What you should learn at 18 years old. Give someone a pleasant surprise
Very often we get caught up in the whirlwind of everyday activities and worries and forget what is really important. In this article, we will tell you how to create a to-do list for life that will always remind you of the main things.
Everyone dies, but not everyone truly lives.
William Ross
You may be familiar English expression Bucket List- this is a list of everything you want to do in life.
Today we'll talk about why it's so important to make to-do lists for life, and tell you what you should definitely add to your list.
Why make a lifelong to-do list?
90% of people living on planet Earth spend their days busy with current affairs, which fall upon each of us in an endless barrage. And sometimes we get the feeling that our days are passing completely uselessly: we live either at work or at home and wake up every day so that this everyday whirlwind will spin us around again.
What have you achieved in the past three months? What goals do you set for yourself for the next three months? I bet that most of the tasks will be of the everyday kind - work or household chores. But let's imagine: if we find out that we only have a couple of days left to live, these matters will still matter great importance for us?
A life to-do list, unlike our daily-weekly-monthly to-do lists, reminds us of what is truly important. He will help us make the most of every day that passes.
How to make your to-do list for life
How long will it take you to create a to-do list for your life? On average, this takes from 30 minutes to an hour if you just list your goals without being specific. If you approach the matter more responsibly and write down each of your goals in detail, you will spend several hours compiling the list. But believe me, it’s worth your time.
You may already have a similar list, in which case this article will help you supplement it.
Now grab a pen and paper or create a new document on your computer. After that, start writing down everything that comes to your mind as you read the following questions:
- What would you do today if you knew that tomorrow you would be gone?
- What would you do if you had an unlimited amount of time, money and other resources?
- What have you always wanted to do but haven't done yet?
- What places (countries, cities, etc.) would you like to visit?
- What are your main goals and cherished dreams?
- What kind of person do you want to become?
- What kind of experience do you dream of getting?
- What do you want to remember in your old age?
- What skills do you want to acquire?
- What would you like to do together with your loved ones?
- Do you have any idols whom you dream of meeting in person?
- What do you want to achieve in all areas of your life?
- What do you need to make your life meaningful?
Don't stop until your list has at least 101 items. If you feel like you are at a dead end, then try to relax: your list has no place for doubts and thoughts about possible failures. It will contain everything you dream of, everything you want to achieve, everything you want to see and feel.
101 things you need to do in life
The list below will hopefully inspire you and give you a few items you might want to add to your own list. :)
1. Travel around the world
tomertu/Shutterstock.comTraveling is what helps us get new experiences, expand our horizons, get out of our comfort zone and meet new people.
If you want to travel, then add this desire to your list, but be sure to specify which countries you want to visit. For example:
2. Learn a new language
Learn new language It's never easy, but imagine how great it will be when you can speak fluently with a foreigner! People who speak multiple languages fluently deserve respect. Why shouldn't you be one of them? :)
3. Find a job in another field
Firmorama Design Studio/Flickr.com Remember what profession you have always dreamed of. Maybe now is the time to try to find your dream job? Or maybe you have a favorite hobby that you want to make your life’s work?
Although it is not at all necessary to change your life so radically, if you are completely satisfied with your current place of work, and if you want to develop new skills or try yourself in something different, you can sign up as a volunteer or become a freelancer.
4. Reach your ideal weight
Jeanette Goodrich/Flickr.com We all want to look healthy and attractive. I don't encourage you to starve yourself in pursuit of your ideal, but each of us can eat right and exercise.
5. Run a marathon
swissnature3/Flickr.com If you set yourself such an ambitious goal, then its implementation will require some preparation and a lot of effort from you. Running a marathon is a real feat. If it seems very difficult to you now, think about the benefits you will receive: you will become more resilient and persistent, and improve not only your physical but also mental health.
6. Take part in a triathlon
jonny baker/Flickr.com Swimming, cycling and running - triathlon will allow you to test your endurance, and you will have a reason to be proud of yourself!
7. Try a new sport
Francois Peeters/Flickr.com Exercising is a great way to stay healthy and keep fit. Choose the sport that you like.
8. Scuba dive
Seeing the underwater world and all its inhabitants with your own eyes is one of those impressions that lasts a lifetime!
9. Ski down the mountain
Shawn DeGroot/Flickr.com This activity is certainly breathtaking and provides an incredible experience, but do not forget that it is not always safe for beginners. So before you start riding alone, you should undergo some training.
10. Walk the Inca Trail
This is the most famous route, one of the five best in the world. The incredible beauties that you will meet along the way are worth seeing with your own eyes.
11. Take up horse riding
bravery914/Flickr.com This is a great sport that will help you relax and unwind. In addition, you will learn to care for another living being and, most likely, will gain a true friend.
12. Skydive
Every second person in the world dreams of jumping with a parachute. :) Surely you dream of doing this too.
The reasons why people want to climb mountains can vary: some want to increase their endurance or overcome fear, while others simply enjoy it.
Of course, climbing a mountain is quite a feat that deserves to be on your bucket list.
14. Learn to play chess
TheTelephoneGirl/Flickr.com Playing chess is not just a way to have a good time. This is a game that will teach you to be more attentive, think logically and always think before you act.
15. Visit school teachers
gualtiero boffi/Shutterstock.com Of course, it is likely that you have long forgotten many school teachers. But there is probably at least one among them who taught you something important, inspired you to do something, or simply helped with life advice.
Find time to visit them, for example on Teacher's Day.
16. Allowing someone else to know how much that person means to you.
Vera F/Shutterstock.com Don't be shy about saying “I love you” to the most important person in your life.
17. Give someone a pleasant surprise
Michael Fletcher/Flickr.com When was the last time you surprised someone? Remember how nice it is? So cook a romantic dinner or send flowers to your girlfriend.
18. Do a good deed without expecting anything in return
This is the problem with most of us: if we do a favor for someone, we always expect that they will give us something in return.
