’t love myself because my life changed. My life changed because I learned to love myself.

20 Apr 2008 To Do Before I’m 30: #1, 132
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#1: Travel to 15 countries – 2/15

My trip to Ethiopia wasn’t planned. As it so happened, I was supposed to fly back to Delhi and the airline screwed up my ticketing and refused to let me board my plane. I was insulted, mistreated, and made to wait for hours while my flight took off. Without me.

I later received an apology, a free hotel stay, and a trip that should have lasted twelve hours ended up lasting four days. The only good thing that came out of it was that I managed to visit Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa, and actually spend some time there. Not enough to be able to discover the culture and people, but good enough to get a feel of the place. Of course, I loved that part.

So, I’m back in Delhi. But not for long.

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#132: Buy a MacBook

I’ve been saying I need a new computer for the past one year. It sputtered and it crawled, it made weird old guy noises, and every two weeks, something broke– I was, at one point, using an external keyboard, an external mouse, had no CD or DVD drive, and required a restart every one hour. It didn’t help that the guy I paid to fix it a few months ago installed a pirated version of Windows and MS Office, even though–and you’ll understand my frustration at this–I paid for and have the original Windows software! All of it.

Anyway. Two hours after I arrived in Delhi, SpongeBob (don’t ask how it got named that), sputtered for the final time and died. (I think it was waiting to come home for the last time.)

I now have an as-yet-unnamed shiny new MacBook (and really, about two months ago, I was not one of those people who named their computers. I blame a certain guy). If you don’t see any entries on the blog for a couple of days, it’s probably because I’m playing with my new toy. I love my toys.

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