Showing posts with label 101 Things. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 101 Things. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

101 Things in 1001 Days ~ Closure

When I created this list of 101 Things in 1001 Days back in 2006, December 1, 2008 seemed so far away! It's interesting to see what I did, what I didn't do and what I forgot about entirely! So, how am I going to get closure on this list?
  • Celebrate the things that I've accomplished, including things which morphed and were accomplished in a new form
  • Decide which things I would like to carry over into a new 101 list or at least onto my To Do list
  • For those items that are undone and that I no longer want to do, I will donate $1/item to Inner City Angels, a Toronto organization that brings the arts into inner city schools.

Jamie's Completed List of 101 Things in 1001 Days
Start date: March 5, 2006
End date: December 1, 2008

The Things I've Accomplished, including things that morphed (62 items)

  • Paid off my student loan (completed October 24, 2006)
  • Got my Nia Blue Belt (completed November 9, 2006)
  • Find/create a special place for my journals and photo albums. (They ended up on a shelf after many other things were rearranged. I'm happy with where they are.)
  • Go to fFida (completed August 18, 2006)
  • Get vent in kitchen taken care of (completed December 14, 2006)
  • Create cards. I have made cards made with prints of my collages. (completed Fall 2008)
  • Deposit change (Done. Can you believe we had $500? That's now in our travel fund)
  • Find a mentor (Though really she found me. Completed March 28, 2007)
  • Go on a nature walk. (Completed fall 2007)
  • Finish 2 kitchen windows (Completed June 2, 2006)
  • Get a pair of rubber boots and go for a walk in the rain (completed July 21, 2008)
  • Have a meaningful conversation with my Dad (completed August 9, 2006)
  • Invite people over for a meal 6 times, starting with Mom (6/6 complete. Mom over for dinner April 16, 2006, Beth, Mom and Shannon over for Easter April 8, 2007, Mom & Shannon for Christmas dinner, my Father-in-Law Jan 8, 2008, Mom & Shannon Jan 26, 2008)
  • Leave my day job (completed August 15, 2006) Actually, I did this twice: first by going from full-time to contract and then by leaving completely to work full time at my business.
  • Get my charts done (completed January 8, 2007) (My astrologer was great. You can find her here)
  • Create and fill an art journal (completed July 23, 2006)
  • Take 100 Nia classes (I stopped keeping track but am confident between my studies, my subbing and my teaching it is reasonable to consider this complete)
  • Have my taxes up to date (completed August 31, 2006)
  • Take my vitamins every day for a month (completed April 20, 2006)
  • FOH lighting working (completed December 11, 2006)
  • Go to 10 new restaurants (complete: Cafe Luxembourg, La Brouette, Simon's Wok, Urban Thai Bistro, The Rectory, Jawny Bakers, Grenadier Cafe and Teahouse, 7Numbers, The Artful Dodger, Armadillo Texas Grill)
  • Get my CPR certification (completed March 17, 2006)
  • Create and keep a spell/prayer/magic book (completed July 23, 2006)
  • Get new glasses (completed June 29, 2006)
  • Get front of house painted (completed Summer 2008)
  • Plant a tree (completed April 4, 2006 - counting the Mock Orange as a tree. Since then we've also planted a lilac. Since these are the right size for our little garden, they count)
  • Go vegetarian for a week (completed January 1-8, 2007. Easy-peasy)
  • Get Aveda conditioner (completed April 20, 2006)
  • Have an article published (I'm surprised how much writing I've done over the past while but officially consider this down with my regular Creative Compass articles at Wishstudio Blogzine. Thanks, Mindy)
  • Have the driveway done. (completed Summer 2008 and thrilled)
  • Run a special event (completed November 2008. I'm going to count leading Soul Coaching as this event)
  • Go into a store that intimidates me (completed November 1, 2006)
  • Run a collage workshop (completed Jan 13, 2008 and a few times since)
  • Make piragi (completed Boxing Day 2006)
  • Go to a comedy show (Jan 18, 2008)
  • Go computer-free for a weekend (Completed Oct 13 & 14, 2007)
  • Participate in a spiritual ritual (completed October 26, 2006 for Samhain)
  • Join a networking group (completed April 2007)
  • Pay monthly bills through my own business income (completed Sept 30, 2006)
  • Become a certified co-active coach (completed April 18, 2006)
  • Put together 1 awesome outfit for each season (completed Fall 2008)
  • Replace coffee and end tables (completed December 2007)
  • Fingerpaint (completed August 23, 2006)
  • Go to a movie by myself on a weekday afternoon (completed August 24, 2006)
  • Speak at an event. (completed September, 2008. Okay, this one may be my favourite because I had 100% forgotten this was on my list until I was going through it and realized I had done it!)
  • Run an "on your own path" group (completed January, 2008 with Circe's Circle)
  • Send 100 appreciation notes (I stopped keeping track of this as well but I send out something almost every single day either via email or card to let people know that I appreciate them)
  • Take the cats to the vet (completed March 10, 2006)
  • Take a class with Justin (completed March 17, 2007)
  • Go to 3 Toronto public gardens or parks (completed, went to the Toronto Music Garden and High Park, and the park near us.)
  • Work through Pencil Dancing (I'm going to call this complete because creating The Next Chapter and working through books with bloggers is really satisfying the goal of this one.
  • Teach a Nia class (complete May 10, 2007. I now teach on a regular basis)
  • Go to Old Montreal with Justin (completed June, 2008)
  • Get window coverings in kitchen (completed November 18, 2007)
  • Take a Feldenkrais class (completed December 2, 2006)
  • Get moisturizer from aesthetician (completed April 13, 2006)
  • Find 7 new allies (completed April 7, 2006)
  • Volunteer for an event (I'm going to consider running The Next Chapter: Soul Coaching the event)
  • See a Soulpepper show (completed August 19, 2006)
  • Get a thai yoga massage (completed August 9, 2006. If you are in Toronto and would like a great practitioner, email me and I'll share her contact info)
  • Take an expressive arts workshop (completed February 24, 2006. This truly changed my life as I ended up enrolling in an Expressive Arts program the next fall)
  • Give myself 15 minutes of chair-and-stare time a day for a month (completed April 22, 2006)