Try to do a good deed at least once without expecting anything in return. There are probably orphanages or animal shelters in your city that need your help.
19. Make a difference in someone's life
Koosha Jafari/Flickr.com Surely among the people close to you there are those whose lives you can change for the better: your parents, your loved one, your children or your friends. If you can make their dream come true, help them achieve a goal, or overcome a difficult problem, then go for it.
20. Become a mentor to someone
Photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com This is a mutually beneficial exchange: by teaching something to others, we develop ourselves. No matter what field you are an expert in, you can always teach someone else what you know and can do.
21. Do what you love
Our lives are too short to do things we don't like. If your job doesn't bring you joy, you should change it.
Try to figure out what you want to do with your life. Paint? Sing? Become a trainer in a fitness center? Try to find opportunities to do what you really enjoy.
22. Start your own business
KieferPix/Shutterstock.com Of course, entrepreneurship is an area fraught with great risks and uncertainty. But if you feel like you have an entrepreneurial spirit and have always dreamed of starting your own own business, then you should definitely do this.
23. Fly in a hot air balloon
See the world from a bird's eye view, feel free and get a lot of new impressions. Feel free to bring the flight to hot-air balloon to your list. :)
24. Sing in public
Candice Linkie/Flickr.com If you love to sing, then don't keep your passion to yourself! The next time you have the opportunity (corporate party at work, family holiday, etc.), don’t be shy - sing.
25. Try yourself as a volunteer
Dave Bezaire & Susi Havens-Bezaire/Flickr.com There is so little kindness in the world, but you always have a chance to bring something bright into it.
Most of our acquaintances and friends are school and college buddies, work colleagues, people who live next door or with whom we vacationed, etc.
Few of us decide to make acquaintance with a stranger, even if we like him. Stop being shy and take action. Libraries, cafes, concerts, museums, even the queue at the supermarket - there are so many places in the world where you can find a true friend or even your soulmate, so don't miss your chance. :)
27. Buy a cup of coffee for a stranger
Next time you go to a coffee shop, buy two cups of coffee, keep one for yourself, and give the other to a stranger. At a minimum, you will find company and won’t drink coffee alone. :)
28. Walk/dance barefoot in the rain
We all know: before going outside, you need to get dressed and put on shoes, and if it rains, take an umbrella with you.
Of course, an umbrella is a good thing; it helps us not get wet and fall down with a cold. But at least once in your life, break the “umbrella and shoes rule”: run out into the rain barefoot and dance! This is an incredible feeling; you will be able to return to your carefree childhood for a while. And, of course, it’s good if you take a couple of friends or a loved one with you to the dance.
29. Run barefoot in the sand
Another small event that can take us back to childhood and give us a boost of cheerfulness and good mood.
30. Watch the sunrise and watch the sunset
Coleman Sheehy Jr/Flickr.com Sunrises and sunsets are some of nature's most beautiful gifts.
People applaud the fireworks, but not the sunrise.
Don't forget that beauty is with us every day.
31. See the Northern Lights
People come from different parts of the world to admire this beautiful spectacle. You can see the northern lights in Norway, Iceland, Scotland, Finland, Canada and more.
32. Witness a solar eclipse
Another natural wonder worth seeing.
33. See a starfall
davejdoe/Flickr.com ...and make a wish that will definitely come true. :) This is the favorite dream of all romantics, but even if you are not one, you still cannot remain indifferent to such a magnificent spectacle.
34. Plant a tree and watch it grow
Did you know that there are old-timer trees on our planet that are several thousand years old? And all these trees were once planted by people.
Plant your tree and watch it grow. On average, a tree takes 10 to 20 years to grow.
35. Get a pet
This will help you become more responsible and caring, and a devoted friend will always be waiting for you at home.
36. Publish your book
Eri Crapulence/Flickr.com If you have something to say to the world, then create your own work. Who knows, maybe one fine morning you will wake up famous.
37. Give a speech to 1,000 (or more) people
net_efekt/Flicker.com Speaking in public is one of many people's biggest fears.
But when you learn to hold yourself and get the hang of it, you will realize that performing in front of people is very exciting.
38. Throw a mega party
Moyan Brenn/Flickr.com Everyone should arrange such an event at least once in their life. Invite your friends and acquaintances, as well as friends of your friends and acquaintances of your acquaintances.
Remember that we arrange holidays for ourselves. Even if it’s far from your birthday or other significant event, you can throw a party for no reason. :)
39. Drastically change your image
keelytyler/Flickr.com We all need change from time to time. If you feel that now is such a time, then change your hairstyle, update your wardrobe, sign up for the gym. The main thing is don’t be afraid to experiment, try something new.
40. Try different types of wines
One of the noblest drinks is worth trying.
41. Sign up for an etiquette course
Amanda King/Flickr.com Nowadays it is very important to be polite and know how to behave in society. You don't have to be a celebrity or member of high society to enroll in an etiquette course.
First of all, pay attention to those courses whose program includes business etiquette.
42. Help someone find love
Julia/Flickr.com If among your friends or acquaintances there is a guy and a girl who just can’t find their soulmate, then introduce them. Who knows, maybe this is fate?
Of course, everything here depends entirely on those you meet, but you can also play your small role in this - become a catalyst that speeds up the chemical reaction.
43. Go on a blind date
Many people believe that going on blind dates is the prerogative of desperate people. But this is a prejudice. Blind dates are just a fun way to meet new people, there is nothing shameful or harmful about it.
So if a person you met, for example, through social networks, invites you on a date, then do not rush to refuse.
44. Continue your education
Svein Halvor Halvorsen/Flickr.com It doesn’t matter how long ago you graduated from school or university, it doesn’t matter how old you are now - you need to engage in your education throughout your life.
If you already have a diploma higher education, then no one is stopping you from getting a second one. And, of course, do not forget about self-education.
