Well, How Did I Do?
I am not exactly good with goals. I went to a semi-hippy elementary school where we called our teachers by their first names and didn't have desks or grades or report cards. Instead of report cards we had "progess reports." Every so often my parents and teacher and I would meet to discuss my goals for the next quarter. We would write them out with little bullet points and revisit the list a few months later. I don't remember ever being able to cross off every bullet point.
And so it goes, with my little 25 for 25 list. Here is the recap:
The Good...
5. See at least one new city. (Easily accomplished on the roadtrip with my father.) / 6. Make margaretlafleur.com interesting. / 7. Read (at least) 25 books. / 8. Eat something I've never eaten before. (mussels, clams) / 10. Make an effort to jump at unexpected opportunities. / 12. Graduate from Graduate school! / 14. Give $25 to a charity I have never donated to, before. / 15. Go to a Minnesota Twins game at the new outdoor Target Field. / 19. Buy a fabulous pair of boots. (Though technically, my mom did. Thanks, Mom!) / 20. Take a tour of something (a museum, a brewery, etc...) / 21. Throw out 25 things I don't need, but have let pile up, or hung on to out of habit. (EASY, when moving!) / 22. Bake a delicious loaf of bread (I've tried before, but not been that successful). / 25. Turn 26 when it's all over! (Ok, this is just a freebie, I know!)
The Bad...
1. Publish a story I am proud of. (This is the most disappointing, though I know I did not submit enough.) / 2. Cook 25 new things. (I didn't make it enough of a priority.) / 9. Get someone the perfect gift. (Also quite disappointing.) / 11. Stop saying the word "like" so much (This was, like, really hard to remember. But, like, I think I tried, a little.) / 13. Write something everyday (Be it notes on a story, a blog post or real writing... Twitter, Facebook and e-mails don't count). (This is imposible. Pretty much.) /17. Memorize a poem. (I have NO GOOD EXCUSE.) / 18. Get a loved or favorite photo professionally framed. (This one I'm blaming on money.) / 24. "Discover" and subscribe to a literary journal I haven't read a lot of before. (I still plan on accomplishing this, but I wanted to wait until I was in Ithaca... and I've been a bit too broke in Ithaca, thus far, to subscribe to anything new.)
The indeterminate...
3. Say yes to something I’d normally say no to. / 4. Master the basics of Photoshop. / 16. Take advantage of the unique happenings San Francisco has to offer. / 23. Learn about the freelance writing market.
I couldn't decide on those last four. I feel like I think I accomplished them, but I realize that some of it is unanswerable. I can make a banner in photoshop, for example, but I certianly don't use the majority of features. So, what did I mean when I said "the basics"? Why wasn't I clearer? Same with the freelance writing market. I know MORE, but is that good enough for a check mark? And is it even possible to take advantage of all that happens in San Francisco? I kind of think not. But I tried, I did cool things, so it's not a failure. It's indeterminate.
I am not a person with a life list posted on the internet (yet). It's not that I haven't thought about it. And I've started lists, elsewhere, on scraps of paper or in word documents or in my head as I'm sitting on the bus. But I've never been able to commit, to actually make an official list. Looking at this list, the one I made for my 25th year, I realize it is at least in part because I don't want my life to feel like a checklist. This was sort of a test run for building a bigger life list and I've learned a little from it. For one, I like the possibility of them, the vague promise that writing down something you want offers. But, on the other hand, possibility is not quite the same as taking action. Things will slip away without effort. Though, I think the list served as a good reminder, making it extra sweet when I baked a tasty loaf of bread or saw the Twins play outdoor baseball.
Anyway, I'm 26 tomorrow. It seems old, suddenly.
Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 9:26AM | margosita | 7 Comments | Share Article in This Is Personal, goals
Reader Comments (7)
I love making lists about anything and everything, even though I know that euphoria ends as soon as I stop accomplishing things. I wish I had started a 25 in 25... maybe it's not too late.
Happy early birthday!!
25 felt kind of scary because... it's 25. However, I totally identify with 26 suddenly feeling... old.
I think it took three days post-birthday before I had a really "oh my god I'm so old!" feeling... but then I started thinking of all my "before 30" life wishes and I realized... 4 years isn't that long.
We are now officially closer to 30 than 20. Yikes. We no longer live on the 18-25 category on surveys.
I'm glad you got as much accomplished as you did! There's nothing saying you can't transfer those that are in process or weren't done to a "before I'm 30 list!" :)
#1 is one that cannot be determined by you. So it's an unfair thing--you may write a fantastic story, and it can still get rejected 100x.
Margosita! Please please don't feel old. Trust me on this - I'm way beyond 26 - that life only gets better, you only accomplish more (and stuff that's more interesting), and truly, your 20s are simply about beginning to figure out who you are and what you want.
It's awesome that you checked off that much of your list. Pat yourself on the back, have a cocktail, bake some cupcakes. Celebrate. You've got so much to look forward to. You'll get it all done.
Thanks, all!
Especially Christine- good point! I appreciate the perspective.
I sometimes make "life lists" or attempt to but then they feel overwhelming or overwrought with meaning. I often go towards structure and then pull back from it periodically. I totally get what you are saying here.
When I was your age was when I stopped writing for 5 years so the best thing I can say is to find some nice events to go to, just to listen to other writers, to be around other writers and read, read, read without worrying too much about goals. You have the degree, now give yourself a break :)
Not old. Trust me : )