#50before50

Life changes, and as it does, goals do too, especially when you're an old shit like me. Trimming this list of a little more rubbish and adding some things that are more important to me in this new stage in life. Also, I have a wonderful, supportive and indulgent husband now, so adding in those things I thought I could never do... just in case. Also, technically everything after #24 on my Done list has been after I turned 40, so I really only have to do 40 of these? 🤪

THINGS I'VE DONE

1. hide 43 treasures 

2. milk a cow

3. Tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue

4. Get a tattoo

5. finish crocheting my tetris blanket

6. Send in a postsecret

7. try sushi

8. Have glamour photos taken of me

9. crochet a hat

10. Go to a strip club

11. dye my hair purple

12. go on a pub crawl

13. have brunch with friends

14. Give blood (well, I tried, but they wouldn't take it!)

15. take part in gishwes

16. try a foreign cuisine I’ve never had before

17. take a chocolate factory tour

18. fly first class

19. do the Colour Run

20. do a nude photoshoot

21. find a signature scent/perfume

22. get a helix piercing

23. go to a RHPS Audience Participation screening

24. go to Midsumma/Pride March/Mardi Gras parade

25. grab a handful of cake and just eat it

26. invent a silly holiday and get other people to join in

27. get a septum piercing

28. visit Japan

29. eat snails

30. take a moonlit walk on a beach

31. get a professional massage

32. see the Southern Lights

33. go on a road trip

34. see the Eiffel Tower

THINGS I'VE YET TO DO

1. Send a message in a bottle

2. Record/produce a song

3. visit a planetarium (and see a laser light show)

4. Swim with dolphins (attempted, but failed and still want to try)

5. Throw a dart into a map and travel to where it lands

6. see a total solar eclipse in person

7. bake a Croquembouche (or something crazy complicated)

8. Take a pole dancing class

9. spend a day taking photos of Melbourne

10. visit all the Australian states and territories - 5/7

11. eat at a teppanyaki style restaurant

12. visit the Great Barrier Reef

13. finish a ‘Wreck This Journal’

14. get a matching tattoo with someone

15. complete the c25k program

16. take part in a drum circle

17. write an Android app

18. Design my own Tarot deck

19. go strawberry picking

20. take a silversmithing course

21. eat fondue

22. learn to contact juggle

23. ride in a limo

24. join the mile high club

25. see the Northern Lights

26. wear a bikini to the beach (without a cover up)

27. Be able to do a pull up unassisted

28. host a fancy dinner party in a strange place (ie, traffic island)

29. eat alone in a (fancy) restaurant

30. build a Rube Goldberg machine

31. watch a meteor shower

32. recreate a childhood photo

33. paint with oil paints

34. take a salsa dance class

35. learn ASL

36. learn to drive left hand drive

37. go to a Ren Faire

38. write and film a short movie

39. fire a gun (at a shooting range)

40. see bioluminescence

41. learn how to pick locks

42. do a advent calendar

43. go to the City Museum in St Louis

44. visit New York

45. tour the Dresden Files sites in Chicago

46. visit Petra, Jordan

47. eat at the Pizza Hut in Egypt across from the Pyramids

48. visit the Eternal Lightning Fields, Venezuela

49. visit Wat Samphran (Dragon Temple), Thailand

Start the year with a cold plunge

Get back to reality, full day at home after holidays

Write annual impression by end of weekend

Complete 10 squats per hour 10x daily

Donate to kitty charity in honor of Jax

Start a weekly gratitude jar with DJ

Write Instagram post 3+ times per week

Learn jump rope trick #1

Spend 30 minutes organizing

Plan a fun activity with a friend

Book an evening at McLemore Resort

Donate clothes

Listen to a TED talk

Design Hangar Time sign

Learn jump rope trick #2

Gather materials for taxes

Thank & recognize co-worker via Bravo

Book Kentucky Derby

Book 10k charity race during warmer months

Listen to a YouTube skill based video

Work on DIY string art

Learn jump rope trick #3

Review recurring expenses

Thank & recognize friend via card

Book timeshare

Donate food

Take call with mentor

Work on lettering craft

Learn jump rope trick #4

Finish taxes

Check in with friend/family member

Book trip to Providence Canyon

Adopt a penguin

Prepare quick top 5 list for week

Work on valentine craft

Learn jump rope trick #5

Spend 30 minutes organizing #2

Send friend/family a thoughtful/practical gift

Enjoy roller skating with friends

Volunteer at local senior center

Listen to Stuff You Should Know Podcast

Draw card for service member (for care pkg)

Learn jump rope trick #6

Complete will

Facetime friend/family member

Visit with friends in Rome, GA

Send care package to a service member

Finish listening to You Only Die Once

Write special edition turning 50 impression

30. See the Southern lights

Let's face it, I've been working on varying versions of this list for 12 years. I've never come close to hitting my goal. BUT I have done a whole bunch of things I've always wanted to do, that I probably never would have done other wise, so whether or not I reach the goal, I think this is a good thing to keep going.