45. Learn to play one of the musical instruments
Lester Guijarro/Flickr.com Guitar, piano, cello, violin... There are so many beautiful musical instruments in the world, and it's never too late to start playing them.
46. Win the lottery
Heike Brauer/Shutterstock.com It is not necessary to aim for multimillion-dollar sums, because we all know that the chances of winning, although present, are small.
But no one canceled win-win lotteries. Even if you win some little thing, you will still be pleased.
47. Take up dancing
Vladimir Pustovit/Flickr.com Dancing is not only fun, but also a great way to keep yourself in good shape. Salsa, for example, helps burn about 200 calories in just 30 minutes, which is the same as going for a run.
48. Learn a martial art
Martial arts are a great way of self-defense. In addition, by training, you will learn self-discipline and perseverance, and strengthen your character.
49. Hitchhiking
A great opportunity to relax without spending money on travel.
50. Try hiking
Feel free, enjoy beautiful views, be alone with nature. Hiking is an exciting adventure that you can arrange for yourself.
51. Go on a spontaneous trip
Instead of buying an all-inclusive package with a predictable route, take out a map of the world, point (without looking, of course) at any place and go there. :)
52. Swim with dolphins
If you're looking for an experience that will last a lifetime, then swim with dolphins is a must. They say that this activity can relieve a person from depression.
53. Live in another country for at least six months
Of course, it's great to go on vacation to another country. But in a few weeks you will not be able to fully get acquainted with another country and culture, or experience it. It's another matter if you decide to live in this country.
You will be able to see it from the inside, not through the eyes of an enthusiastic tourist to whom everything is new, but through the eyes of a resident who can tell not only about local attractions.
54. Play a role in a movie
Many of us love watching movies, and many of us have wanted to try ourselves as an actor at least once in our lives.
You don't have to set your sights on Hollywood - nowadays, almost everyone has a video camera, so you can make an amateur film with friends.
55. Give an interview to the media
Roland Lausberg/Flickr.com You will be shown on TV, written about in the newspaper, or you will hear your own voice on the radio. This is nice for anyone! Let the world know about your even small achievements.
56. Knit a scarf
Knit a scarf and give it to a loved one. This will be a gift from the heart, and it is much more valuable than one bought in a store.
57. Furnish your dream apartment
We spend half of our lives in our houses and apartments, and those who work from home, even two-thirds. So why not make your apartment a beautiful and inspiring place that will bring you joy?
You don’t have to be a millionaire, because in order to make your apartment cozy and pleasing to the eye, you don’t have to spend fabulous sums on renovations.
58. Cook dinner for your loved one
Prepare your loved one's favorite dish. Believe me, gourmet dishes from the most expensive restaurants cannot compare with it.
59. Bake a cake or pie for someone's birthday
Brady Lea/Flickr.com Of course, it is much easier to go to the store and buy a ready-made cake or pie. But a delicacy prepared independently is a gift from the heart.
Even if you have never baked a cake or pie, do not despair, because there are many recipes on the Internet that will help you with this.
60. Be alone with nature
We live in concrete jungles called megacities, and we rarely get out into nature. Fix it! Go on a hike, admire a waterfall, set up camp in some wilds... Feel the nature!
61. Play in the snow
Kevin Frost/Flickr.com We all loved this very much as children, but who said that we should leave this exciting game when we become adults? Wait for the snow and take action. :)
62. Photograph the same place at different times of the year
It's fascinating: you can watch how nature falls asleep and awakens again. And who knows, maybe a great photographer is quietly dozing within you?
63. Read a book from an area unexpected to you
As a rule, we read only those books that interest us. But at least once, make an exception to this rule and read a book that is outside your circle of interests. For example, if you are a programmer, then read a book about knitting, and if you are an accountant, read a book on journalism.
According to the book “The Medici Effect,” innovative ideas come to us when we step outside our usual domain and look around us.
64. Provide support to sick or old people
Ed Yourdon/Flickr.com We are not magicians and cannot heal a sick person, but we can surround him with care and attention, look after him, just be there and support him.
In this way, you will not only help sick people - you will begin to appreciate your own life more and, perhaps, look at the world completely differently.
65. Fly a kite
This simple and enjoyable activity will allow you to have a great time with your loved ones and give you positive emotions for the whole day.
66. Sleep on the grass
Sleeping outdoors is good way relax your body and soul, become closer to nature. Before you decide to take this event, you should:
- Bring a rug and pillow with you;
- choose a safe place (no snakes or wild animals);
- Bring bug spray and sunscreen.
67. Thank a company for a quality product or service
Many of us complain when we receive poor service or a low quality product. But think about it, how often do we thank companies for a job well done?
With your “thank you,” you can please your employees and inspire them to create something even more wonderful. Write an email, call or express your gratitude in person - it only takes 5 minutes.
68. Try becoming a vegetarian for 21 days
Marji Beach/Flickr.com By the way, if you are planning to lose weight, then a vegetarian diet is considered one of the most effective. Try becoming a vegetarian for at least 21 days, make a bet with yourself. Can you handle it? :)
69. Hugging mom as often as possible
abigail morellon/Flickr.com No comments. You already know how important this is.
70. Cook your favorite dish yourself
We all have our very favorite dish. Perhaps it was prepared for you as a child or you tried it in some restaurant. At least once in your life you should cook it yourself.
71. Make 1,000 paper cranes and give them to people
Give kindness and a good mood, because doing this is so simple and important.
72. Conquer your biggest fear
Seth Oliver Photographic Art/Flickr.com The only thing we have to fear is fear itself, the reckless, faceless, unjustified terror that paralyzes the necessary efforts to turn retreat into advance.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
We all have fears and even phobias. Some are afraid of heights, some of spiders, some are terrified by the sight of blood, fear of failure, fear of rejection, stage fright.
