I have been a list maker and goal setter my entire life. I’ve followed a well-paved, straight and narrow path in order to reach a place of “success.” And, it worked. Sort of.
To-do lists full of getting papers done, projects finished, business cards printed, portfolios built. Goals made of attaining internship after internship, winning scholarships, climbing the ranks in professional organizations. As I’d tick each one off, I’d climb one rung higher on the ladder to achieving success and stability after graduation: a well-paying job, health benefits and a 401k.
I did all of this while I watched friends chase their dreams and desires and live more fully than I ever dreamed of. Jumping out of planes, living in another country for four months, getting tattoos, climbing mountains, traversing across South America. I’d watch their photo albums fill up with incredible experiences and memories and craved so badly to create my own, all while sitting in a small gray cubicle — the one I had worked so hard to get.
That’s why I’m making 2013 my year. The year where I stop acting like I’m dead and my chances for adventure gone. The year when I take chances, conquer fears, make messes and cherish every single moment of it. The year when I finally stop surviving and actually start living — passionately and fearlessly.
Here is my list. 213 things in 2013. Some are more grand and pretty adventurous like jumping out of a plane while others are about facing down my fears like giving blood or trying sushi (what can I say… I hate needles and fish.) Many are meant to get me out of my comfort zone while others are there for self-reflection or just good ol’ fashioned fun.
213 is a pretty lofty goal…but I’ve never been known to be scared of a challenge. Even if I don’t accomplish all of them — I know I’m going to have a damn good time trying.
Here’s to you, 2013.
Work in Progress:
2. Go ice-skating under the stars.
6. Throw a fabulous dinner party.
7. Play an ultimate game of laser tag.
11. Try a new type of cuisine I’ve been too afraid to try.
13. Go wedding dress shopping.
14. Go bridesmaid dress shopping.
15. Write a list of 20 things I like about someone and give it to them.
16. Be a guest speaker at an event.
17. Go skiing.
18. Get my hair done professionally.
20. Buy a piece of art from a local artist.
21. Go on a picnic.
22. Go to the cherry blossom festival.
23. Go skydiving.
24. Go paintballing.
25. Plan a brother/sister weekend.
26. Celebrate my half birthday.
27. Visit Texas.
28. Meet a new member of Mike’s family.
29. Eat at one of the best/most expensive restaurants in the city.
31. Play a game of chess in the park.
34. Grab drinks with old friends.
35. Play a sport.
36. Have an awesome bridal shower.
37. Go on a father-daughter date.
38. Buy something nice for someone else.
213 things to accomplish in 2013
- Attend a religious service I’ve never experienced before
- Try sushi
- Take a dance class
- Perform at an open mic night
Throw a fabulous dinner party- Commit a random act of kindness
- Run a 5k
Go skydiving- Read an entire book in one day
- Write a letter to someone I need to forgive
- Ride a bike in the city
- Take a spontaneous road trip
- Go to a concert
- Spend an entire day without technology
Take a painting class- Go to the top of the National Monument
- Get into the White House
- Get a tattoo
- Give blood for the first time
- Get married
- Sew/knit something
- Volunteer at a senior center
- Go on a hike
- Go white water rafting
Go skiing- Tour a vineyard/go to a wine tasting
- Learn how to make homemade pasta
- Get one of my blogs/writings published
- Plant something & watch it grow
- Take a photography class
- Volunteer with animal rescue group
Be a guest speaker/presenter at an event- Visit a state I’ve never been to
- Buy something nice for myself
Buy something nice for someone elseGo to a sporting event- Learn a new language (at least just the basics)
Play a sportEat at one of the best/most expensive restaurants in the cityHave a girls’ weekend- Go to an opera
- Make homemade croissants
- Go salsa dancing
- Go to a yoga class
- Learn to play a song on the piano
- Learn to play a song on the guitar
- Take Mike on a romantic date
- Host thanksgiving dinner for my family
- Stay up all night and watch the sunrise from the Lincoln Memorial
Make a 3 AM diner trip- Participate in a charity walk
- Attend an exclusive party
Try a type of cuisine I have been too afraid to tryPlan a weekend with my brother and sister- Go on a girls date with my mom and sister
- Make risotto
Make a pizza from scratchGo to the cherry blossom festivalGo to a comedy show- Make homemade candles
- Buy an antique/interesting piece of furniture
Buy a piece of art from a local artist- Make a meal using solely farmer’s market ingredients
- Have a crazy bachelorette party
- Go apple picking
- Have a snowball fight
Go ice skating under the stars- Makeover an old piece of furniture
- Go grocery shopping only using coupons
- Go on a city food tour
- Bake a cake from scratch
- Spend a day in an art museum
- Only eat breakfast for an entire day
- Write a postcard to a stranger
- Go an entire month without drinking
- Visit every Smithsonian museum
Play a game of chess in the park- Go roller skating
Write a list of 20 things I like about someone and give it to them- Host a movie marathon with the top 5 AFI movies
- Complete a jigsaw puzzle
- Learn a new vocabulary word every day for a month
- Learn to juggle
Visit Mike’s family in Texas- Eat my first authentic BBQ meal
- Make a homemade Christmas ornament
- Be a member of an audience in a TV show
- Send a message in a bottle
- Write a fan letter to my ultimate hero
- Go on a Pentagon tour
Have a French brunch- Go moonlight kayaking on the Potomac
- Visit the drum circle at Meridian Hill Park
Go to a farmers’ market- Write a letter to my three closest friends
- Fly a kite
Go on a picnic- Visit a renaissance fair
- Learn to say hello in 30 different languages
Enjoy a night of jazz- Ride a mechanical bull
- Learn to play poker
- Learn how to perform a magic trick
- Donate clothes to a women’s shelter
- Sell a piece of original artwork
- Visit the Baltimore Aquarium
- Go a week without cursing
- Participate in a flash mob
- Take a cooking class
Make a new friendGet a professional haircut- Become a vegetarian for a month
- Get a library card and check out a book
- Make a house out of cards
- Make homemade jam
- Bake a pie from scratch
- Visit an animal sanctuary
- Give up soda for a week
- Make an awesome Halloween costume
- Go Christmas caroling
- Go an entire day without knowing the time
- Spend an entire day only walking – no cars, buses, trains, etc.