I went right back to the original list, and am combining it with all the iterations from over the years. I'm also adding in my travel goals. I always kept them separate because I didn't have the money to travel, and wanted to keep my list achievable, but I'm not as concerned about hitting every goal any more, and also, if I don't travel by 50, then when?

I've made a separate list for the things I've done too, to remind myself of what I have accomplished. The items I removed from the list because I really don't think it's possible, or care if I achieve it, I'm putting back in as bonus goals... they don't need to count, but maybe the opportunity will come up, who knows? And it's good to see where I've come from.

THINGS I'VE DONE

1. hide 43 treasures 

2. milk a cow

3. Tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue

4. Get a tattoo

5. finish crocheting my tetris blanket

6. Send in a postsecret

7. try sushi

8. Have glamour photos taken of me

9. crochet a hat

10. Go to a strip club

11. dye my hair purple

12. go on a pub crawl

13. have brunch with friends

14. Give blood (well, I tried, but they wouldn't take it!)

15. take part in gishwes

16. try a foreign cuisine I’ve never had before

17. take a chocolate factory tour

18. fly first class

19. do the Colour Run

20. do a nude photoshoot

21. find a signature scent/perfume

22. get a helix piercing

23. go to a RHPS Audience Participation screening

24. go to Midsumma/Pride March/Mardi Gras parade

25. grab a handful of cake and just eat it

26. invent a silly holiday and get other people to join in

THINGS I'VE YET TO DO

1. Send a message in a bottle

2. Record/produce a song

3. visit a planetarium

4. Swim with dolphins (attempted, but failed and still want to try)

5. Throw a dart into a map and travel to where it lands

6. take a moonlit walk on a beach

7. learn the thriller dance

8. see a total solar eclipse in person

9. go on a road trip with friends (husband counts right?)

10. bake a Croquembouche

11. Take a pole dancing class

12. get a professional massage

13. spend a day taking photos of my city

14. visit all the Australian states and territories - 5/7

15. eat at a teppanyaki style restaurant

16. visit the Great Barrier Reef

17. finish a ‘Wreck This Journal’

18. get a matching tattoo with someone

19. complete the c25k program

20. do a proper cosplay photo shoot

21. take part in a drum circle

22. write an Android app

23. Design my own Tarot deck

24. go strawberry picking

25. take a silversmithing course

26. eat fondue

27. learn to contact juggle

28. ride in a limo

29. join the mile high club

30. see the Southern/Northern Lights

31. wear a bikini to the beach (without a cover up)

32. Be able to do a pull up unassisted

33. host a fancy dinner party in a strange place (ie, traffic island)

34. learn to read lips

35. eat alone in a (fancy) restaurant

36. build a Rube Goldberg machine

37. watch a meteor shower

38. recreate a childhood photo

39. cook pasta from scratch

40. take a salsa dance class

41. learn ASL

42. see the Thai floating lantern festival

43. go to the City Museum in St Louis

44. visit New York

45. tour the Dresden Files sites in Chicago

46. visit Petra, Jordan

47. visit Japan

48. visit the Eternal Lightning Fields, Venezuela

49. visit Wat Samphran (Dragon Temple), Thailand

50. visit Chichen Itza, Mexico

BONUS GOALS

1. bungee jump

2. watch all of classic Doctor Who

3. visit Katoomba at Winter Solstice for the Winter Magic Festival

4. get my driver’s license

5. do a beer centurion (100 shots in 100 minutes)

6. crowd surf

7. fire a gun at a shooting range

8. learn to juggle

Tal’s list of 50: fifty before 50

October 15, 2020

It’s my Birthday this Saturday and I will be 49, so I am entering my 50th year of life. Doesn’t show, eh? I thought turning 40 was less bad than 30, because in 2001 I felt like my youth was over. Then the saying is: life starts at 40. So I celebrated my iForty grand and spread over 2 days.

Although I like to throw a party, my 49th birthday will be a sober one. This due to COVID-19 and the fact that I am still recovering from the surgery. Only the (in-law) family has been invited - in different shifts - to give "my new life" a good start. And then I really turn 50 ... although almost? Fortunately, it will take another whole year, 365 days to get used to and prepare for it. How?

