September 30, 2012 
Although I feel like I haven’t done that much this year, I really have made good progress on my original list. There’s never been a year where I accomplished every single goal I laid out for myself but that’s no bother because inevitably I also manage to do lots of things NOT on the list too!
#8 Sell a piece of art (and realize my childhood dream, which is #28 on the 40/40 list): Nothing on this one yet. I PROMISE I’m doing this one this year.
#46 Scuba Diving: COMPLETED! Went to the Rock Quarry in July to keep up with my SCUBA skillz. Was relieved and proud to say that I actually remembered how to do it. As long as I keep going regularly, hopefully I won’t forget.
#52 Read the Greatest Books Ever Written (#7 on the 40/40 list): I’m failing at reading on the list, but I’ve been tearing it up in regard to books I want to read. Which, after years of reading books I’m supposed to read, has been really nice. Total for the year includes: the newest Sookie book, Dexter is Delicious, The Hunger Games, The Help, The Children of Men, Fight Club, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Catching Fire, Mockingjay, and Wicked.
#65 Shout ‘Drinks Are on Me!’ in a Pub or Bar (#17 on the 40/40 list): Ok. I’ve got my bar picked out and I know the perfect time to do it. And I’ve had news big enough to do it (Hel-lo promotion!) so really no good excuse on this one.
#68 Save Someone’s Life (#8 on the 40/40 list): I was on pace with 3 pints donated so far for the year. (I’ve donated 7 total pints for lifetime). But then I started reading articles about how donating blood builds up scar tissue and makes it difficult for you to potentially get IVs and things you may need later in life. I don’t know. I need to do some more research on this.
#84 Learn to Ski (#32 on the 40/40 list): COMPLETED!
#93.5 Get Your Name in the Ring of Honor: COMPLETED!
Goals from my 40 Before I’m 40 List:
#1 Be Able to Do a Pull Up: My sporadic rock climbing has not helped with this so I think I may need to step it up at the gym or something.
#11 Learn to Rock Climb: COMPLETED! I’ve been going about once a month or so.
#18 Watch the Top 1,001 Films: Have watched 3 of 100. But halfway through the year I kinda changed my plans and I’m actually kinda working more on the IMDB Top 250. Of these, I’ve watched a total of 191 (although this list is always changing, which can be frustrating).
#25 Drink All the Beers on the GQ List: Have drank 8 of 20 (20 was my goal this year)
#35 Visit all of the NC Breweries: Have visited Natty Greene’s , Big Boss, Aviator, Bull City Burger and Brewery, Lonerider, Roth and Mystery. 3 more to go for the year.
#36 Learn How to Ballroom Dance: COMPLETED-ish! I did take one private dance lesson. I’m supposed to go back for a group lesson and then a “dance social.” But the one private dance lesson showed me I have a long way to go!
#37 Start Using Coupons: I’m kinda halfheartedly doing this. Baby steps.
#38 See a Movie in a Drive-In Movie Theater: COMPLETED!
From the Sports List:
#18 Attend a rugby game (and learn the rules): FAIL! I missed the opportunities this year.
#19 Attend a cricket game (and learn the rules): FAIL! I missed the opportunities this year.
#24 Attend the Kentucky Derby: This didn’t happen this year. No worries!
One of my favorite things to do is to take advantage of opportunities as they come up, even if they aren’t on the list! After all, the true spirit of the list is to get you out of your comfort zone. So far this year I have also:
- I attended a Roller Derby Match
- I visited Natural Bridge
- I went Indoor Skydiving
- I went to a concert by myself
- I did most of the Warrior Dash
- I went camping for the first time, climbed Grandfather Mountain, and managed to cross off Thing to Do #37: Make a Fire Without Matches (I went camping again at the beach in August and started a fire even more quickly and efficiently so I can actually say the first time wasn’t a fluke!)
- I went Zorbing
- I went to Bonnaroo
- I made beer
- I went to Niagara Falls and went into Canadia for the first time! (Adding to my work on #36: Visit Every Country)
Coming Up:
- I’ve never done “hoity-toity” afternoon tea so I hope to do that sometime.
- I’ve reached my goal for raising $1,000 for the “Over the Edge” event. So I’m doing that next weekend (October 6th); Stay tuned for details of that adventure!
- I’ve registered for The Color Run in Charlotte, November 17th
In my personal life: from the promotion I got in July, I’ve been working just a little bit more, as well as I continue to copyedit dissertations most nights at home. Thing to do #30 on my 40 before I’m 40 list was to begin bringing in money through contract work. Originally that was meant to be that I was writing grants but just in editing this year I will be close to making $10,000. I think that’s pretty considerable and maybe enough to check that item off the list.
Between my day job and my side job and still making time for family and friends (as well as religiously attending Zumba 3 times a week), my blog has continued to suffer. In addition, I haven’t been visiting YOUR blogs either, which makes me sad. I hope you are all doing well and I hope to catch up with you soon!
Also, I feel like I’ve focused a lot more on things I’ve been putting off that aren’t necessarily on the list. Even simple things like reading books or catching up on television shows have been wonderful luxuries I feel I’ve denied myself for the last few years.
How are you doing with your goals for 2012 thus far?
Great work. Looks like it’s been a fantastic year even if you haven’t yet achieved all the goals you set out to. I’ve just got to the end of my 50 Goals in a Year challenge (http://wp.me/P1U51q-b) and I achieved about 40 of the 50. Not a bad effort especially, as you said, because you also achieve other goals not on this list. But I’m still working to achieve the last few before embarking on a new 50 goals possibly starting on my upcoming 30th birthday. 50 is a lot though! Anyway, keep up the good work and I look forward to following your progress, Jon