September 10, 2007
Use what your momma taught ya
Surely she endowed you with some values, right? Think about the causes you support, the people you want to help. Consider volunteering for organizations like Habitat for Humanity or Big Brothers, Big Sisters.
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Election Year
Well, my favorite volunteer site Volunteer Match had a site called Election Match - but it’s not up right now. I’m not sure what’s going on. Maybe it’s too early right now and we’re ahead of the game. I’ll do more research on this.
The Environment
It’s easy to be a part of the environmental movement now. There are tons of opportunities to plant trees, build bike trails and clean up trash. Grab your friends and go take make the world a little greener. Planting trees is something that should be on some kind of Life List.
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September 7, 2007
Be a child again
So, things turned out a little different than what you thought they would on graduation day huh? Don’t worry, it’s happened to the best of us! But take a look at where you thought you were heading, and use those ideas to shore up your ramshackle life! Thought you were going to be a veterinarian? Volunteer at the humane society! Were you supposed to be rich and famous? I hear American Idol is auditioning again…
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For any of you who have any experience with WordPress, you will probably recognize this list:
Be A Kid Again
(from WordPress Viewer)
1. Do a cartwheel.
2. Sing into your hairbrush.
3. Walk barefoot in wet grass.
4. Play a song you like really loud, over and over.
5. Dot all your “i”’s with smiley faces.
6. Read the funnies. Throw the rest of the paper away.
7. Dunk your cookies.
8. Play a game where you make up the rules as you go along.
9. Step carefully over sidewalk cracks.
10. Change into some play clothes.
11. Try to get someone to trade you a better sandwich.
12. Eat ice cream for breakfast.
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September 5, 2007
Don’t live on your knees
Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata once said: “Better to die on your feet then to live on your knees.” Fear has no place in making a life list, unless it’s for inspiration. If you want to go down that road, then face your fears. Arachnophobic? Add a visit to the world’s largest spider exhibit to your list!
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Adrenaline
Ever been skydiving? Ever Bungi jumped? What about Paragliding?
Bungi jumping is on my list! I can’t wait to go. I envision myself doing it New Zealand off of a huge bridge. Ahhhhhh.
I went skydiving in one of the best settings. I was in Hawaii. A colorful van picked my friends and me up on Waikiki Beach and took us to the North Shore. The sky was crisp and blue. From the airplane we could see blue ocean, sandy beaches, green rain forest, volcanoes, and mountains. It was awesome. While floating down (after the parachute was out) we could see a family of whales swimming parallel to the beach. Though I’m pretty sure you will get the adrenaline rush anywhere you do it, I recommend doing it in a beautiful setting (for example: my sister went in Switzerland near the Alps and thinks it was perfect).
Emiliano Zapata
“Es mejor morir a pie que vivir arrodillado.” (same as quote above, but in Spanish)
Read more about Emiliano at Wikipedia.
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August 31, 2007
Be the Donald
Make your list as if money is no object. This is your life list we’re talking about, after all! Don’t limit yourself based on greenbacks. Unless you’re reading this at the ripe old age of 93, you’ve got plenty of time to plan, budget and bargain hunt. Want to visit London, but worried about the costs? Stay in a hostel! In fact, put a hostel experience on your life list, and you’ll get to cross out two at once!
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Hostel living
Hostels are so much fun to stay in. I do realize that they are not for everyone, though. Hostels are a great place to meet new people and to get true insider tips on where to go, what to do, how much to pay, etc.
Budget! Don’t bet on the Lotto… but you have to play to win!
I don’t recommend betting your life on winning the lottery (Although tonight’s MegaMillion drawing is for an estimated $330million). Chances are, even if you win, you won’t win on the next drawing, so budget instead and make it happen. I have two very good friends (married to each other) that have decided to move to Argentina. They set their budget and have made a pact to live by it. I know they are going to do it, because they are taking the proper first steps for such a big move.
Credit Cards & Frequent Flier Miles
Learn to use Credit Cards to build up frequent flier miles. There are plenty of credit cards out there that offer up these miles and (if used responsibly) can make an exotic trip possible. Even if you don’t want to use credit cards, some banks offer airline mileage programs with their debit cards. Chase World Mastercard is offering 15,000 - 20,000 Continental One Pass miles just for signing up. You won’t need too many more to take a trip! Check out you’re preferred airline and see what they are offering.
Bargain Hunting
There are plenty of travel sites out there that offer incredible deals. Try the usuals and I’ll update this with some of the newer ones.
Well, I am going to have bring up Timothy Ferriss and The 4-Hour Workweek again.
He provides some great insight to bargain travel and living like The Donald without being The Donald.
I can’t close this post without a quote from the Donald, right?
“You have to think anyway, so why not think big?” Donald Trump
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August 30, 2007
Expand your horizons
Now it’s time to let your mind wander. Think outside your immediate world. This tends to be easy to most people making life lists, and almost goes without saying. For example, let’s say you really think (for whatever reason) that you’d like to see a whale someday. Why stop there? Go a little further!! Expand this number on your list to say “track whale on a whaling boat in the North Atlantic”, or a similar endeavor…
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Think you might want to see an eclipse one day? 
Find the best place in the world to see the eclipse and go there. I saw the lunar eclipse a few mornings ago. It was pretty cool - the moon looked like it was Mars (see picture).