- Go to a community theater show
- Make my own infused vodka
- Recreate Mike and I’s first date
Finally buy a Living Social/Groupon deal- Make a piece of homemade jewelry
- Visit Arlington National Cemetery for the changing of the guards
- Go to a rooftop party
- Tour the Capitol building
- Read a classic novel
- Finish a crossword puzzle
- Learn to change the oil in a car
- Learn how to do my own taxes
- Join a club
Win a game of trivia- Mail my biggest secret to Post Secret
- Go to a gay pride parade
- Have my caricature done
- Buy a homeless person lunch
- Pay for the person’s order behind me at Starbucks
- Learn the entire MJ Thriller dance
- Go to an awesome fireworks display on the 4th of July
- Make only homemade Christmas presents
- Make a wall gallery with my photographs
- Make tiramisu
- Get a pedicure
- Have a kindergarten craft day
- Sing a solo at karaoke
- Go an entire without looking in the mirror
- Buy a spice rack and fill it with spices
- Conquer my fear of crabs
Have a father/daughter date- Go to Ocean City, Md.
- Get my face painted
- Get my fortune told
- Invent a new martini
- Visit the dentist…FINALLY
- Enter a photo contest
Grab drinks with an old friend- Make homemade macaroons
- Have breakfast in bed
- Go to a fair
- Have a water balloon fight
- Climb a tree
- Attempt a DIY up-do
- Get a Letter to the Editor published
- Win a prize using “the claw”
- Break open a piñata – eat all the candy
- Go down a waterslide
- Learn the names of all the presidents
- Make the ultimate PB & J sandwich
- Go horseback riding
- Meet a celebrity
- Go to a beach bar
- Ride a rollercoaster I’ve been on
- Celebrate Christmas in July
Celebrate my half birthday- Play on a playground
- Make sidewalk chalk art
Reach 10,000 blog views- Take a Zumba class
- Take a bubble bath
- Have a spa day
Have an awesome bridal shower- Try a new cheese
- Go to a Native American Pow-Wow
- Build a sand castle
- Reach 1,000 followers on Twitter
- Ride in a hot air balloon
- Stay at a bed and breakfast
- Meet a famous chef
- Make a blanket fort
- Sneak into a second movie at the movie theater
Go bridesmaid dress shoppingGo wedding dress shopping- Take engagement photos
- Go through $10 at a 10 cent ski ball game
- Carve a pumpkin
- Go go-kart racing
Play an ultimate game of laser tagHave a paintball battle- Make a homemade facial mask
Meet a new member of Mike’s family- Eat a dirty water hot dog in New York
- Go dancing in the rain
- Pull off the ultimate April Fool’s prank
- Make homemade smores over a firepit
- Take an IQ test
- Participate in Chat Roulette…with my cats
- Help build a house
- Buy Christmas gifts for a child in need
- Witness a Christmas tree lighting
when the girl meets world 
Pingback: The 213 in 2013 Project | when the girl meets world
Totally feel the same way after reading the opening paragraphs! Hope you can check all of these off your list 🙂
Thanks, Em! I think it’ll be a great year and I’m excited to see if I can get them all checked off.
Good luck! 213 is heavy but I think you can get it done!
Thanks, Sarah! Yes — 213 is definitely a daunting number & I’m hoping I’ll be able to come close and maybe even accomplish them all. I’m definitely up for the challenge either way!
I love this idea!!!! Thanks for sharing
Thanks Stephanie! Glad you like it. 🙂
OMG, I thought my 25 by 25 was too much… now I feel like total lame! Good for you darling, I’ll def. be keeping up with you as you knock these goals down. Good Luck 🙂
I’m so excited to hear you’ll be reading along! And You’re not lame at all – I think I’m just crazy. 🙂 I love your blog, btw – definitely looking forward to following it along!
I just came across this and I LOVE this idea! Good luck with your 213 things to accomplish! I might have to do this myself and come up with a list — but I think I’ll be a bit less ambitious and aim for around 100 things haha 🙂
Thanks, Jamie! Love hearing that others are starting lists of their own. It looks like 2013 is going to be a great year for everyone! 🙂
you have me hooked! i want to make a list of my own now and will def be reading your other posts! good to see youre doing well (:
Thank you, Erin! I’m glad you’ll be reading! You should definitely make a list – it has given me so much to look forward to this year. Hope all is well with you!
Good luck, girl! You’ve made yourself quite the list. It’s only January and you’re on your way to having 9 crossed off. Good work!
Thanks, lady! I appreciate the words of support. Still have a while to go but having a blast in the meantime.
Hi Nikki, I just started a Meetup Group here in DC. Check it out and if you’re interested, come hang with us on Sunday : http://www.meetup.com/DC-Fearless-Beauty-Healing-Circle/ . BTW, I have a lil experience with #60 if you ever need help 😉
That group looks great! Thank you so much for sharing. I’ll definitely have to check it out. And yes, I’d love your help with #60! 🙂 Feel free to email me: nikimianni@gmail.com