So this week I turned 45. There it is, a number out there for everyone to see. I promised myself when I was in my 20′s that I would never lie about my age. So far I’ve kept that promise.
I was one of those kids who just presumed I wouldn’t live beyond 30. I imagined people at my (so so sad) funeral talking about all my potential and how successful I could have been. It’s much harder to live up to potential than just ‘have’ it.
Last year I had my memorable wall of sticky notes to guide me though my goals. It gave me a focus (to go surfing) and helped me have lots of fun doing silly little goals.
Although it was a great relief to rip those post it notes down and have a white wall again, I must admit I miss having that visual reminder every day.
Life is too short just to see what happens. You have to create the life you want.
So enough with the pre-amble. I’m 45 and want this year to be packed with fun. I have decided to take on 45 challenges. The first will be to lose 45lbs. As for the others.. I would still love to milk a cow, visit a gospel chuch, and do some really stupid stuff for charity. (can you help me with those?)
Do you have any ideas for other stuff I should do? Things you want to do with me?
So I guess my challenge is to challenge you – come up with some ideas and lets get living!
ps. If you are the kind of person who reads blog posts but doesn’t comment, I challenge you to break that habit now.. Leave a comment – even if it’s just “wow 45 – you don’t look nearly that old” (LOL)
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I will have one soon!! Thanks, Aileen! I’ll be talking to you soon!
Ok. So, now about you… Have been thinking bout the 45 challenge thing. I challenge you to create 45 pieces of art (books, photos, installations, lamps, robots) and have a show at the end of the year… Or perhaps after your marathon. Mwah! xxk
I know we touched on it briefly, it’s like you read my mind (errrrrrmmmm are you in my head??!). I would LOVE it if the pieces doumented your journey through this incredible journey of 45 challenges!
I know you can do it AND more – and I volunteer my time to help you with the horsey thing (moral support, pats on the back, cheerin you on
xoxoxoxoxox your kiwi friend
I love this idea.. I’m not sure anything I create would be good enough for a show.. but it would be a great way to remember the year… I accept.
Skydive. That would be cool. Yeah, just go skydiving once without peeing your pants. Just sorry I can’t help you with that.
And how about while you’re losing those 45lbs, when you eat your favorite or guilty food (black forest chocolate cake, anyone?) you eat it without guilt? (Okay, I just couldn’t resist…)
Fab, fab, fab idea about the 45 challenges….fabulous!
Complete an assignment from Miranda July’s Learning to Love You More project (or several assignments!) http://www.learningtoloveyoumore.com/index.php
Good luck!
Aileen~
You are so inspiring! You are so inspiring! You are so inspiring! I WOULD write this 45 times but you get my point. I once wrote 108 poems in as many days on my blog. Such a great experience. Hmmmm, now in honor of your birthday, what will I promise. I’m in a creative writing class to actually BEGIN that novel I’ve promised to write since I was a teenager so …… I will write SOMETHING (even just a page) EVERY day for 45 days, starting …… tonight.
Thanks for all your energy, PhebeK on Twitter
thank you, thank you, thank you. All the stuff to do with this will now be at http://challenge45.com – please come visit me there and update me on your writing. Maybe you can share some? Congratulations.
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