Of course, there are fears that protect us from danger, but most fears are irrational. Good news: fears can be overcome, subjugated to yourself. Manage your fears rather than be driven by them.
73. Share your life to-do list with at least 10 people and invite them to create a similar one.
αmєrιcαnԍιrlσ77/Flickr.com This way you can find out about the goals and dreams of your loved ones, and maybe there are similar items on your lists that you can accomplish together.
Be the change you want to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi
Tell the world what you want to do. Today, in the age of boom social networks, this is quite easy to do, plus you can quickly find like-minded people.
77. Admire the cherry blossoms in Japan
phtg_knsei/Flickr.com In Japan, there is such a tradition of admiring flowers (in Japanese “hanami”). Watching cherry blossoms is an incredibly beautiful sight that simply cannot be described in words, so it’s worth watching it yourself.
78. Forgive people who once hurt you
To forgive means to free the “prisoner” and discover that the “prisoner” was you.
Do not carry resentment in your heart, forgive those people who once hurt you. Ultimately, by harboring resentment, anger and a desire for revenge, you only torture yourself.
79. Let go of everything that makes you unhappy
Children's grievances. Past relationships that we still cannot forget. Insults thrown at us in the heat of a quarrel.
Each of us has a past, and no one can change it. But we can control our thoughts and not remember the negative again and again.
If you've seen a bad movie, you're unlikely to ever watch it again. So why do you keep remembering what makes you unhappy?
80. Organize a picnic for yourself and friends
Instead of spending the weekend again in some shopping center, eating fast food and watching another stupid comedy, it is better to go on a picnic with friends, breathe fresh air, enjoy nature and tasty and healthy food.
81. Do something fun and stupid
Serghei Starus/Flickr.com I understand what your problem is: you are too serious. An intelligent face is not a sign of intelligence, gentlemen. All stupid things on earth are done with this facial expression. Smile, gentlemen. Smile!
From the film “That Same Munchausen”
Our everyday life can be quite boring and monotonous. You wake up at the same time, wash your face, drink coffee, drive to work along a long-studied route...
Liven up your day! Start a conversation with a stranger, surprise your colleagues and smile, smile, smile!
82. Fly first class (at least once)
Yes, it's expensive. Sometimes it's even damn expensive. But sometimes it's worth pampering yourself.
83. Win at darts
And to win, you have to train well. Of course, it won't change your life, but you will relax and have a good time.
84. See an erupting volcano
There are about 6,000 volcanoes in the world. Three quarters of volcanoes are underwater, 1,500 are on land. About 50 of them erupt every year.
Only the brave can decide on such an adventure, but they should not forget about safety precautions.
85. Fly a helicopter
Soar above the ground, enjoying magnificent views, is a tempting prospect, isn’t it? And if you are a romantic, you can fly with your significant other - you will both remember this day for a long time.
86. Meet someone you've always dreamed of meeting
Kodzaeva/Flickr.com The author of your favorite book, the artist you admire... We often think that we will never be able to meet them in person, but so do they ordinary people who walk the streets, go to events and even sometimes (well, this is a big secret) ride the subway.
87. Tell your family members that you love them as often as possible.
Family is your closest people. Very often we do not take time to express our love to them and this should be corrected as soon as possible.
88. Ride a roller coaster
Many people believe that life is like a roller coaster: it also has its ups and downs. Trying this “life in life” and experiencing completely new sensations is something that every person should try.
89. Go on a cruise
And you won’t be bored at all on board, because so many surprises, entertainment and new acquaintances await you there.
90. Try to work as a waiter
This is an invaluable experience that will help you in the future in any professional activity. You will learn to be polite, patient and to endure human stupidity.
91. Fall in love
Giulio Bernardi/Flickr.com No comments. :)
92. Build a strong relationship based on love and respect, and have a child.
babak_meisam/Flickr.com Falling in love is only half the battle; it is much more difficult to build a strong relationship in which both people are comrades-in-arms and support each other in everything. But if you still manage to do this, then you can be called a happy person.
And, of course, you should leave someone behind.
93. Organize your significant other a romantic vacation
A romantic date is too simple and anyone can do it. But to organize a whole romantic vacation...
You may have already had a honeymoon, but why not do it again?
94. Learn to do somersaults
...and be proud of yourself!
95. Visit an ancient castle
Miami Love 1/Flickr.com There are so many countries in the world that have amazing ancient castles. You should see at least one of them with your own eyes.
96. Change the world
Kelsey Elisa/Flickr.com The beach will be clean if every person picks up trash after themselves. It's not heroes who change the world. Remember that every person can make their own, albeit small, contribution that will make the world a little better.
97. Help someone in need
There is always someone who is much worse off than you. And you can always help him.
98. Learn sign language
Very useful if you want to understand people better.
99. See the Mona Lisa (Louvre, Paris)
Ilia Goranov/Flickr.com And take a photo in front of her, of course.
100. Attend a costume party
A great way to transform into the hero or heroine of your favorite fairy tale from childhood, for example. Feeling like a witch or a princess, a robber or a knight - it must be very funny, right?
101. Live every day
Balazs Kovacs Images/Shutterstock.com And rejoice, despite everything this crazy world can throw at us. :)
What will you definitely add to your list of things to do in life? Share in the comments.
We all love to make plans. But at best, we manage to implement only a third of them, writes Woman.delfi.ua. But what must be done without fail so that one day we can honestly say that life is a success?
