I hate to say this, but I’ve never completely checked off a list of personal goals at all. I’ve made tons of them in the past, but I end up doing either of three things: shrug it off, forget about it, or completely deny that I ever made such a thing. Heck, I even made a bucket list once and I don’t even know where to find it!

Later on I realized that I was pushing myself so hard, trying to make such unique check lists and adventure goals because I wanted to inspire the next person as much as I was inspired when I looked through another person’s list. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong about sharing the love of pursuing life plans and seizing the day, but I thought that maybe it wouldn’t be so hard completing your own list when you shift your focus onto yourself and yourself alone.

Not too long ago, I came across a Tumblr post by a fellow artist from hitRECord, Lula. She and her friends Sarah and Tori decided to list down 25 things to do before turning 26, so you should know that the idea is nothing new (but it doesn’t make it any less amazing). At first I was like, yeah, another adventure goal list. But when I read #1 (“Celebrate my feet.”), I couldn’t help but continue reading; and the entire thing I ended up reading. “7. Kiss myself every morning”, “8. Play more Magic 8 Ball”, “19. Wash Pepper.” It was beautiful, every single one of them. So beautiful and even more meaningful with its candidness and simplicity. It was so unpretentious and unique, perfectly mirroring her personality that I would even dare say I probably know her — someone whom I’ve never met in person — so much more from simply reading her #5, “Make the healing of my foot my #1 priority”, than a friend whose #5 read, “Backpack to Europe.”

I’ve been brewing up my own 25 things for quite some time now, but decided that I would officially begin 2 months and 3 days before my birthday. That’s just, what, 6 or so weeks? But the beauty of such lists is to learn how to be sincere, not just to the people around you, but to yourself. Do you really want to live in Paris, or meet Halle Berry in person? Why not start small and fun, like re-decorating your apartment, Parisian style, or sending Halle Berry fan mail, however silly that sounds? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not preaching against aiming high and mighty, which is also very important. But maybe you should relax first and give yourself a treat, make simple, honest goals that you need to check off by a certain deadline. To me, personally, I just thought it would be a nice 26th birthday gift to myself.

Here is my list. Stay tuned: I will be documenting my progress through photos, videos, audio (see #14) and of course, written commentaries. :)

25 Things to Do Before I Turn 26:

  1. Paint a self portrait using finger paint.
  2. Write a children’s book.
  3. Watch a horror movie by myself before going to bed.
  4. Forgive the unforgivable.
  5. Dance when you’re really just supposed to walk.
  6. Make a photographic haiku each week.
  7. Find a real pen pal and send him/her snail mail every week.
  8. Create my own cocktail.
  9. Walk through sprinklers.
  10. Finish the Bhagavad Gita.
  11. Take a picture of a beautiful summer bird.
  12. Meditate every day.
  13. Look at myself in the mirror, choose a flaw, and call it beautiful. Say it out loud. Do this everyday.
  14. Sing a song and record it.
  15. Make a Julia Child omelette.
  16. Read the New Testament from start to finish.
  17. Write letters to several of my “past selves.”
  18. Write a letter to my 26-year old self before August 21.
  19. Get to know a stranger.
  20. Send fan mail to a celebrity.
  21. Hug and thank the old and wise.
  22. Visit and learn how to pray in a mosque.
  23. Send a postcard signed with a kiss.
  24. Express gratitude to a different person each week.
  25. Drink herbal tea every day.
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