This list was inspired by Chip Huyen. After coming across her list of 100 things she wants to do, I thought it would be fun to make one for myself too.
But honestly, 100 things I want to do feels like a lot for me. I do have more than 100 things I want to do, but I don’t really believe I can do that much. I don’t have to do all of them, but making such a long list when I might end up doing only a small part of it doesn’t feel like the best idea either.
In the past, I would use lists like this to motivate myself, to push me to do more and become better. But these days, I’d rather take it a little easier. I’m trying to write down what I genuinely feel, rather than what I think I should want or be able to do. I'm glad that doesn’t make me feel like a loser. It probably would have before, but now I’m more comfortable with it.
Maybe I don’t think I still have what it takes to do all of them. Maybe I just don’t see my life as having endless potential anymore. I’m not trying to sound dramatic, just saying it with honesty and acceptance. Maybe I’m trying to find some peace with being a normal person, living a normal life, and being grateful for it. Trust I'll keep trying to do the best work I can and make the most of my time here.
So I decided to make two lists instead: 50 Things I want to do and 50 Things I’ve experienced. The second list is about unplanned life-changing experiences that taught me something, changed my perspectives, and shaped who I am today. Most of them are important, but some are downright miserable things that life has thrown at me — things I really wish had never happened. Life has an ironic way of giving us experiences we never planned for. I guess that’s the thing about life: We can make all the lists we want, but we never really know what’s coming next.
So these lists aren't meant to be complete, and I’m not trying to rush through it. For the 50 things I want to do, I’d like to take my time, think things through, and let it grow naturally. I’ll probably keep adding, removing, and changing things along the way — I’m okay with not figuring it all out.
And if you’re a friend reading this, feel free to make any suggestions and tell me what you think.
50 Things I Want to Do Before My Time is Up
50 Things I've Experienced That Changed My Life