1. Write your life story
2. Build a snow cave
3. Swim with dolphins
4. Scuba dive
5. Order your portrait from an artist
6. Learn a foreign language and make sure that you can communicate with us in it
7. Spend the whole day eating junk food without feeling guilty.
8. Make love on the ground in the forest
9. Arrive at the airport and fly off on a trip on the first available flight.
10. Give your mom 21 roses and tell her how much you love her.
11. Write a letter and send it in a bottle to the sea
12. Plant a tree, wait for it to grow, and attach an expensive sign with your name to it.
13. Learn not to say "yes" when you really mean "no"
14. Learn to dance basic ballroom dances WELL
15. Be the boss
16. Fall in love without memory
17. Be a member of the jury
18. Dance all night and go to work the next day without asking to go home.
19. Stand under a waterfall
20. Ask for a raise or salary increase
21. Learn to play a musical instrument
22. Learn to skate
23. Spend the night alone by the fire
24. Write your personal plan for the year, follow it and review it from time to time
25. Watch a lunar eclipse
26. Meet New Year in an exotic place
27. Skydive
28. Sing a beautiful song in front of a large audience
29. Ask someone you just met on a date
30. Have sex in an elevator
31. Buy for yourself one expensive but simply gorgeous suit/dress
32. Fall asleep under the stars
33. Ride from the top of the highest mountain in your country
34. Spend the whole day reading an exciting book
35. Forgive your parents
36. Learn to juggle three balls
37 Find a job you will love
38 Spend Christmas on the beach sipping Pina Colada
39 Overcome the fear of failure
40 Donate your money and put your name on something: a college scholarship, a park bench
41 Maintain optimal fitness for at least 3 months
42 Forgive and accept yourself
43 Make a speech into a microphone in front of an audience
44 Donate anonymously
45 Lose more than you can afford at casino roulette once
46 Smoke a hookah
47 Create your own website or blog
48 Spend half a day at a concentration camp memorial and swear to never forget
49 Make your own family tree
50 Spend a weekend at the spa
51 Run a marathon
52 Turn off your cell phone for a week
53 Meditate 3 hours
54 Knit and give your loved one a long beautiful scarf
55 Ride a horse along the coast
56 Prepare something from products grown with your own hands
57 Give your breakfast to the homeless
58 Take part in a Flash Mob
50 Build a giant sand castle
51 Spend your entire ordinary day in the most beautiful dress you have
52 Make a child laugh
53 Send someone a bouquet of flowers for no reason
54 Watch the sunrise at the top of the mountain
55 Keep a diary for a whole year
56 Donate your blood
57 Draw something and hang it in a frame on the wall in your home
58 Having a baby at 40
59 Learn to use a computer well
60 Learn to read Tarot
61 Spend the whole day lying in bed, being completely healthy
62 Go to an unfamiliar city for the whole day and wander the streets there, taking photos
63 Make your own film
64 Build a house and do what you want in it
65 Get an autograph from a star
66 Attend a football match in a giant stadium
67 Go hunting
68 Ride a bicycle for at least 100 kilometers
69 Make something with your own hands and sell it
70 Open your own business, even the smallest one
71 Ride a camel or elephant
72 Visit all 7 continents
73 Visit a carnival in Brazil
74 Climb the slope of some great mountain
75 Spend a day in the forest, eating what you gather
76 Learn to cook some rare national dish
77 Visit the Vienna Opera
78 Visit all European capitals
79 Collect an album of photographs of the most beautiful places you have visited
80 Visit the source of one of the major rivers
81 Learn to dance tango in Argentina
82 Swim with clothes on
83 Swim naked at night
84 Take part in a tasting in a wine cellar
85 Completely change your image
86 Express everything you think to your boss or someone you are afraid of
87 Visit a nudist beach (of course, among its visitors)
88 Try an exotic dish that makes you afraid
89 Get on the cover of a magazine
90 Win a competition (any)
91 Walk to the nearest town
92 Run through puddles in a thunderstorm
93 Fall in love in old age (even better if it’s your husband/wife)
94 Not going to work, simply because you don’t want to.
95 Sit in a strawberry patch and don’t get up until you’ve eaten too many strawberries
96 Exchange souvenirs with the leader of one of the wild tribes
97 Get a tattoo
98 Write a book
99 Write a list of 100 of your achievements, victories and skills
100. Write a list of 100 reasons for which you are grateful in life.
1. Live at least a month in a foreign city.
2. Hate pizza, Coca-Cola and other teenage food. Finally loving soup.
3. Buy yourself a designer dress.
4. Learn to walk in heels so as not to fall even in icy conditions.
5. Visit a very expensive restaurant.
6. Complete all favorite levels computer games and stop playing them.
7. Be the first to confess your love to a boy.
8. Go on one blind date.
9. Work at some stupid job: promotional gerl, cosmetics distributor, telephone operator.
10. Leave home with a scandal.
11. Live alone.
12. Live with your boyfriend.
13. Make peace with your parents and go to them for dinner on Saturdays.
14. Fly abroad for the weekend. Spend a lot of money thoughtlessly.
15. Try to follow some funny advice from a glossy magazine like “how to achieve orgasm in a minute.”
16. Stop listening to advice.
17. Find yourself an idol, become the right fan, attend all the concerts and collect posters. Wait until he gets married and finally start listening to good music.
18. Enter good university, as your parents always dreamed of. Finish with honors or quit in your second year and get married successfully.
19. Feel the difference between ground and instant coffee.
20. Feel the difference between brewed tea and tea from a bag.
21. Forget forever what a bisector is and what the tangent to the cotangent is equal to.
22. Rent an apartment and renovate it.
23. Get rid of acne. Get some hand cream and pontovo powder.
24. Learn to match shoes to your bag
25. Get a tattoo or pierce whatever you want (then it will be too late).
26. Dye your beautiful long locks. Repaint. No, chemistry is better. Cut off all this horror. Grow it again and start again.
27. Conduct all possible experiments with style: punk, disco, sexy, glamor.
28. At least once, be seriously embarrassed: lose your swimsuit bra in the pool, forget the words of a report while speaking to your superiors, be caught having sex in a club toilet stall. Survive shame with humor.
