101 in 1001

As much as I adore Christmas, the week following it is one of my very favorite of the year. Anyone who knows me knows that organizing things, cleaning, and making lists are some of my favorite pastimes, and this week is one of the only times of the year when I don't feel as much in the minority - others are also taking stock, setting goals, and yes, making lists. I very much believe in new beginnings, and this is the perfect time to indulge in them.

Instead of New Year's resolutions, last year I began a 101 in 1001 list. An explanation, from the Day Zero website:

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 (ie. 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.

Start Date: January 1, 2008
End Date: September 28, 2010

Bold marks a completed item

Pink marks a partially completed item

Spiritual
1. Buy a version of the Bible that I actually enjoy reading {01.06.09}
2. Start and keep a Bible verse journal {September 2009}
3. Read the entire Bible {19/65 books}
4. Lead another service at the Island
5. Read two faith-related books a year {completed September 2010}
6. Pledge to home church once a year {completed May 2010}

Kindness
7. Go a whole day without complaining, on five different occasions {0/5}
8. Pay the toll/bill/tip for someone behind me {April 3, 2010 -- AWESOME!}
9. Stay in good contact with A, W, & C {my bestests}
10. Send one handwritten letter a month for six months {completed February 2010}
11. Offer my expertise in some substantial way and receive nothing {monetary} in return {August 2010}

Good Stewardship
12. Switch to using only reusable bags at the grocery store {as of August 2009}
13. Ride a bike or scooter as a means of transportation five times {completed June 2010}
14. Buy a Brita water purifier and use it instead of plastic water bottles {01.19.08}
15. Plant tulips on campus sometime before I graduate
16. Choose a project on Donors Choose or Kiva and fund it {April 4, 2010 -- thank you, Amber!}
17. Encourage someone to vote in the Presidential Election (fall 2008)
18. Vote in all elections for which I am eligible
19. Work on a Habitat build
20. Write three letters complimenting excellent service {completed May 2010}
21. Write three letters pointing out poor service {1/3}
22. Volunteer at a farm event {my dad's family owns a 300-year-old working farm}
23. Buy handmade or make at least 50% of all gifts for Christmases 2008 and 2009 {For 2008, I did 8/19. For 2009, I did 16/31.}

Edification
24. Improve grammar
25. Do a New York Times crossword once a week for six months {19/27}
26. Learn a skill that was useful 100 years ago and is useful today
27. Read twelve classics I haven't read before {September 2010}
28. Memorize twelve poems {1/12}
29. Attend every poetry reading on campus in the spring 2008 semester {04.03.08}
30. Learn to play, and memorize, a song on the piano
31. Take ballroom dancing lessons
32. Read all of Emily Post's Etiquette (17th Edition) {08.06.09}
33. Learn (or re-learn) basic conversational phrases in French, Spanish, and Italian
34. Take a book-making course
35. Take a cooking or cake decorating course {March 2010 -- SO FUN!}
36. Take a flower arranging course
37. Learn calligraphy
38. Learn to cross-stitch or quilt and complete a project

Financial
39. Buy something that increases in value {May 09 - Victorian, mahogany dining room table}
40. Don't eat out for a month {second half of 2009}
41. Find out my credit score once a year {1/3}
42. Keep up with Microsoft Money {September 2010}
43. Read two financial literacy books a year {September 2010}
44. Contribute to traditional IRA annually {2/3}

Health & Recreation
45. Compile list of 25 snack ideas and post on refrigerator
46. Don't eat a single fried chicken sandwich in dining hall for a year {12.31.08}
47. Go to the OB/Gyn {12.17.08}
48. Conclusively find out my blood type
49. Take a multivitamin every day for a month. Develop a system. {February 2010}
50. Make a list of exercise activities I enjoy and post ({September 2010}
51. Exercise three times a week for three months
52. Train for and compete in a 5K road race
53. Stretch every morning for two weeks {0/14}
54. Buy a type of exercise video I've never tried and do it three times a week for three months
55. Take five new people letterboxing {July 2010}
56. Place a letterbox

Personal Challenges
57. Write down and store end-of-life wishes {August 2010}
58. Go camping {03.11.09}
59. Get up at the same time every day for thirty days in a row {February 2010}
60. Make a list of things I don't like about myself, and try to fix them {September 2010}
61. Make a list of things I wish I was, and try to be them {August 2009}
62. Personal

Self Improvement
63. Attempt to whiten teeth (ongoing)
64. Find an excellent foundation, even if expensive {August 2009}
65. Buy or receive a tailored suit {01.14.09}
66. Personal
67. Receive a fellowship for summer 2008
68. Arrange three informational interviews for senior year {0/3}
69. Maintain no less than a 3.9 GPA through graduation
70. Be inducted into Phi Beta Kappa {05.16.08}
71. Graduate summa cum laude
72. Graduate in May 2009

Experiences
73. Cook an Indian dinner for friends and family {09.13.09}
74. Eat ten dishes/foods I've never tried before {10/10 + as of June 2009}
75. Eat vegetarian for a week {October 19-26, 2009}
76. Make a loaf of bread from scratch {January 23, 2010}
77. Pick fruit at a pick-your-own farm and do something with it {May 2010}
78. Visit two more states I've never been to {June 09 - Amish Country, Ohio and Northern Michigan}
79. Take a train while going on a trip
80. Get a massage
81. Get a manicure or pedicure {pedicure September 2010}
82. Go riding at the farm with family {June 09}
83. Take a trip to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket
84. Travel to Europe for at least a week
85. Spend a weekend away with J {03.09.09 -- 03.13.09}
86. Plant a vegetable garden, even if very small {Spring/Summer 2010. We planted strawberries, Brandywine tomatoes, bushy cucumbers, red leaf lettuce, dill, parsley, cilantro, and basil -- and all on an apartment balcony!}
87. See Arcade Fire in concert (again)
88. See the Martha Stewart Show live {01.16.08 - AMAZING.}
89. Be a bridesmaid or Maid of Honor {August 2010 and September 2010}
90. See David Beckham play soccer
91. Do at least one Gimme Your Stuff exchange
92. Go to a hot air balloon festival or on a hot air balloon ride {May 2010, at a photo shoot!}
93. Adopt either a cat or dog {November 2009 - YIPPEE!}

Miscellaneous
94. Comment on wedding blogs three times a week for three months {summer 2009}
95. Comment on favorite blogs three times a week for three months {summer 2009}
96. Subscribe to favorite magazines after graduation
97. Frame and hang J's and my photographs as art {August 09}
98. Design business cards and have them printed {designed and printed them myself April 2009}
99. Buy a new laptop {received new laptop November 2009}
100. Donate $1 to charity for every item on my list not completed {September 2010}
101. Create a new 101 in 1001 list

66 completed items
8 partially completed