To Do Before I’m 30: #76, 19

#76: Write for TIME.

This was, as I mentioned last year, one of my lifetime goals. Sure, I wanted to have a byline in TIME before I hit the age of 30, but it seemed so far, so unachievable, that I didn’t really believe it could happen this soon.

I guess I’ve become the poster girl for “If you put it in writing, it will happen.”

**

#19: Get published in 10 countries.

Well. That was easy.

To Do Before I’m 30: #147

#147: Overcome the fear of the unknown

Ya know, with this move to Africa, another major trip or two planned this year alone, an uncertain freelance professional life, an equally crazy personal life, and absolutely no stress about what happens in all of it, I’m going to have to say, I’ve got this one down to an art.

If it all comes crashing down? I’m good at rebuilding.

To Do Before I’m 30: #15

#15: Clean out my closet and get rid of things I no longer wear.

Well, that was easy. Not only did I get rid of most of what I wear, I got rid of most of what I own. Which wasn’t much to begin with because I’m a simple kinda gal. The most difficult part? Giving away 50+ books in one go. Boo.

100 Things That Make Me Happy

To Do Before I’m 30: #10: Identify 100 things that make me happy.

Wow, this was a tough list to make. I got some help from other people’s lists, (you’re a lifesaver, Google!), but I really did enjoy making it. It was a good exercise, and I realized how much we sometimes take the small but wonderful things in our life for granted.

001. When someone sends me a growing gift on Facebook.
002. Running on wet grass.
003. Tickling a child.
004. Reaching a goal and checking the item off my to-do list.
005. Getting drenched in the rain.
006. Eskimo kisses. They always make me giggle.
007. French kisses. I never giggle.
008. Reminiscing with friends about old times and the fun we had.
009. Dancing without any rhythm to really loud music.
010. Reading a funny book.
011. Watching a funny movie.
012. Someone reading to me.
013. Reading to someone.
014. Body painting.
015. Singing really loudly and completely out-of-tune.
016. Being woken up by a crazy dog climbing on top of me and licking my face.
017. Watching babies sleep. Playing with their tiny fingers.
018. Licking the bowl after making cake mix.
019. Looking through old photo albums.
020. Hearing from someone I never thought I’d hear from again (thank you, Facebook!)
021. Hot tea on a cold day.
022. Cold ice-cream on a hot day.
023. Long talks with mom about anything and everything.
024. Getting out of bed early and feeling awake.
025. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
026. Having someone play with my hair.
027. McDonalds french fries. (I eat them so rarely– about once a year– which is why I love them.)
028. Lying on the ground and watching the moon and the stars.
029. Pillow fights.
030. Having someone cook a meal specially for me.
031. Going to the bookstore, and actually buying stuff.
032. Eating momos.
033. Meeting a new person/making a new friend.
034. Movie marathons.
035. Jigsaw puzzles.
036. Online gaming.
037. Getting a book in the mail.
038. Movie popcorn.
039. Listening to Collective Soul.
040. Midnight phone calls.
041. When someone brings me chocolate from abroad (usually my brother).
042. Twix bars. (Breaking them into two is half the fun.)
043. Jumping on the bed.
044. Buying a new ring.
045. When an editor says “well done.”
046. When an editor responds to an idea with, “I like this, Mridu.”
047. Jumping rope.
048. Playing hopscotch.
049. Hiding under the covers and pretending to be trapped in a cave.
050. Scoring a bingo on scrabulous.
051. Roadside tea and bread pakoras (especially when it’s freezing or raining)
052. Trying to translate Harry Potter to Punjabi. (Hari Puttar!)
053. When someone comments on my blog.
054. Getting a fat paycheck.
055. Saying something clever that makes someone laugh out loud.
056. Having 0 new e-mails.
057. Finishing an assignment, and finishing it well.
058. Having long philosophical discussions.
059. A hug from behind.
060. When I predict something and it comes true.
061. When I really want something, and it magically appears.
062. A good night’s sleep.
063. Saying “I told you so,” singing “I told you so, I told you so,” and dancing to the tune of “I told you so!”
064. Laughing for absolutely no reason.
065. Private jokes shared in the middle of a crowd.
066. Tickling my fiance.
067. Selling a personal essay.
068. When an editor says, “This is a very impressive clip file.”
069. Getting a spiffy haircut.
070. Taking pictures of people when they’re not looking.
071. Taking self-portraits that come out well.
072. Listening to a child sing.
073. Roller-coaster rides (I love roller coaster rides, though just in theme parks, not in life).
074. Getting funky (and personalized) gifts.
075. Having a dream so great, I wake up smiling.
076. Blowing soap bubbles.
077. Kisses from little kids.
078. Watching fireworks.
079. Seeing friends finally get out of unhealthy and crazy relationships.
080. Meeting people who’re creating a difference in the world.
081. Learning a new obscure word and actually using it.
082. Making eggs and not burning them.
083. Australian accents, British accents, French accents.
084. Friends I can call because “I want to hear you speak Australian again.” (They usually laugh and hang up on me.)
085. Getting flowers.
086. Writing on the sand.
087. Looking at my work and thinking, “Damn, I can write well!”
088. Dreaming big dreams about the future with people I care about.
089. Practicing my “Indian man on the street” English accent or my “Israeli English” accent on unsuspecting strangers.
090. Finishing each other’s sentences.
091. Getting calls from the airport when someone is leaving. Calling from the airport when I’m leaving. (It’s bittersweet, actually. The calls are great, the leaving not-so-great.)
092. A good long workout.
093. Potato chips. (I love the stuff, and never put on weight. Please don’t hate me.)
094. Finally meeting someone I met online or an editor I’ve only worked with via e-mail or phone.
095. Traveling to Mcleod Ganj. (It’s my favorite place in the world and we’re now planning yearly reunions.)
096. Heart-shaped candy. It’s so ridiculous, I can’t help laughing.
097. Soft, comfortable pajamas. Soft, comfortable socks.
098. Rediscovering a favorite song and playing it over and over and over and over and over.
099. When someone sings to me (bonus points if they make up a personalized song on the spot. Even more bonus points for guitar-playing abilities.)
100. Finishing this list!

