A New Beginning at 21

My friend Jason Simpson and I were talking in Nantucket about change. We were talking about how ofter we both said "My life would be so much better if I..." Jason decided to make a list of all the things he thought would "make his life better" and to do them. I thought it was a genius idea but I didn't need to do it, I never said that.

A couple of weeks later my best friend Kaitlin Jeffery and I were talking about change and about how ofter we said "my life would be so much better if I..." and I decided that I say that. I say it, in fact, all the time. So I'm done complaining and so is she. We're young and there is no reason young people should be saying "my life would better if..." when all you have to do is change it.

My list will be as follows and I will do my very best to adhere to it. Check out Kaitlin's list as well: http://kaitlinjeffery.blogspot.com/ . We'll both be updating on what we're doing and if it's really "making our lives better.

The goal is a social experiment. We both have 21 goals to achieve before our 21st birthdays.

Cheers!

21


1. do yoga everyday
2. read one book per month
3. laugh more often
4. say "I love" instead of "I hate"
5. make less judgements 
6. eat a healthier diet
7. lose 21lbs by my XXI
8. drink at least 6 8oz glasses of water per day
9. swim/bike/bike/hike/exercise at least 3 days per week
10. write in my journal and on my blog at least 3 days a week
11. tell myself I'm beautiful everyday
12. make my bed everyday
13. try a new substance (a food, a beverage, a fruit, etc) every other day
14. save part of every deposit I receive
15. go see 3 movies in theaters per month
16. listen more
17. focus on "cutting the potatoes"
18. say yes to more opportunities you wouldn't typically say yes to
19. kiss more people on the cheek more frequently
20. be more clear and open about my emotions
21. learn how to drive a standard (stick shift) car


* #17: A friend Angie Messina who told me there is a documentary (How to COok Your Life, directed by Doris Dorrie) where a chef teaches people to "live in the now" by teaching them to cook. How, if while you're cooking you learn to simply do one thing at the time and stop thinking 12 steps ahead, you'll live more "in the moment." Like if you are cutting potatoes, just cut the damn potatoes. Don't think about boiling the water or cutting the carrots, just cut the potatoes.


*#19: I always liked people who kissed people on the cheek.