I’ve been trying to think of a good motivation to use this blog on a regular basis - I want this to be my public blog, a place I can point anyone and everyone to in order to show what I’m doing and who I am. So, I’ve been considering my options since the Blogathon ended. Finally, this week, I remembered that a friend of mine had once made a list for The 101 Things To Do in 1,001 Days Project. I’ve also been thinking a lot recently about goals, about getting out of my rut and routine and doing things I’ve always meant to do. Thus … I made my own list! I intend to use this blog to keep track of the things I accomplish - and for parts of the list itself, as you’ll see below.

I encourage anyone else to do this! Making this list was a blast - it reminded me of things I’d forgotten about, and gave me new ideas that excite me.

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.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

The List:

End Date: May 22nd, 2010

Key:

strikeout - completed, with date
italics - in progress, with notes

Writing:

1. Finish first draft of The Pirate Queen
2. Finish first draft of one other novel
3. Edit Audience Participation
4. Send one novel out to at least 5 agents/editors
5. Keep a “one sentence” journal every day for at least three months
6. Join the RWA
7. Attend a Midwest Fiction Writers meeting; see if I want to join
8. Go to a coffee shop to write once a week for two months
9. Write in a character journal once a week for three months
10. Write every day I’m in Missouri for Christmas vacation

Health/Appearance/Physical/Exercise:

11. Get a tattoo
12. Weigh 140 pounds
13. Take a yoga class
14. Hike every trail in the 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles – Twin Cities book
15. Get up with the alarm every weekday for 2 weeks and stretch before showering
16. Get a mammogram
17. Go to the dentist twice a year
18. Get cartilage piercing in one ear
19. Eat fruit once a day for two weeks
20. Take both cats to the vet for checkups
21. Try ten foods I don’t normally eat - 2 as of 3/14/08
22. Buy an expensive designer dress that looks fabulous on me
23. Buy a new pair of real Converse sneakers
24. Own a Renaissance dress or belly dance costume
25. Buy a pair of winter boots

Social/Spiritual/Community:

26. Visit Minnesota Zen Center
27. Visit a UU church
28. Walk or volunteer for the 3-Day
29. Go dancing at the Dubliner at least 3 times
30. Go to a speed dating event
31. Volunteer at CONvergence
32. Throw someone a surprise party
33. Send out holiday cards - complete 12/07
34. Attempt to contact/keep a dialogue open with a member of my mother’s family
35. Attend a public pagan ritual
36. Volunteer for a local charity
37. Attend Minicon

Travel & Local Tourism:

38. Spend a weekend retreat alone on Lake Superior
39. Visit a local art museum
40. Take a vacation somewhere in the mountains
41. Eat/drink at a new-to-me restaurant or bar at least six times in a year - 2/6 (La Cucaracha in January, True Thai in February)
42. Visit the Japanese Gardens at the Como Park Conservatory
43. Travel to Canada
44. Attend an event at the Winter Carnival
45. Travel to Europe
46. Play tourist in a US city I’ve never visited
47. Go on a museum tour of Chicago

Cleaning/Organizing/Home Improvement:

48. Repaint my bedroom
49. Hang art on my bedroom walls
50. Buy a fireproof box and store valuable documents inside
51. Buy a quality mattress
52. Sort all mail when it comes in the door for at least a month
53. Replace home light bulbs with full spectrum light bulbs
54. Organize bills and important paperwork – shred, file, put into accordion files - completed 12/07
55. Sweep and dust the living/dining room/kitchen at least once a week for three months
56. Find an attractive and/or out-of-the-way place to store CDs - in process, boxing and cataloging all CDs
57. Clean and organize hall closet
58. Organize and store old photos in some way

Entertainment:

59. Read ten “classic” novels I’ve never read
60. Learn how to play D&D/other roleplaying game
61. See a show at the Guthrie
62. Watch ten “classic” movies I’ve never seen
63. Finish listening to all my CDs in alphabetical order
64. Play live poker or blackjack at a casino
65. Watch at least 3 episodes of each of the first seven Doctors on Doctor Who
66. Stick around after a concert and talk to one of my favorite musicians
67. Listen to ten “classic” albums I’ve never heard
68. Read every book currently on my TBR shelf, or at least give them a try
69. Memorize three poems
70. Read at least three Shakespeare plays I’ve never read
71. Attend at least five concerts by local bands in a year - 1/5, saw the Wannabe Hasbeens in January.
72. Watch at least part of an anime series
73. Read at least ten nonfiction books in a year
74. Use library card regularly without overdue fees for a year
75. Learn to play a video game that doesn’t involve puzzles, trivia, or dancing - I am now both a Rock Band and Guitar Hero addict! So, complete 1/08
76. Read an entire new-to-me comic book series
77. Read five books on local history

Online/Computer Activities:

78. Learn how to understand and modify the Wordpress template on my own
79. Maintain this blog 3 times a week for 6 months
80. Maintain a profile on an online dating site and contact at least 5 men
81. Build and maintain a photo gallery on either Flickr or my domain site
82. Write up reviews of every concert I attend and post on this blog for three months - restarting 3/14/08
83. Edit, post, and send San Diego photos
84. Edit, post, and send TRB VII photos
85. Clean out Yahoo inboxes and keep them clean for at least three months
86. Participate in Project 365 for one year
87. Fill my entire 100+ icon slots on LJ with icons of my own making
88. Build the website photo tribute to Susan
89. Find someone who can pull the data off the old desktop computer

Finances:

90. Go three months without using my credit cards - started 2/08
91. Pay off my Best Buy credit card complete 2/08
92. After my car is paid off, apply that $250 a month to credit card payments
93. Renegotiate credit card interest rates for the Visa and the MasterCard
94. Collect loose change and deposit into savings account once a month for a year

Arts, Crafts, and Hobbies:

95. Learn to make my TRB-themed artist trading cards
96. Learn to read tarot cards without referencing books
97. Learn to crochet
98. Learn how to bake a new dessert from scratch

Miscellaneous:

99. Research all viable presidential candidates before the 2008 primaries complete 2/08
100. Complete The Artist’s Way
101. Make another 101 list within a month of completing this one

… so, there we go. Now, we begin!