Things I Still Intend to Do (22 items)

  • Run a workshop for young women
  • Do a spa treatment I've never done before
  • Go horseback riding
  • Go for a high tea
  • Take a tai chi class
  • Go on a spa retreat
  • No bare bulbs on the main floor or upstairs (in process - only 3 lights left to do)
  • Throw a party
  • Try a trapeze
  • Be TV-free for a week
  • Go to the zoo
  • Replace the front door
  • Read all nominated books for the Giller Prize 2006 (completed Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures, DeNiro's Game, The Perfect Circle)
  • Throw a dance party (This is going to be an event. I've already started looking for spaces
  • Run a celebration workshop
  • Watch the sunrise
  • Visit Suzie
  • Throw an art activity party (This is now going to be more like a workshop)
  • Try reflexology
  • Watch all unwatched movies or give them away (at this point I think it's the latter!)
  • Visit Jason (Maybe this didn't happen so that I can visit him in California where he's moved instead of Kingston, where he was, lol)
  • Go to the AGO by myself

Things I'm going to make a donation for (16 items)

Some of these I still may do, and some of them I really won't. With some, they weren't as appealing as I first thought. And some, I still like the idea of but I don't want to make a commitment to it right now. And so, I close the commitment with a donation.

  • In winter, bundle up and have hot chocolate on the deck at midnight. I really can't believe that I didn't do this one. This one was far too easy for me to let myself off the hook for! I think maybe I just don't like being cold.
  • Make breakfast cookies
  • Participate in the Take Back the Night Walk
  • Become a Reiki Master
  • Send Justin a present at work I realized that I don't think he'd actually like this
  • Create bookmarks
  • See fireworks
  • Send 3 spontaneous gifts (1/3 sent)
  • Take a session with an Alexander Technique Practitioner
  • Play Bingo
  • Take a puppetry class
  • Go to an outdoor Shakespeare performance
  • Go for an early morning walk in my neighbourhood
  • Make a piece of art and hang it in the living room
  • Take a class at OCAD. I am absolutely amazed to say that I have absolutely no desire to do this whatsoever anymore and that is such a big deal. I think studying Expressive Arts was awesome for me.
  • Go hot-air ballooning

Decided to take off the list (1 item)

  • Go to Punta Cana (cancelled) A variety of things happened over this time period which made it just seem best to remove this trip off the list. I feel fine about that.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

101 Things in 1001 Days #14 ~ Buy Rubber Boots & Go for a Walk in the Rain

Clearly I did more than just walk in the rain! I took the opportunity to splash in the puddles and do some really good jumping in the rain. This is the way to enjoy a rainy day!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

101 Things in 1001 Days ~ Update

It's been a long time since I've posted about my 101 Things in 1001 Days adventure! I'm less than 5 months to the finish line and just about 50% done. I feel great though because so far this list has inspired me to get done 50 cool things and there's still time to finish them up.

There are some that I might create substitutions for. For example, put participate in the Take Back the Night walk on my list. I realize the key for me is to stand up and be counted on an issue I believe in, so I may find another way to do that. And because I'm a strong believer in closure, I've decided that for every item that I don't complete, I will donate $1 to charity. In the meantime, I'm going to print up my undones and get into action!

Jamie's 101 Things in 1001 Days
Start date: March 5, 2006
End date: December 1, 2008
Completed tasks: 50

