The Niner Project | 99 goals*999 days
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Complete 99 goals/tasks/projects/adventures in 999 days.
The Back Story
I recently made the decision to NOT pursue a doctoral degree, at least for now. It was a difficult decision, one that I grappled with for a long time weighing my motivations, what I’d be sacrificing if I did/didn’t do it, and pondering if it was really what I wanted or if it just seemed like the next step in my perceived recipe for professional success. What I determined from all that questioning is fodder for another post, but for now I’ll just say that it’s not the right time for me. If I do eventually go for a doctorate, I want to be sure that I’m ready to dedicate the time, energy, and money to do it well and do it right.
But even with such a big decision made, I’ve recently thought a lot about the trajectory of my life and the various experiences I’ve had and decisions I’ve made. While, to some, it may seem like I’ve experienced a lot and accomplished a lot in my relatively short life, there are so many things that I’ve wanted to do but haven’t because I’ve prioritized educational and professional pursuits over the simple and, possibly, the less noteworthy or less impressive things that interest me. My entire life, I’ve used passing birthdays, New Year’s resolutions, and educational progression to define my achievements and the bench marks of my life. But to me, that’s not living, checking off each box, each socially accepted “achievement” and pretending that those things are what make me the most happy. To be honest, I’m not sure what would make me the most happy, but I know that I want to look back on my life (or even the last month) and feel content about the books I read, the parties I threw, the meals I cooked, the friends I made, the languages I studied, the places I ventured…the life I’ve lived.
So this is my attempt to create a new rubric for my life’s achievements, one that I create and define for myself, one that has an {almost} completely arbitrary start and end point, and one that, I hope, will get me a few steps closer to finding the contentment that I’ve circled the globe to find… and, I’ll document it all here for the little old lady that lives within.
You’ll notice that some of my 99 goals are more challenging or serious (like studying a language or spending more time with my grandparents) while others may seem more silly or frivolous (like taking belly dancing lessons or buying all new underwear), but they are all things that I’ve thought, “I really want to do that some day.” And that day is now, because if not now, then when?
But even with such a big decision made, I’ve recently thought a lot about the trajectory of my life and the various experiences I’ve had and decisions I’ve made. While, to some, it may seem like I’ve experienced a lot and accomplished a lot in my relatively short life, there are so many things that I’ve wanted to do but haven’t because I’ve prioritized educational and professional pursuits over the simple and, possibly, the less noteworthy or less impressive things that interest me. My entire life, I’ve used passing birthdays, New Year’s resolutions, and educational progression to define my achievements and the bench marks of my life. But to me, that’s not living, checking off each box, each socially accepted “achievement” and pretending that those things are what make me the most happy. To be honest, I’m not sure what would make me the most happy, but I know that I want to look back on my life (or even the last month) and feel content about the books I read, the parties I threw, the meals I cooked, the friends I made, the languages I studied, the places I ventured…the life I’ve lived.
So this is my attempt to create a new rubric for my life’s achievements, one that I create and define for myself, one that has an {almost} completely arbitrary start and end point, and one that, I hope, will get me a few steps closer to finding the contentment that I’ve circled the globe to find… and, I’ll document it all here for the little old lady that lives within.
You’ll notice that some of my 99 goals are more challenging or serious (like studying a language or spending more time with my grandparents) while others may seem more silly or frivolous (like taking belly dancing lessons or buying all new underwear), but they are all things that I’ve thought, “I really want to do that some day.” And that day is now, because if not now, then when?
The Name & Numbers
There are a LOT of people online completing similar projects, mostly 101 goals in 1001 days, which is where I got the idea for the structure. However, 99 goals in 999 days seemed to just fit me better. You see, I was born on the 9th day of the 9th month, a birth date I share with my dearly departed great-grandmother. And, likely because of my birth date, my whole life the #9 has been my number, from sports jerseys to my declared “lucky number.” And as it happens, I was also born in 1981, and 9x9=81. Weird, right? So what better way to redefine the way I define my life’s accomplishments and experiences than to launch my Niner Project on my birthday, 09.09.09.
The Stats
Beginning: Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Ending: Monday, June 4, 2012
Ending: Monday, June 4, 2012
{2 years, 8 months, 27 days (including June 4, 2012)}
- As of 8 September 2009, I’ve been alive 10,227 days.
- As of June 4, 2012, I’ll have been alive 11,227 days and will be 30 years old.
- 999 days represents 8.9% of my life...so far.