29. Find a friend who wishes you well.
30. Drive you crazy (can be done more than once).
31. Go crazy (you can also do this more than once).
32. Learn to make money.
33. Or find someone who knows how to do it.
34. Have several one-night stands.
35. Learn to drive a car.
36. Learn to drive a car without being a threat to others.
37. Learn to masterfully cook some kind of culinary miracle.
38. Spend at least a year in party-non-stop mode. Rock around the clock.
39. Travel by staying in hostels. After 25 you will not be allowed there.
40. Try some extreme entertainment like skydiving or bungee jumping.
41. Receive an obscenely expensive gift.
42. Make a 100-item list of your favorite directors.
43. Learn a foreign language.
44. Read the entire BVL series, or just read a lot.
45. Quit with a scandal.
46. Ride in a limousine.
47. Try several fashionable diets on yourself and draw the right conclusions.
48. Dance a striptease at least once.
49. Wake up in an unfamiliar apartment.
50. Take “free driving” or “right-brain drawing” courses or other outlandish courses
Have you done everything?..
“When you go to college, go to work, you become an adult...” - this saying haunts us throughout our childhood and adolescence. Does passing the Unified State Exam, entering a university, or getting a job equal adulthood? Not everyone has it. What should you teach a child so that at the age of 18 he will truly be an adult? And what should I immediately stop doing for him and for him?
Recently, at the beginning of the fall quarter, the following event occurred at Stanford. One freshman, who had been living on campus for several days, received things from home by express mail. The boxes were unloaded onto the sidewalk next to the dorm. The young man left them there: they were large and heavy - he couldn’t handle it alone - and he didn’t know how to lift them to his room. The student then explained to the university employee who lived in the dorm and, after calling the student’s mother, who arranged for help, that he didn’t know how to ask someone to help with the boxes.
This is a failure of education. A child does not magically acquire life skills with the last stroke of the clock on his eighteenth birthday. Childhood should be a training ground. Parents can help - but not by always being ready to do everything or providing advice over the phone, but by getting out of the way and allowing the child to figure it out on his own.
Look at two situations that an adult should be able to handle - a life skill in itself: 1) illness outside the home and 2) car breakdown. Are we preparing for them? No, we don't cook.
Susan is an emergency room doctor at a hospital in downtown Washington. Nineteen-year-old students are her “most unpleasant patients.” Susan is kind and loving woman, mother of two natural and three adopted children - all under eighteen. So I was a little surprised by her sarcastic tone.
“The students are generally healthy, and their parents take care of them at home. They come to our department with an infection of the upper respiratory tract- you might think this is the end of the world. They get very nervous if you don’t give them an antibiotic and refuse to hospitalize them, but it’s just a cold - just drink more fluids and lie in bed for a couple of days.”
Susan tells how students burst into tears on the cold linoleum of the intensive care unit and cry on their mobile phones about this great grief - probably to friends and family. “They don’t know how to fight at all,” she says.
If you've ever planned a trip by car, you know that breakdowns are common. Todd Berger - CEO AAA Mountain West, a chapter of the American Automobile Association that covers Alaska, Montana and Wyoming. Seeing how needy millennial drivers are for support drives him crazy.
“Kids today are completely unprepared,” Todd says. He himself was born in Montana, owns a ranch and raises his own teenagers. When he talks about the life skills that are so lacking in most of the young people he now interacts with at work, there is both sternness and weariness in his tone.
The American Automobile Association's mission is emergency roadside service, not full service. They will change the tire, charge the battery, tow you somewhere, but will not deal with a comprehensive solution to problems with the car. However, young drivers demand full service on site.
“They have this mentality: “I don’t know anything, fix it quickly, my parents paid for it.” We also often notice that they don’t trust us. The team arrives, and they take out their phone and ask their friends on Facebook to help with the car. We don’t We know what to do with them. We really don’t.”
I've spoken to parents all over the country and many admit there are skills issues. They tell amazing stories.
“The children are in the last grade and don’t know how to ride the subway”;
“If I take my teenager into town and say, ‘Find your way home,’ he’ll get confused.”
“My daughter didn’t learn to cook because she had to do homework every night”;
"My biggest fear is that my daughter will go to college in a year and a half. I don't know how she'll get up in the morning." The mother in the last example added that she asked her daughter to cook her own breakfast. When she asked why, the parent replied: “I need to know that you can do this.”
That's the whole point. We need to know what they can do.
But how to achieve this?
You can't give another person life skills. Everyone must acquire them independently, with their own labor. If we don't prepare our children—and ourselves—for the inevitable moment when they have to fend for themselves, we're all in for a rude awakening.
Do we want our children—technically adults, but often still children—once they go to college or start working, standing bewildered on a sunlit sidewalk, not knowing how to carry a package into their room? Is the only way out is to call mom and dad so they can solve the problem?
What does it mean to be an adult
There are all sorts of legal definitions of "adulthood": it is the age at which a person can start a family without parental consent (16 in most American states), fight and die for one's country (18), and drink alcohol (21). But what does it mean developmentally to think and behave like adults?
For decades, the standard sociological definition fully reflected the social norm: graduate from school, leave parents' house, become financially independent, start a family and have children. In 1960, 77% of women and 65% of men achieved all five points by age 30. In 2000, only half of thirty-year-old women and a third of their male peers met this criterion.
These traditional milestones are clearly outdated. Marriage is no longer a prerequisite for a woman’s financial security, and children are no longer an inevitable result of sexual activity. If you measure "adulthood" by milestones that young people no longer strive for, you won't get very far. A more modern definition is needed, and this can be found by interviewing young people themselves.
In a 2007 study published in the Journal of Family Psychology, researchers asked people between the ages of 18 and 25 which criteria of adulthood seemed most indicative of them. In descending order of importance the following were named:
- responsibility for the consequences of one's actions;
- communication with parents as equals;
- financial independence from parents;
- formation of values and beliefs independent of parents and other influences.
Based on observations of almost 20 thousand young people from 18 to 22 years old while working as a dean, I agree with these data and believe that this is a problem.