  1. Pay off my student loan (completed October 24, 2006)
  2. Get my Nia Blue Belt (completed November 9, 2006)
  3. In winter, bundle up and have hot chocolate on the deck at midnight
  4. Find/create a special place for my journals and photo albums (completed April, 2007)
  5. Go to fFida (completed August 18, 2006)
  6. Get vent in kitchen taken care of (completed December 14, 2006)
  7. Run a workshop for young women
  8. Create cards (completed April 2007)
  9. Deposit change (Done. Can you believe we had $500? That's now in our travel fund)
  10. Do a spa treatment I've never done before
  11. Find a mentor (Though really she found me. Completed March 28, 2007)
  12. Go on a nature walk
  13. Finish 2 kitchen windows (completed June 2, 2006)
  14. Get a pair of rubber boots and go for a walk in the rain (half completed Nov 2, 2007)
  15. Go horseback riding
  16. Have a meaningful conversation with my Dad (completed August 9, 2006 - amazing)
  17. Invite people over for a meal 6 times, starting with Mom (6/6 complete. Mom over for dinner April 16, 2006, Beth, Mom and Shannon over for Easter April 8, 2007, Mom & Shannon for Christmas dinner, my Father-in-Law Jan 8, 2008, Mom & Shannon Jan 26, 2008)
  18. Leave my day job (completed August 15, 2006)
  19. Participate in the Take Back the Night Walk
  20. Get my charts done (completed January 8, 2007)
  21. Create and fill an art journal (completed July 23, 2006)
  22. Become a Reiki Master
  23. Take 100 Nia classes (completed 50/100)
  24. Have my taxes up to date (completed August 31, 2006)
  25. Take my vitamins every day for a month (completed April 20, 2006)
  26. Go for a high tea
  27. FOH lighting working (completed December 11, 2006)
  28. Take a tai chi class
  29. Go on a spa retreat
  30. Send Justin a present at work
  31. Create bookmarks
  32. No bare bulbs on the main floor or upstairs (in process - only 3 lights left to do)
  33. Go to 10 new restaurants (complete: Cafe Luxembourg, La Brouette, Simon's Wok, Urban Thai Bistro, The Rectory, Jawny Bakers, Grenadier Cafe and Teahouse, 7Numbers, The Artful Dodger, Armadillo Texas Grill)
  34. Get my CPR certification (completed March 17, 2006)
  35. See fireworks
  36. Create and keep a spell/prayer/magic book (completed July 23, 2006. Combined with #21)
  37. Get new glasses (completed June 29, 2006)
  38. Throw a party
  39. Get front of house painted
  40. Send 3 spontaneous gifts (1/3 sent)
  41. Plant a tree (completed April 4, 2006 - counting the Mock Orange as a tree)
  42. Go vegetarian for a week (January 1-8, 2007)
  43. Get Aveda conditioner (completed April 20, 2006)
  44. Have an article published
  45. Take a session with an Alexander Technique Practitioner
  46. Have the driveway done
  47. Run a special event
  48. Try a trapeze
  49. Be TV-free for a week
  50. Go into a store that intimidates me (completed November 1, 2006)
  51. Run a collage workshop (completed Jan 13, 2008)
  52. Make piragi (completed Boxing Day 2006)
  53. Go to a comedy show (Jan 18, 2008)
  54. Go computer-free for a weekend (Completed Oct 13 & 14)
