Mission Statement
Start: March 1, 2007
End: November 26, 2009
Striked – Completed
Bold – In Progress
Red – Failed
1. Send a secret to Post Secret. [8.21.08]
2. Adopt a dog. [4.07.08]
3. Stargaze. [10.09.09]
4. Swim in the ocean. [1.15.08]
5. Blog at least three times a week for 20 weeks. [20/20] [Done week of 5-11.8.07]
6. Participate in the 26 things project. [March ’07]
7. Get another tattoo. – FAILED. Not something I wanted to do after all.
8. Bake a batch of peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. [5.06.07][see them]
9. Create a big collage and actually display it. [Created January ’08]
10. Host a dinner party. [June ;09]
11. Move away from home. [February ’08]
12. Visit 5 states, other than my own. [6/5][Michigan May ’07; Nevada + Arizona January ’08; North Carolina October ’08; South Carolina February ’09; Wisconsin July ’09]
13. Pay off my car.
14. Update my will.
15. Successfully complete Warrior Leader Course. [9.18.07][Tell-All Tale Part 1, 2, 3]
16. Sew something with my sewing machine. [1.22.08 – A pillow.]
17. Go back to college. [8.24.09]
18. Visit a lighthouse. [April ’09]
19. Vote. [11.04.08]
20. Take at least one picture a day for a full month. [4.07.07] [Go Look]
21. Plant a tree. [April ’09]
22. Collect at least 50 quotes that inspire me. [38/50]
23. Go on road trips with one of the most important people in my life. [May ’07]
24. Go on a road trip by myself.
25. Create a list of my top 50 all-time favorite books and start rereading them. [listed: 50/50]
26. Determine what key clothing pieces I’m missing from my wardrobe and acquire them.
27. Find and purchase a couch that is both attractive and comfortable. [November ’07]
28. Discover 5 new poets who inspire me.
29. Create a scrapbook about the Kosovo deployment.
30. Find the perfect little black dress. [January ’08]
31. Purge my closet. [November ’07]
32. Relearn how to walk in heels comfortably. [January ’08 – Cruise]
33. Organize the poetry I’ve written over the past 10 years.
34. Buy a fire proof safe.
35. Write letters to David and Joe, then burn them. [0/2]
36. Find a way to organize my recipes. [Recipe Book // April ’09]
37. Buy a new bed and new bedding. [11.15.07]
38. Have a savings account containing at least $10,000. [8.02.07 ]
39. Visit the west coast. [September ’09]
40. Quit smoking. [05.01.2009]
41. Go out to dinner by myself.
42. Organize all my photos, including digital.
43. Stay a size 4.
44. Have a perfect January 2008
45. Learn to cook at least five really great meals. [5/5]
46. Make a list of at least 25 songs that mean the world to me, then blog about each one. [9/25]
47. Take a class that is totally unrelated to my major, just because.
48. Get a library card.
49. Re-visit New York City.
50. Get waxed.
51. Handwrite and send at least 5 letters. [5/5][12.10.08]
52. Start a FLICKR account. [3.03.07][See it]
53. Visit David’s grave.
54. Spend a day in bed with someone. [Spring ’07]
55. Learn to be comfortable showing my stomach. [November ’07]
56. Buy a house.
57. Visit five museums, zoos, exhibits, festivals, etc. [5/5][1: Fort Jackson Museum Feb. 19, 09; Richmond Irish Festival Mar. ’09; Easter on Parade April ’09; Richmond Greek Festival May ’09; Edgar Allan Poe Museum August ’09]
