What next? 10 goals in 10 years

It’s all about kicking goals…

The original title for this post was 5 Things To Do Before I Die, but I decided against it. This post is about living and embracing life after all, not dying. Well, not yet anyway. So I came up with a new title, which is much more in keeping with the spirit of my intentions. So without further ado, here are 10 things I’d like to either do or achieve in the next 10 years. From where I sit, none of these things can not not be done. All that’s needed is a little chutzpah and a bit of luck.

1. Fall truly, madly, deeply in love. Again.

We all know that The Italian broke my heart. I would hate that to be the last experience I ever have of love. I need to fall in love with a gorgeous man to void the last tragedy of a relationship. Preferably one with an Irish or Scottish accent. And I really like the name Stan.

2. Be married.

I have never married, and I would like to be. Yes, I’ve lived with men over the years, but it’s not the same. Being married (for me, anyway) is symbolic more than anything else. It symbolises committment, partnership, intimacy and ultimate acceptance. It would be wonderful to experience that.

3. Have a photographic exhibition

I have only recently discovered photography, but it’s something that I enjoy and I think I’m good at. How awesome would it be to have my work curated and exhibited in a “best of”? That’s a rhetorical question, by the way. Of course it would.

4. Be published

I have written for as long as I can remember: articles and longer non-fiction, short stories and screenplays, and now blogging. To be honest, I have been half-hearted about doing anything about it because it seemed too hard. The rise of eBooks means that I can self-publish with relative ease AND get paid for what I write. I just need to get writing and finish those projects.

5. Make a living from being creative

Aligned to exhibiting and publishing is the ability to make a living from it, and by that I mean ditch the job. Work (as in having a 9 to 5 job) and I have always had a rocky relationship. Using my own creativity to fund my lifestyle would be fulfilling and gratifying. I would also be flipping the bird at The Man.

6. Be sought after as a speaker

There is nothing more I like than talking, other than talking to a captive audience who wants to hear what I have to say. I have no idea why I would be asked to speak or what I would be asked to speak about, but I have faith that all will be revealed in good time.

Update: After watching The Graham Norton Show last night, I really should be a guest. And TED. Can I please speak at TED?

7. Live and work overseas

Like photography, travelling is only a recent addition to my life. The first country I visited was Vietnam, and I had the overwhelming feeling that I could live there. I’m sure as I travel more of the world, I will see more places that I would like to live and work. Vietnam is just the tip of the iceberg. I could write and take photos, among other things.

8. Run a marathon

In the last year, running is something I do regularly. On my last run (with my running group) I clocked 7 km. By the end of the course, I’m guessing I’ll be running close to 10 km. Given that I have gone from zero mileage to a good standard of fitness in a year, running a marathon is not inconceivable. Would wonderful to run such a beast in another country.

9. Win a karaoke competition

I love karaoke, and while I wouldn’t say that I’m an awesome singer, I can hold a tune. My genre is rock ballads, or just ballads in general (as long as they are in the key of A). There is nothing like belting out Bon Jovi’s “Wanted: Dead or Alive” or Sam Brown’s “Stop” to really make you feel alive. It would be amazing to win a karaoke competition with something from the Foo Fighters, perhaps “Best of You”…

10. Meet Dave Grohl

After seeing the Foo Fighters live on Monday, I am in awe of Dave Grohl. Not only would I like to meet him, but I’d also like sit down and have a decent conversation with him. Really get to know him. Maybe he’d even consider me talented enough to write his biography? And I’m sure he’d jump at the chance to sing a karaoke duet with me…. !

It will be interesting to come back to this post in 10 years and see how many of these things I actually achieved…

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