  55. Go to the zoo
  56. Participate in a spiritual ritual (completed October 26, 2006 for Samhain)
  57. Join a networking group
  58. Pay monthly bills through my own business income (completed Sept 30, 2006)
  59. Become a certified co-active coach (completed April 18, 2006)
  60. Replace the front door
  61. Play Bingo
  62. Put together 1 awesome outfit for each season (in progress: 2/4 completed: fall 2006, spring 2008)
  63. Read all nominated books for the Giller Prize 2006 (in progress, Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures read, DeNiro's Game read, read The Perfect Circle)
  64. Throw a dance party
  65. Go to Punta Cana (cancelled)
  66. Run a celebration workshop (in progress, booked to give Celebration workshop at JustBe... Connected in 2007 - cancelled)
  67. Replace coffee and end tables (Completed December 2007.)
  68. Fingerpaint (completed August 23, 2006)
  69. Go to a movie by myself on a weekday afternoon (Completed August 24, 2006)
  70. Speak at an event
  71. Watch the sunrise
  72. Make breakfast cookies
  73. Send 100 appreciation notes (completed 24/100)
  74. Take a puppetry class
  75. Run an "on your own path" group - This became Circe's Circle (completed, January 2007)
  76. Take the cats to the vet (completed March 10, 2006)
  77. Visit Suzie
  78. Take a class with Justin (completed March 17, 2007)
  79. Go to 3 Toronto public gardens or parks (completed 2/3, went to the Toronto Music Garden and High Park)
  80. Go to an outdoor Shakespeare performance
  81. Throw an art activity party
  82. Work through Pencil Dancing
  83. Go for an early morning walk in my neighbourhood
  84. Try reflexology
  85. Teach a Nia class (complete May 10, 2007)
  86. Watch all unwatched movies or give them away
  87. Go to Old Montreal with Justin (complete May 2007)
  88. Get window coverings in kitchen (Complete. blinds bought July 5, 2007 and one has been put up. Second blind is up Nov 18, 2007. Justin would rather a different solution for the third window)
  89. Take a Feldenkrais class (completed December 2, 2006)
  90. Make a piece of art and hang it in the living room
  91. Get moisturizer from aesthetician (completed April 13, 2006)
  92. Visit Jason
  93. Find 7 new allies (completed April 7, 2006)
  94. Volunteer for an event
  95. See a Soulpepper show (completed August 19, 2006)
  96. Go to the AGO by myself
  97. Take a class at OCAD
  98. Get a thai yoga massage (completed August 9, 2006)
  99. Go hot-air ballooning
  100. Take an expressive arts workshop (completed February 24, 2006)
  101. Give myself 15 minutes of chair-and-stare time a day for a month (completed April 22, 2006)

Friday, January 18, 2008

101 Things in 1001 Days #53 ~ Go to a Comedy Club

Tonight Shannon and I went to Globehead, an improv tournament at the Bad Dog Theatre Company here in Toronto. What a blast! The small theatre was jampacked with energy and the good vibes of people enjoying the wild surprises of improv. Teams competed against each other and as an audience member you get to have your say in the outcome. The two teams that won were fantastic.