58. Bake cupcakes from scratch. [August ’09]
59. Go somewhere tropical. [Caribbean Cruise – January 13-20 ’08]
60. Learn to cook a turkey. [Thanksgiving ’08]
61. Become a big sister for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
62. Buy new dinnerware. [November ’07]
63. Change my life drastically. [Fall ’07]
64. Learn to love my scars.
65. Go back to Asheville, NC.
66. Visit 10 Richmond restaurants I’ve never been to before. [10/10][Capital Ale House, Europa, Legend Brewery, Halligans, deLux, McCormack’s, Mulligan’s, Rosie Connolly’s, Penny Lane Pub, Gibson’s Grill]
67. Exercise at least four times a week for one month. [August ’07][See the plan]
68. Have an herb garden. [10.05.09]
69. Visit a waterfall. [1.16.08 – Jamaica]
70. Go on a totally spontaneous vacation. [San Francisco – August ’09]
71. Kiss in the rain.
72. Go back to Athens, Ohio.
73. Say “I trust you” to someone and mean it completely. [April ’07]
74. Reread the Harry Potter series. [7/6]
[HP & the SS : 5.22.07]
[HP & the CoS : 5.31.07]
[HP & the PoA : 6.10.07]
[HP & the GoF: 6.16.07]
[HP & the OotP: 6.25.07]
[HP & the HBP: 7.08.07]
[HP & the DH: 8.13.07]
75. Remain self-harm free.
76. Have my driver’s license picture taken again. [3.09.09]
77. Get a stamp in my passport. [5.17.07]
78. Take a hike. [Sept. ’09 – San Francisco]
79. Learn to be comfortable enough with my body to walk around my house totally naked. [May ’07]
80. Start a tradition. [Thanksgiving ’07][What is it?]
81. Create a list of 101 things that make me happy. [101/101]
82. Create a list of 101 reasons why I love someone else. [10.31.07]
83. Twirl in the rain. [June ’09]
84. Volunteer for a cause I really support. [9.22.08 – Obama]
85. Bake a loaf of bread from scratch without using a bread machine. [December ’07]
86. Pick wildflowers. [June ’09]
87. Purchase underthings that make me feel sexy.
88. Donate at least $100 to charity. [$65/$100]
89. Stay on the Dean’s List through the rest of college.
90. Create a resume.[March ’08]
91. Go to a professional sports game. [April ’08]
92. Learn to enjoy wine. [2.19.2008]
93. Create a memory box.
94. Read at least 15 banned or challenged books. [12/15]
95. Perfect my spaghetti sauce. [May ’08]
96. Read at least one poem a day, every day for at least a month. [July ’07]
97. Get the big Delta. [8.14.2007]
98. Learn to cry again. [May ’07]
99. Buy myself one fabulous piece of jewelry. [December ’07 – My wedding ring]
100. Drive part of the Skyline Drive
101. Start over with a new 101 in 1001 once this one is complete.
questionable rationale 
I love your list, and congratulations on your progress. I wish I had thought to make a life list for myself at your age. Perhaps I would have thought ahead, and accomplished some of the things I really wish I had already done. I found your blog when I was searching for the wording of the “tiptoe through life” quote, and read just pieces of it. I hope your last few months of deployment fly by, and you are soon home in the Blue Ridge. I know the feeling – I’m from the Shenandoah Valley, myself, but have not lived there for many years now. It still feels like home.
All the best to you.
Thank you for your kind words Julie!
This is a great idea! I need to add more to my agenda, some things that aren’t so far off and more attainable, but things that will make me feel better about my progress.
I am enjoying your blog, my hubby was in the NG and was deployed early on in our marriage, so I know the drill.
I’ll be checking back to keep reading!
Oh my goodness. We need to hang out immediately and complete some of your un-checked off things! Like baking cupcakes from scratch 🙂
Whee! I love these lists. I had my own at one time, but canned it…too much pressure. I may revisit it this summer. 🙂
Wow great list!! You’ve made a ton of progress! It’s great to find someone that has stuck with it for so long 🙂
Good luck with finishing it up!
Tara
http://www.tarasg101.wordpress.com
ps. I’m adding you to my fellow 101 links page (if that’s not ok just let me know)
great list, and good luck with loving your scars. i love mine, they remind me of when i ran blind, and ran free.
If you’re going to make cupcakes, make awesome ones. These are the best. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Self-Filled-Cupcakes-I/Detail.aspx
great list! do you mind if i add you to my friends list? i know you’re almost done with your list, but its great inspiration.
leilanie