To Do Before I’m 30: #38, 55

#38: Take a writing class.

I’ve sort of unofficially declared 2008 as my year of learning. Learning in terms of career, of course, but also in terms of learning about new cultures, learning different skills, and learning in the sense of acquiring more personality traits (learn to be more tolerant), etc.

What I’ve also done, however, is put aside time and resources for learning things that will actually make a difference in my writing. Better researching, how to interview for radio, that sort of thing.

Which of course, brings me to goal #38. I’m taking a writing class. I’m putting in time to learn one-on-one how to write essays that work. My instructor is someone who has been published in O, the Oprah Magazine, the New York Times, The Washington Post, Essence, Ladies Home Journal, Woman’s Day, and many more.

My first lesson is over. I’ll be done with the course in mid-February. I’ll post updates.

***

#55: Meet four people I admire. – (1/4)

I met person #1 a few days ago. I don’t think he knows that I admire him, or to the extent that I do. But if I could have half the talent or intelligence or compassion this person does, well, that would be something.

I’ve said this before I’m sure, but I’ll say it again– some of the most successful and brilliant people, are also some of the most down-to-earth. This person didn’t have to meet with me. In fact, it would have been easier for him to blow me off. But he met me, welcomed me like I was special, and gave me his time and his expertise. He gave me tips for my writing and my research, and helped me see how I could do better. He also showed me some of his stories, and explained to me how he’d written them. What was in it for him? Absolutely nothing!

He’s a very successful writer (you’ve likely heard of him), and I’m of course, overjoyed that I got to meet him in person and get his advice.

To Do Before I Die

A friend sent me a link to 101 Things in 1001 Days and asked if I wanted to do it. I declined initially (don’t I have enough to-do lists around here?), but then I realized that the 1001 days would be about a year shy of my turning 30. And I already had a list of things I wanted to do before then. So.. um, why not?

This list has undergone several alterations and changes in the last four years as I’ve changed and grown and morphed into the “To Do Before I Die” list. I might do a total overhaul at some point, but for now, here it is.