If you're in Toronto and you want a great night of entertainment the Globehead tournament continues tomorrow night and next weekend. It's a steal at $10.

All that and I get to say yay, I completed another of my 101 list too!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

101 Things in 1001 Days #51 ~ Run a Collage Workshop

I'm thrilled to say that this weekend I launched the pilot for my new workshop, Picture This! It's an interactive collage workshop designed to get you in touch with your self and what you're yearning for. We spent the morning with images, scissors, glue and good company exploring and sharing our inner landscapes.

The feedback has been great and I'm so proud to have finally put out into the world something I've been envisioning for years! Now, I'm just going to do a little tweaking, offer another beta test and then I'm off and running, seeing where this vision will take me and all of those who participate!

Sunday, November 4, 2007

101 Update ~ #14 Get a pair of rubber boots and go for a walk in the rain


#14 of my 101 Things in 1001 days is half complete. I have purchased my rubber boots. If you look really closely, you can see that they have a pink sole! (I wonder if I have a pink soul) Now, the walking in the rain part might wait until the spring. It's not that it won't rain. But cold November rain in Toronto is one of my least favourite types of weather. But maybe dressing warmly and playing in the rain could change my perspective. We'll see!

To check out my 101 List, go here.
To check out more about 101 Things in 1001 Days, go here.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

101 Update ~ #1 Pay Off My Student Loan


Woooooooooooooooohooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Words can barely contain the excitement of accomplishing #1 on my 101 Things in 1001 Days list: pay off my student loan. When I put this on the list, I thought the deadline of December 1, 2008 was really ambitious. And here it is, October 24, 2007 and it is done! Oh, the power of setting ambitious deadlines!

How this came about was really pretty funny, a little lame and impacts #65, go to Punta Cana. Last year Justin and I cancelled our 5-year wedding anniversary trip to an apparently 5-star resort on an island in the Dominican Republic because it wasn't really finished being built. It was a major disappointment for us, but we tucked the money away and decided that for our next anniverary we would definitely have a beach vacation in Punta Cana.

Well, as we started talking about it and planning it in the past few weeks we came across a variety of little challenges. Our enthusiasm was a bit dampened, and we were discouraged. Finally I said to Justin that maybe this meant that we really shouldn't go, maybe we should keep the money and start planning for our next trip. And then he said, "Maybe we should pay off your student loan."

Double take.

What? I suddenly felt this wash of joy over me. I started to laugh. I thought, okay, this is kind of lame that I am so much more excited about the prospect of paying off my student loan than I am about walking on a beach in February! But it was the truth. The more we thought about it, the better we felt about it. We could see all the possibilities it opened up for us financially and more.

So I wrote the cheque. Put it in an envelope with a "way to go" sticker" and put it in the mail. It has cleared. And today it is offical - I am student-loan free!!!!!

Thursday, May 10, 2007

#85 on my 101 list ~ Teach a Nia Class

I am so excited to say that today I taught my first Nia class. Shannon was kind enough to head out to a studio with me and play. We had a fantastic time. The studio is in a place I just adore. It's a central Toronto location and there's always so much going on. We had a kids theatre group rehearsing beside us when we went in and when we came out there was a lecture going on in the same location. The people are nice and helpful and the location is full of life. I feel so at home there.

And I feel at home in a studio.


What a beautiful place to explore your dance and reconnect with your body. Nia is such a gift. For those of you who haven't experienced Nia, it is a movement practice that is for any body and any fitness level. Nia draws on 9 movement forms in the dance arts, martial arts and healing arts. It is a holistic workout that involves your body, mind, emotions and spirit. It helps you connect to your body's way of moving, and it is transformative . I'll be sharing Nia at just Be... Connected and I really look forward to dancing with you

Today it was a joy to dance with Shannon. Afterwards we just had to go out and celebrate.