Due to my gastric bypass surgery 2 weeks ago, a lot will change in the coming year anyway, hopefully everything for the better. But on top of that, I found a nice idea, on the internet: a "fifty before 50 list" or: a list of 50 things I want to do before I turn 50: Tal's list of 50.

Because time flies, life is short and I still have quite a lot on my wish list, I had to set myself some goals, this 50-list is a nice stepping stone for that. Of course not everything will work out in the coming year (finances and COVID-19 also play a part in this), but even if I manage to achieve a quarter of them all, I am already happy. And fortunately I have a partner who likes to come with me, that also makes a difference.

The list is in no particular order and is filled with items related to travel, food & drink, health, shopping, family, work, culture, nature ... some goals are easier to achieve than others, but that only makes the challenge more fun .

And if don’t manage to accomplish some goals before October 17, 2021, there is still time afterwards. Let's go!

Tal's list of 50

Eat fish at the sea

Celebrating Christmas in Canada is not going to work, but I will put it on the list anyway

Drive from Toronto to New York by car (Canada / USA)

Touring through Northern Italy and swimming in Laggio di Maggiore (Italy)

Relaxing in Sardinia (Italy)

Go to Beatrix Potter's hometown (Sawrey Lake District, Northern England)

Spotting seals at one of the Wadden Islands, it doesn't matter which one (NL)

Getting to know NL even better by visiting 3 places I have never been

Create blogs with tips, tricks & recipes for people with gastric bypass / sleeve and updating this on my instragram account @talskitchen

Wandering through Valencia with Robbert (Spain)

Lunch at the Avocado Show (Amsterdam)

High Tea at De Groot (will be a challenge, I'll just bring a doggy bag)

Eat at Joris Bijdendijk restaurant (RIJKS or WILS)

And when dinner is at RIJKS, take Robbert to the museum to see the Night Watch again

Save money for the "Blue Fold Tableware" by Heinen Delft's Blauw

Take Robbert to a secret location (night away)

Cleaning my Nike Air Max so that they are finally white again

Select my LEGO and store it neatly in boxes (IKEA)

Buy a bicycle bags so I will take my bike more often (otherwise I cannot take groceries with me)

Sort out all the photos I have and put them in boxes

Make a boattrip in Giethoorn

Take Rick and Lucas to Ouwehand Zoo

Walk through the Loonse and Drunense Dunes

Youth sentiment: shopping for clothes in Eindhoven

Planning a Van Houten family reunion (mom’s family)

Planning a Van den Thillart family reunion - anyone who wants to help is welcome!

Keep my own room tidy and clean (sometimes I am a bit careless about that)

Buy nice short boots with heel, because I can wear them again due to my weight loss (hopefully my knee will agree)

Going back to learning the Italian language. After 24 lessons I unfortunately stopped and couldn't keep up.

Write (and post) blogs more often

Planning an offline weekend (I think the biggest challenge on the list, maybe I need to start with a day?)

Practice making vlogs

Exercise more by cycling more often, going to the swimming pool more, going to the gym at least once a week

Let myself being pampered more often by, going to the pedicure, beauty salon or manicure

In the past COVID-19 year I sent more people a real card, I want to keep this up for the coming year

Go to the Bossche market at least once every 6-8 weeks on Saturday

Realizing our shelf with bird houses at the back of the garden (à la Hotel Hoog Holten)

Create more moments of rest at work by, going for a walk during lunch breaks, having a coffee break with colleagues from another department and take a rest to have lunch

Putting a bunch of fresh flowers in the house more often

Feel the sea with my toes

Reorganize our bathroom: bath out, walk-in shower in

Set the alarm 10 minutes earlier on weekdays to be able to do exercises (at 6:00 am)

Research the gastric-bypass friendliness of restaurants and in particular the price / quantity ratio.

Create our dream house, current house or another, together with Robbert

Collecting, sorting and bundling all individual recipes - scattered around the house

Preparing my iFifty: do (can?) I make it a big celebration? Or do I do fun things for myself… and my loved ones. Or am I going on vacation?

Work from home at least 1 day a week

Remove my stored items from AllSafe and give them a new place in our house (or a new house)

Take Rick to the Moco Museum (Amsterdam)

Keep better track of my administration and immediately throw away what I don’t need

I do not only think it would be fun to work on this list the upcoming year, but I also hope to inspire others to actively undertake fun things. Are you going to set such goals of make a list yourself? Let me know, I like that.

I try to keep you informed of the progress through my regular blogs and my stories on Instagram and Facebook. Hopefully the list will get a bit shorter ...

For now: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!