001. Travel to 15 countries. – (6/15)
002. Learn another language. (I’m torn between Japanese and Spanish.)
003. Send someone flowers for no reason.
004. Experience a plane landing through the cockpit.
005. Run a marathon.
006. Go on a road trip.
007. Have my portrait painted/drawn.
008. Start rock-climbing again.
009. Start painting again.
010. Identify 100 things that make me happy.
011. Do each of these things– provide photo documentation wherever possible.
012. Go to the movies alone.
013. Get cured of my Internet addiction.
014. Shower in a waterfall.
015. Clean out my closet and get rid of things I no longer wear.
016. Travel alone.
017. Live alone.
018. Fly alone.
019. Get published in 10 countries.
020. Have my picture published in a national newspaper/magazine (not as a contributor… duh!).
021. Be interviewed on radio for doing good work.
022. Be interviewed on TV (preferably because of my work and not because I was present at a crime scene).
023. Do an investigative report or expose on something meaningful.
024. Get fan mail (like a real paper letter that I can frame and show to my grandkids).
025. Get 300 published credits. – (275/300)
026. Reject a $3 per word assignment, just because I can.
027. Get married.
028. Have a child.
029. Buy a car.
030. Buy a house and then spend time making it into exactly what I/we want.
031. Paint the rooms in my/our house.
032. Read 100 books a year. That’s 400 books. – (294/400)
033. Watch 100 movies/documentaries a year. That’s 400 movies. – (308/400)
034. Donate blood.
035. Hug a stranger.
036. Sponsor at least one child.
037. Work in a bookstore/library.
038. Take a writing class.
039. Teach a writing class.
040. Holiday in a place where it snows.
041. Build a snowman.
042. Make a snow angel.
043. Go for a moonlit walk with someone special.
044. Get out of depression and overcome relapses.
045. Create my own meditation practice.
046. Attend a yoga class.
047. Sleep early, rise early.
048. Go hiking.
049. Stay in a nunnery.
050. Go ice-skating.
051. Have Tarot read.
052. Get my accounts in order – figure out stuff about savings, monthly planning, retirement funds, etc.
053. Start investing in the stock market. Spend more time learning from Dad.
054. Take up a sport.
055. Meet four people I admire.
056. Write a detailed description of my perfect day, and then make it happen.
057. Get a henna tattoo.
058. Participate in NaNoWriMo.
059. Go to a book festival. (Hay-on-Wye would be awesome!)
060. Visit certain friends in a bookstore in Paris.
061. Go back to London. (Reconnect with best friend of age 5-8 who I recently got back in touch with.)
062. Sign up for belly dancing.
063. Take four proper vacations.
064. Learn how to play the guitar.
065. Visit a jail.
066. Visit an asylum.
067. Fly a plane.
068. Learn sign language.
069. Learn to change a tire.
070. Meet the Dalai Lama.
071. Create a library of at least 1,000 books.
072. Anonymously do something for someone that will have a significant positive impact on his/her life.
073. Send a message in a bottle.
074. Teach someone to read.
075. Learn Karate.
076. Write for TIME.
077. Write for The New York Times.
078. Write for The New Yorker.
079. Write for National Geographic.
080. Overcome my fear of closed spaces.
081. Plant a tree.
082. Go bungee jumping.
083. Go to the Burning Man Festival.
084. Sleep under the stars.
085. Spend a night in a haunted house.
086. Learn to swim.
087. Visit every state in India least once.
088. Fire a gun.
089. Go camping.
090. Organize a picnic in the park.
091. Get skilled in giving a good massage.
092. Learn advanced photography.
093. Have dinner with Harlan Coben (preferably as a sophisticated worldly woman with no signs of gushing.)
094. Develop the habit of getting out of bed as soon as the alarm rings. (My phone alarm has quite the reputation.)
095. Dye my hair.
096. Get a complete makeover.
097. Learn every word in the dictionary. (I’m going for American this time; back in school, I tried with British.)
098. Adopt a dog.
099. Learn first aid.
100. Be described as “pure genius.” (Mothers and boyfriends don’t count.)
101. Have someone say, “She’s the best writer I’ve ever read…”
102. “… but an even better person.” (Mothers and boyfriends don’t count.)
103. Visit a movie studio. Watch the making of a film.
104. Be hypnotized.
105. Speak in front of an audience of at least 100.
106. Let someone feed me peeled, seedless grapes.
107. Learn to mix cocktails.
108. Go up in a hot-air balloon.
109. Visit New York City.
110. Stay out all night dancing.
111. Volunteer at a hospital.
112. Volunteer to teach in village schools/schools for the underprivileged.
113. Learn how to cook.
114. Write a novel.
115. Win an award.
116. Join a professional organization for writers.
117. Finish the Rubik’s cube in under 5 minutes.
118. Learn to knit.
119. Backpack through Europe.
120. See a favorite band in concert.
121. Join salsa classes.
122. Learn to ballroom dance properly.
123. Be an extra in a film. (Sim and I are planning to be Bollywood item girls!)
124. Visit Disney World.
125. Go to a karaoke bar.
126. Take a long road trip with friends.
127. Get my body into optimum health and shape.
128. Give a large sum to a charity anonymously.
129. Attend a major sporting event. (Olympics, maybe?)
130. Do something incredibly brave.
131. Go back to school.
132. Buy a Macbook.
133. Say “I love you” every day.
134. Watch all the seasons of 24. (What?!)
135. And The Wire. (Oh, shut up.)
136. Get a semi-office. (I can’t work in a regular office.)
137. Get a subscription to National Geographic.
138. Dance in the rain.
139. Bicycle cross-country, cross-city, or something!
140. Produce a radio feature.
141. Produce something for television.
142. Go horseback riding.
143. Go kayaking/white water rafting.
144. Learn shorthand.
145. Be more organized (I’m not quite sure what that means, but figuring it out is part of the plan!)
146. Answer the phone. (I tend to avoid doing so, and it drives people crazy.)
147. Overcome the fear of the unknown.
148. Forgive everyone who’s ever hurt me (yet have no desire to let them back into my life).
149. Laugh every day.
150. Love myself.