KNOWLEDGE/LEARNING THINGS
1. Take a week-long upholstery course
2. Take a yoga instructor course
3. Complete all the lessons for Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, and Japanese on my language learning CD
4. Learn Photoshop
5. Take sewing lessons
6. Take piano lessons once a week for four months (0/16)
7. Other
8. Learn how to change a bike tire
9. Learn to refinish hardwood floors
CAREER/FINANCIAL THINGS
10. Max out Roth IRA every year
11. Pay additional $200/month on student loans
12. Start/Write a study abroad blog once/per month (0/33)
13. Start/Write a college/college-prep blog once per month (0/33)
14. Sell five pieces of refreshed furniture (0/5)
15. Get a piece of freelance writing published
ACTIVITIES/LOCAL THINGS
16. Train for and complete two sprint triathlons (0/2)
17. Run a 10k
18. Don't drive/use the car for 2 weeks
20. Sing karaoke - solo & sober
21. Visit every thrift store/antique shop in Sioux City & Sioux Falls (0/???)
22. Learn to ride Takota
23. Bike in the Black Hills
24. Take a belly dancing class
25. Throw a party
TRAVEL THINGS
27. Visit Australia
28. Weekly Travel Log {Travel Tuesdays} - select a photo from my travels and write a blog about it once per week (3/142)
29. Visit Winnipeg or other random city
30. Visit the Grand Canyon
31. Spend a long weekend in NYC
32. Visit Martha's Vineyard
33. Visit nine states I've never been to (Where I have left to visit: Washington, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Maine, Louisiana, Delaware, Wisconsin, North Dakota)
34. Visit Vancouver
SHOPPING THINGS
35. Buy all new underwear
36. Open an unlimited Flickr account
37. Buy a MacBook or new laptop
38. Buy a sewing machine
42. Buy some quality/effective sports bras
VIEWING/READING PLEASURE THINGS
45. Read 33 new books (0/33) {Suggestions needed/welcomed!}
46. Read Never Eat Alone (again)
47. Subscribe to Newsweek
FOODIE THINGS
48. Eat vegetarian for one month
49. Eat vegan for one week
51. Finish one master-cleanse
53. No alcohol for one month
HOMEY THINGS
56. Organize all old floppies/CDs/external hard drive documents
57. Inventory and sell/give away books
58. Have a garage sale
60. Unclutter every month - sell, donate, or throw away something I own at least once per month (0/33)
61. Get a plant and keep it alive for six months
62. Clean out garage
63. Organize basement
RELATIONSHIP THINGS
64. Organize a bi-monthly game night (0/17)
65. Send five hand-written notes/postcards per month (0/165)
66. Send three friends a personal digital message every week (0/99)
67. Document stories from my parents' and grandparents' lives; 3 each (0/21)
68. Call my brother/parents/grandparents once per month (1/33)
69. Call Q, A, and B every month (0/33)
PROJECT/TASKY THINGS
70. Create a college photo book
71. Create a grad school photo book
72. Create a China photo book
73. Create a photo book for 2007
74. Create a photo book for 2008/SAS
75. Create a photo book for 2009
76. Create a photo book for 2010
77. Start a compost container
78. Complete a sewing project
GOODWILL THINGS
79. Volunteer at a local organization [Civic Council, Sharing the Dream, etc.]
80. Make random gifts for colleagues
82. Volunteer for Economics for Leaders (EFL)
83. Donate $1 for every goal completed; don't $3 for every goal not completed
84. Throw someone a surprise party
PERSONAL THINGS
86. No social media for one week (facebook/twitter/rss reader)
87. Wake up two hours before work for two weeks
88. Take a sick day to go play
90. No TV/movies/videos for one week
91. Go to bed at 9pm for one week
92. Start a Date Log: List events on that date from each year
93. Get a Brazilian
94. Workout before work for two weeks
MISCELLANEOUS THINGS (Suggestions encouraged!)
95. Read "Recruit or Die"
96. Do the "30 day shred"
97. Other
98. Other
99. Other
8 comments:
Ha - I said that link was for photos but I lied :) This link is the one that inspired me for photos (the other is the 101 things in 1001 days): http://photojojo.com/content/tutorials/project-365-take-a-photo-a-day/
I love it! I need to post my list (101 things in 1001 days - very similar :D). I want to do some of these too (the recipe ones, yoga instructor, tris, the hand written notes, etc)! AND BC and I can help you with your Seattle/Oregon goal :) You have a free place to stay in OR and it's a 3 hr drive from Seattle! So come visit!! Hope all is well :)
PS - Did you know there was a site about taking a pic everyday? Well...actually, there are a bunch of them - but this one: http://www.dayzeroproject.com/ is where I got my idea and you can see other people's list (and get inspiration/book ideas/etc). There are ones on flikr and blogspot and all too but I like going back to that one to see other peoples :)
thanks Tina! i actually learned about the 101/1001 project from Day Zero and changed it to make it my own. :) Didn't know about the photo of the day site. Thanks for sending that! Miss you!
Good luck on your list! I have less than a year left on mine (I'm doing the 1,001), and I really need to pick up the pace, lol. Cheers!
Hey! I actually saw your blog and got inspired to start my own version. :) It's only been 21 days for me and it's already a challenge, but it keeps me focused and working toward something. Thanks for stopping by!
This Is Actually Incredibly Inspiring Brooke!
You Should Do Number 29, Either This Spring, Or Next Summer! I Could Make A List Of Cool Things To See & Such...
this is absolutely great. i'm doing one now. Misc goal idea: attend a national/international championship event; ie Super Bowl, World Series-- or if sports aren't of interest pic a political or social event that is a "once in a lifetime occurence."
Thanks Scott! I like it. E and I do have plans to do the grand slam circuit at some point...sounds like a perfect Niner for my Project. :) Come visit us in SD!
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