When I’m looking for adventure and travel combined, I usually look to a few sites for inspiration.
Virtual Tourist
I’ve been a Virtual Tourist member since 2004. Since then it has grown tremendously! You can spend days looking at pictures, finding travel ideas, getting tips on locations, etc. I believe it has had some very recent popularity growth due to Timothy Ferriss - since he is an avid user and his book the 4-Hour Work Week has been dominating the bestseller lists.
BootsnAll
Outside Online Magazine
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August 29, 2007
Focus on this very minute
If you could do anything you wanted this very minute, without limits, what would it be? Often, the answer I hear runs along the lines of “take a nap” or “call in sick.” Why not take some time to yourself on this small scale? Have you ever played hooky from work? Have you ever sat alone in the movie theater while the rest of the suits played office politics? I
guarantee this would be a refreshing experience you’re sure to remember!
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If you did indeed choose to play hooky from work, you could use this time to execute on Step 2.
I woke up this morning and asked myself the same question.
My answer: Go outside and walk around barefoot. So I did - and it felt great. It really got my mind where I wanted it to be. It’s not something I will add to my life list, but it’s something that I’ll do more on a regular basis.
I’m curious to know what YOU would do this very minute if you could do anything…
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August 28, 2007
Stay at home
Sometimes it’s easy to think outside of your everyday world. In fact, 75% of life lists are probably travel- or world- related. But this taste for the foreign might be able to be met right where you are. Think you want to run with the bulls in Pamplona? Why not start by learning Spanish? Focus in on your wandering spirit- it’s a great asset!- but see what you can complete from where you are today.
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Learn a New Language
This is one of my favorites! I taught myself Spanish a few years ago and then Italian last year. I love languages and have some sort of inner magnet for them.
Whether you do or not, it’s still doable, and making it the first step before a significant trip makes it all the easier. It’s built-in motivation.
Here’s a good way to get started (before or after you plan the trip to use the language):
Make and use flash cards. If you don’t have the time to make flash cards, you can order 1000 cards (of the language you choose) at Vis-ed for less than $15. Building up a vocabulary is awesome and speeds up the process of actually learning how to use the vocab. Once you can start to form sentences, you can pull from your huge vocab list (that’s now in your head) and talk until you get tired - or until someone gets tired of listening to you.
Have you read the The 4-Hour Workweek or heard of Timothy Ferriss? He has managed to learn quite a few languages and has some good reader-only resources at 4hourworkweek.com.
Not only this, but I highly recommend his book anyway. It has some great take-aways. If anyone wants, I’d be happy to do a review at some point. Just let me know.
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August 27, 2007
Use the everyday grind
Think of all the things you do now. Now take a step back. What can you check off of your list without going far away or spending too much time? Ask yourself these questions:
- What tasks do I do routinely?
- What tasks do I choose to do on the weekends?
- What tasks do I routinely outsource to others?
For example, do you drive a car to work every weekday? If so, have you ever changed your own oil? Or changed a tire? (The tire doesn’t have to be flat to do this!) Consider doing something out of your comfort zone for your list’s sake! Have you ever driven over 100 mph? (**Don’t send me your speeding tickets. I’m just trying to get your mind working**)
Read previous articles in this series:
Or, let’s say you own a house. Any homeowner knows there’s a long “to do” list associated with their home. See if you can add any of your chore list to your life list. Brainstorm things that will take you out of your comfort zone. (Welding comes to mind…)
Your Comfort Zone
Everyone’s comfort zone is different. It’s up to you to recognize your own. Working outside your comfort zone can be scary and thrilling at the same time. It WILL be uncomfortable (hence comfort zone), so don’t let this stop you.
I highly recommend reading this article called, “How To Break Out of Your Comfort Zone” from LifeHack.org.
Let’s all find something outside of our comfort zones and do it! I’ll lead the way… I’m outside of my comfort zone right now writing on this blog. This won’t be the last thing outside my comfort zone, either.
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August 24, 2007
Be in the right state of mind…or at least halfway awake.
You know yourself. When are you the most awake, alert and adventurous? That’s the best time to work on your list.
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Morning Person?
I am. When I get up early, go workout and still get home before the sunrises, I know I’m going to have a good day mentally. It energizes my mind and body. My morning gets even better when the weather is nice. I like to grab a cup of coffee and watch the sunrise. This is when I’m thinking the clearest.
By the way… when was the last time you saw the sunrise? Put it on your list, add a twist to it and make it happen. That’s an easy one.
Not a Morning Person?
That’s alright. A lot of my most productive friends like their morning sleep, too. So when do you think clearly? When do you drift of at work? Even though you are drifting off at work, it doesn’t mean your mind is shutting down. Maybe your mind is trying to look out the window or think about something you enjoy. Use this time to let your mind be adventurous.
Favorite Movie or Book
I love this one. Even though it is a serious time commitment (2+ hours), I like to throw in my favorite movie whenever I need a little extra kick. Try watching your favorite inspirational movie with goals and adventure on your mind. You’ll feel it.
Need a suggestion? Ever read Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul? After this quick read, you’ll be inspired AND you’ll have a list of movies to watch (or re-watch)!
Let me know how you prepare yourself. I want to hear from you.
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