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So one of my friends emailed me this and it pretty much consumed me with reckless, uninhibited glee. Sort of like how you would feel if you were perched in Hawaii, taking a bath in chocolate sauce, listening to your favourite song after finding the Hope diamond in your sock drawer, when Ryan Reynolds comes in and offers to paint your nails. Shirtless.
As much as I adore lists- I’ve never been a “Life List” girl. My wants- my over the top suddenly I can’t die happy unless this happens, ultimate guide to unparalleled joy wants, change pretty regularly. If life is a buffet, I am a constant nibbler- not someone who picks four things and then sits down. I want to try a thousand different things and spit out what I don’t like. So the idea of writing a list and sticking to it, just never seemed appealing. Until I saw this list.
A list of irresponsible, liberating and slightly crazy things to do? That’s something I can support.
Maybe it’s because this last month has taught me that more things happen when I say YES than when I say NO but I decided to make my own list of radical (to me!) plans and complete each one in a single month. 10 irresponsible, liberating and slightly crazy things to do, that must be done by the end of June. Because the only ones for me are the mad ones.
1. Instead of skipping out on the bill (which was suggested in the original list- which? Is too dodgy for me since I had so many friends working in the service industry when I was in university), pay for someone else’s meal. Not their Starbucks order- their meal.
2. Spend a weekend eating only what looks absolutely delicious. Disregard proper meal times and caloric intake. Instead of fretting over fat grams and workout plans, really enjoy eating and give luscious foods a home in my body.
3. Email 3 of my co-workers (that I’m not particularly close to) and give them each a compliment.
4. Get patio drunk before noon. On a weekday.
5. Get rid of 50% of my clothes. AT LEAST 50% of my clothes. Donate them to the neighbor’s kids who are currently wearing flood pants and paisley snap shirts.
6. Spend an hour outside reading poetry with my class. Do not worry about where this fits into the curriculum, or what we could be doing instead. Soak in that hour and let the words of Elizabeth Bishop and Shel Silverstein hang heavy in the air.
7. Do not give a single further ‘hello’ in the hallway to the co-worker who made May miserable.
8. Hold another contest and give away something I love.
9. Buy a plane ticket.
10. Get up an hour earlier, whip out the hot rollers, liter of hairspray and invest a morning in creating the hair I caress on magazine covers but am always too lazy to attempt to replicate.
So that’s my list. Far from shaving my head and getting my favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe tattooed on my forearm, but each item on my list requires some sort of sacrifice or fearlessness or just getting out of my comfort zone (sadly, if I had created this list during my time in university- #4 would not be out of my comfort zone. Ahh, noon beers, how I miss thee…). June 1st is going to be my start date.
Anyone else want to join me for a month of living selfishly and with reckless abandon?
A) Elizabeth Bishop! Love!
B) Make that plane ticket go to SoVa. We can get drunk on a patio before noon on a weekday TOGETHER!
I’m serious. Details to follow in email form.
I love the “get patio drunk before noon – on a weekday” one. There’s a certain summer spirit in the air everywhere right now, one that’s a bit intoxicating and makes me believe that ANYthing is possible. Here are a couple of mine:
1) Spend an entire day without looking at any work, but doing exactly what I want to be doing.
2) Read a book someone else put on my to-read list.
3) Go MacGuyver on my own kitchen in an attempt to save money in June so that I can spend it frivolously in July and August.
I love your list! And it speaks to your personality that half of them benefit others, too. Though it could be more than half, if you consider patio drunk and cover girl hair to benefit others, too. ;)
LOVE this! I am one of the life-listers, but have constantly let my list evolve so I never feel like I have to do something if it no longer inspires or excites me.
I love your June list!
Love it!
I really, really love this!
Great post! Thank you for the link:)
Hope you have an irresponsible, liberating and crazy fun and fulfilling time! :D
I’ve been contemplating the whole “life list” thing, but this just seems like so much more fun. I’m in.
I will mirror your title and simply say YES. Because, really.
Woah. That quote spoke to me tonight. Whew.
I love your list, and I am totally behind this style of list. I also love that so many things really aren’t selfish, but win-win. Pretty special, lady.
Thanks for the link! I love the idea of reckless abandonment… I can only handle it in small doses. I’m starting with reorganizing the hall closet.
(Oh, and regarding #8 – as the winner of your make-up contest, I can attest to the fact that you give away excellent prizes. I look better than I have in years.)
What a great idea – gonna think of my list now! :) And good luck with yours!
I mean…if you need destination ideas, there is always New England. BOSTON. DO IT.
Pretty please?
P.S. #6 is my favorite. Reason 85463 you’re an amazing teacher : )
You can buy a ticket to Germany & I will definitely help you with #1, 2 & 4… German Wine, Belgian Beer/Cheese/Chocolate & French Desserts are all within an hour drive! (these are my favorites within an hour – there is other stuff too, of course.)
This post made my day.
That is one of my all-time favorite quotes. It reminds me of my friend Kristen who is as adventurous as I would ever want to be. :) Hooray for reckless abandon!
I love this! I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about my own life lists and about how they don’t really reflect who I am right now and about how I need to reevaluate what I’m striving for.
LOVE THIS ANNNNNDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD, that Kerouac quote is my signature on my email. love.
Great list! Although #2 is every weekend for me… ;-)
this is the BEST. seriously love it all so much.
I LOVE this :) Particularly #6. I’m a nursery (pre-school) teacher, and I often get very frustrated. I’m longing to just let my children be children! If they leave my class without the ability to write their name or recognise numbers to 10, their world WILL NOT end. There is so much more to education. *rant over* :)
I agree and love all of them except 7. What the world doesn’t need is more rudeness and what that woman, and mean people in general, REALLY need is more kindness.
I think I can get on board with this. Must create my list. I am not generally very good at playing outside of the lines so this will be a good exercise for me. You’ve got great things on your list!
[...] explains why I’ve already managed to cross some things off. I’ve also been inspired by Brandy’s post, which was in turn inspired by this. With school and a new relationship looming (except that word [...]
I absolutely ADORE the list you’ve got going on here. And I love your mantra for the month of June because I want to spend a month of living selfishly and with reckless abandon… even if the month you’ve specified is halfway over already.
Thinking about my list today and feeling completely inspired. Thanks, Brandy!
(PS. It’s E.P. from Stylish Handwriting. I moved blogs. And I think it’s confusing folks. Just wanted to clear up any potential confusion there.)