What to learn before entering university: 8 basic life skills
If we want our children to have a chance to survive in the adult world without an umbilical cord... mobile phone, they will need a set of basic life skills. Based on my own observations as a dean, as well as advice from parents and educators across the country, here are a few practical skills a child should master before entering college. Here I will show the “crutches” that are currently preventing them from getting back on their feet on their own.
1. An eighteen-year-old must be able to talk to strangers.- teachers, deans, consultants, landlords, salespeople, HR managers, colleagues, bank employees, health workers, bus drivers, auto mechanics.
Crutch: we tell children not to talk to strangers, rather than helping them learn the more subtle skill of distinguishing the few bad strangers from the many good ones. As a result, children do not know how to approach to a stranger- politely, making eye contact, - to ask for help, hints, advice. And this would be very useful to them in the big world.
2. An eighteen-year-old must be able to navigate the campus, the town where the summer internship is taking place, or where he works or studies abroad.
Crutch: We carry and accompany children everywhere, even if they can get there by bus, bike or on foot. Because of this, they do not know the way from one place to another, do not know how to plan a route and cope with traffic chaos, and do not know how to make plans and follow them.
3. An eighteen-year-old must be able to manage his or her tasks, work, and deadlines.
Crutch: we remind children when to turn in work and when to take it on, and sometimes we help or simply do everything for them. Because of this, children don't know how to prioritize, manage workloads, and meet deadlines without regular reminders.
4. An eighteen-year-old must be able to do housework.
Crutch: we do not very insistently ask for help around the house, because in childhood, which is planned to the smallest detail, there is little time left for anything other than studying and extracurricular activities. Because of this, children do not know how to run a household, look after their own needs, respect the needs of others and contribute to the general well-being.
5. An eighteen-year-old must be able to cope with interpersonal problems.
Crutch: we intervene to resolve misunderstandings and soothe hurt feelings. Because of this, children do not know how to cope with situations and resolve conflicts without our intervention.
6. An eighteen-year-old must be able to cope with changes in academic and workload at a university, with competition, strict teachers, bosses, and so on.
Crutch: in difficult times, we step into the game - we complete tasks, extend deadlines, talk to people. Because of this, children do not understand that in life, not everything usually goes the way they want, and that even in spite of this, everything will be fine.
7. An eighteen-year-old must be able to earn money and spend it wisely.
Crutch: children stopped working part-time. They receive money from us for everything they want and do not need anything. They do not develop a sense of responsibility for completing tasks at work, they do not have a sense of accountability to a boss who is not obliged to love them, they do not know the value of things and do not know how to manage their finances.
8. An eighteen-year-old must be able to take risks.
Crutch: we pave the way for them, level out the holes and prevent them from stumbling. Because of this, children do not understand that success comes only to those who try, fail, and try again (i.e., persevere), and to those who endure adversity (i.e., perseverance), which is a skill that comes from struggling. with failures.
Remember: children must be able to do all this without calling their parents. If they call and ask, they won’t have a life skill.
Many of us only understand over the years how important it is to learn in time to accept our imperfections and love loved ones, choose what makes us happy, fight for what seems important, and enjoy life - simply because it is one and repeat it “cleanly.” " will not work. No more waiting for the “right time”, let's take action! Read our list of things to do and add your own ideas to it.
1. Make your dream come true.
Do you dream of learning to play the violin or pilot airplanes, but you constantly try to convince yourself not to waste precious time on “nonsense”? With age, desires do not disappear anywhere, but time will just be lost. Let dreams come true! 20 ways to make your dreams come true.
2. Travel.
At the age of 70, you are unlikely to travel as a savage to Vietnam or by car across Europe; such trips are for young people. This means you don’t have to put it off for long: a standard tour to Prague can wait.
3. Learn to take care of yourself.
The sooner you start taking care of yourself, the longer your youth will last. And the point here is not at all about wrinkles, but about the general condition of the body, which will be grateful to you for regular and timely care. Look for “your” creams, “your” sports and “your” diet. 10 most popular diets: pros and cons.
4. Accept yourself.
Wise people say that happiness is character and nothing more. Of course, you, like everyone else, have shortcomings, but nature also did not deprive you of advantages. Accept yourself completely: love both your nose and your tendency to spend unwisely. Endless self-reflection simply robs your life of joy, freedom and harmony.
5. Participate in a charity event.
Participation in social projects greatly broadens our horizons and makes our lives full. The younger you are, the more benefits you will have time to bring! Another " by-effect": in the future you will feel needed, and this is necessary for all older people, without exception. 5 amazingly simple ways to extend your life.
6. Stop looking at the opinions of others.
The question “What will people think of me?” froze many wonderful undertakings and crippled more than one fate. What difference does it make what grandmothers at the entrance, store clerks or neighbors think about you? The opinions of strangers should not influence your life, otherwise mature age you yourself will turn into a grumpy and always dissatisfied old woman with everything.
7. Learn a foreign language.
This, of course, is not the most interesting item on our list, but one of the most useful. The older you get, the worse your memory and the more difficult it will be for you to foreign languages, and in our time, you know, we can’t do without them.
8. Pass your license.
Of course, you can learn to drive a car even in retirement, but the younger you are, the sharper your reactions and the higher your learning ability. Even if you don’t have a car yet, your license will definitely not be superfluous: in the end, when traveling abroad, you can always rent a car and drive throughout the country!
9. Deal with fears.
Everyone has fears, and this is normal - this is how the instinct of self-preservation works. But not all fears are equally useful, and some are simply harmful! If you're usually afraid to take on new things and constantly worry that you'll be the “worse,” then it's time to get some courage. Yes, sometimes this requires serious work on yourself and, perhaps, even the help of a psychologist, but you will have time to become a truly brave and decisive person before fears have time to ruin your life.
10. Sign up for dancing.
It doesn’t really matter what kind of dance - waltz, flamenco, belly dance or tango - all these activities help a woman move with special grace, “keep her back” and enjoy success with men until old age. Even if you don’t have a good sense of rhythm, it’s worth a try: dancing develops all muscle groups, forms excellent posture and, what is also important, teaches us to look men in the eyes proudly and confidently!
Love your parents and arrange a photo shoot
11. Love your parents.
Offended by your parents? It’s pointless to get angry and sort things out: you won’t have other relatives anyway, which means you need to accept and love these. By the way, this will improve your relationship with your own children.
12. Schedule a photo shoot.
It will be nice to tell your grandchildren how good you were in your youth, but it is better to stock up on documentary evidence. Let them know how beautiful their grandmother was! Although why “was” - she is still a beauty.
13. Have a party with your friends.
There is nothing more fun and sparkling than a bachelorette party. But the older you get, the more difficult it is for each of you to find time for such events. Years will pass, and you will really miss these fun and carefree meetings. You can and should try to preserve the tradition of regularly spending time with a female group until old age, but you should start now: go to a cafe, rent a limousine, go together to a holiday home for a couple of days or arrange a spa weekend.
14. Learn to forgive yourself.
Yes, sometimes you make mistakes. Everyone makes them, but our own mistakes seem like a disaster to us. But most often nothing irreparable happens! Forgive yourself for everything at once, here and now, tomorrow and in three years. Constant feelings of guilt are not constructive; they lead to a depressive swamp. The older you are, the more claims are made against you the world: If you don't learn "self-forgiveness" when you're young, you'll never do it.
15. Accept your age.
The “age of happiness” is not necessarily a carefree youth; it can be any period of our life. And the sooner you realize this, the happier and freer your life will be.
16. Make the renovation of your dreams.
Yes, it’s possible that you don’t have enough money yet to realize all your design ideas. But don’t wait - act: save money, but break down and build new walls, draw fancy sketches and bring them to life. In adulthood, you are unlikely to decide on such an adventure.
17. Value your"assets".
Usually we remember better (and are sad) about what we don’t have, what we haven’t achieved. Let's do it the other way around: are you happy married? Do you have two daughters and a dog? Are you good at knitting? Have you visited ten countries? That's fine!
18. Save money.
The sooner you learn to plan your budget correctly, the higher the chances that you will have a bright and rich life and you will not be financially dependent on anyone. 9 main women's financial mistakes.
19. Collect memories.
Carefully collect the archive of your own life. Don’t be lazy, put your photos in albums and sign them - after all, this is a visual embodiment of the past. Then, together with your husband, you will happily leaf through them, and it will immediately become clear: everything that happened to you was not in vain. Isn’t this a condition for a happy and harmonious old age?
20. Decide to experiment with your appearance.
If you dream of dyeing your hair blonde or just cutting it off long hair, try unusual makeup or try on multi-colored lenses - now is the time. The main thing is that the consequences of your experiments are well thought out and reversible. 6 bad hairstyles that age you. 10 more important things
21. Plant a garden.
Do you dream of your own greenhouse or flowering summer cottage, but you can’t afford it yet? Plant roses on your balcony! Don’t wait for the right conditions, plant: flowers, strawberries and basil grow well anywhere.
22. Learn to talk about your desires.
Based on your timid hints, your husband will never guess that in fact you are dreaming not of a new sofa, but of a trip to Paris, and that you are really tired in the evening and are not being capricious. Do not count on the sensitivity and empathy of others and do not think that modesty and undemanding are your main adornments; clearly and clearly voice your desires and requests.
23. Find “your masters.”
Every woman needs her own hairdresser, cosmetologist, gynecologist and dentist - specialists whom you trust unconditionally. The sooner they appear, the easier it will be to solve problems that arise with age: after all, regular “supervision” by a specialist will most likely help prevent various troubles.
24. Build an inner circle.
Family is the most important part of our lives, but life without friends would be much more boring. As you age, making friends becomes more and more difficult, so take care of your old friends. Pay attention to them, value communication and be there in difficult times - if necessary, you will have someone to lean on.
25. Find something you like.
Unfortunately, a job is not always something you love, and if you can’t change it yet, try to understand what you really want to do. Maybe you dream of interior design, like to sew or make bouquets? Devote maximum time to your hobby: take courses, read books on the topic. Firstly, there is a great chance that someday your favorite thing will become a profession, and secondly, you will definitely have something to do in retirement.
26. Learn to say “no.”
If you want to manage your life on your own, you need to learn to say no to people. You are absolutely under no obligation to do something that is inconvenient, unprofitable, unsuitable for you, or simply doesn’t want to do. Saying “no” is difficult only the first few times, but then life becomes much simpler and easier, and you feel pride and confidence: after all, you yourself are the mistress of your destiny.
27. Explore your own sexuality.
There are things that can only be done when you are young. Perhaps you have fantasies that you are embarrassed to realize? Put aside the embarrassment! If you don't decide now, it will never happen. Take action! 12 questions about sex every couple should discuss.
28. Learn to forgive.
Accumulated grievances cause early wrinkles and lead to neuroses. But everyone makes mistakes, which means that in order to build a harmonious relationship with the world, you have to learn to forgive.
29. Spend a lot of money on the dress of your dreams.
The dilemma - whether or not to buy a desired but expensive dress (coat, boots, bag) - is relevant for any woman. But not everyone decides to spend so recklessly. And in vain! While you can afford a bit of carelessness, you should use it: it is unknown whether such an opportunity will arise again. In addition, shopping should definitely bring joy.
30. Spend time with the whole family.
Family dinners with grandmas and aunties aren't the most fun thing in the world. But when we realize that strong family ties are our rear, life becomes simpler. Bored at a family party? Take charge of organizing it and arrange everything so that everyone has fun and feels comfortable with each other. By the way, in 40-50 years, your nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will also come to visit you. How to learn to communicate with difficult relatives during the holidays.