And the challenge begins...

One Hundred and One tasks in One Thousand and One Days

The Challenge:
To complete 101 goals in 1001 days (just over 2.5 years)


The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).


Why 1001 Days?
For the last few years I've been setting annual goals and working towards my "Live Game of Every Sport" goal,  and while these have been a good test I decided it was time to really push myself, so 1001 days goes one step further. I can't take credit for the idea.... the 101 in 1001 thing has been going around for years, and I was inspired to take up the challenge thanks to an incredibly motivated friend who has been working through their own 101. 

So the challenge has been set, and accepted! Starting 1st April, 2013, I have 1001 days to achieve 101 things off a specific list (which was harder to come up with than it looks!)... giving me until 28th December 2015 to accomplish some rather testing - and in some cases audacious - activities. I've tried to make them a mixture of challenges, new experiences and tests I would usually shy away from. 

To keep me on track and honest I'll be updating the blog as often as I can, and crossing off the challenges as I go... Here goes nothing!

My 101

1.      Go coffee free for 101 days - starting April 2014 

2.      Read 5 classic novels (The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird)

3.      Swim with dolphins

4.      Visit three new places in the world (May'13 x 2 - Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dec'13 South Australia)

5.      Go bungy jumping - Queenstown, March 2014

6.      Go alcohol free for one month (Dry July 2013)

7.      Drink 2 litres of water every day for two months (Feb-Mar 15)

8.      Try a new recipe every week for one month (September 15)

9.      Go cellphone free for 24 hours (May 15)

10.     Do five major NZ hikes (Hunua Falls, Gibbons Track, Cascade Falls Track, Hillary Trail, Pinnacles)

11.     Go to three South Island towns (Queenstown, Arrowtown, Glenorchy)

12.     Learn how to snowboard/ski (June 2013)

13.     Get a hot stone massage (July 2013)

14.     Volunteer my time to a charity 

15.     Bake something new every week for one month (September 15)

16.     Take a cooking class

17.     Try a new sport (Football!)

18.     Learn a new language

19.     Participate and survive a 10km run

20.     Take my nieces & nephew on a day trip with Auntie Jo

21.     Have two vegetarian main meals every week for two months - Dec 14 &Jan 15

22.     Run Round the Bays in one hour or under

23.     Run 30km in 30 days

24.     Watch a play at a local theatre Shakespeare in the park, Feb '14)

25.     Create photo albums for my overseas trips (October '14)

26.     Read one section of the works of Shakespeare

27.     Start a conversation with a stranger (May 2013)

28.     Write a letter to three people that have made a difference in my life

29.     Save 10k to go towards a mortgage

30.     Go on an overnight hiking trip - Booked for October 15 (Pinnacles)

31.     Tie a secret to a balloon and let it go - Feb '15

32.     Compliment someone different every day for ten days

33.     Go indoor rock climbing (August 15)

34.     Watch 8 live sports games for the first time (1.Bumper Ball - Apr14, 2.Rugby -    May14, 3.Dragonboat racing Jan15)

35.     No fast food for 3 months

36.     Find out my blood type  (November '14... O Positive!)

37.     Take singing lessons

38.     Write a short story

39.     Read all the books I own but haven't read yet (there’s at least 50 of them)

40.     Learn how to make 5 cocktails 

41.     Watch the entire James Bond series (#1 - April'13, #2 - July'13...)

42.     Do the Hollywood Walk of Fame  (May 2013)

43.     Visit the Grand Canyon  (May 2013)

44.     Go to High Tea

45.     Have a day out with mum and the siblings (Food Show with Mum - August '13)

46.     Write a letter to my dad

47.     Swim with sharks (Port Lincoln, Dec '13)

48.     Go whale watching 

49.     Make homemade bread and pasta (July 2013)

50.     Get a reflexology treatment

51.     See Sub Focus live

52.     Ride a jet ski

53.     Inspire someone else to do 101 things (August 2013)

54.     Go to the Dawn Parade on Anzac Day (never been)

55.     Give blood (November '14)

56.     Watch 10 film festival movies (1. Sapphires, 2. Boyhood, 3. Prix de Beaute, 4. Charlie Chaplin - the Kid, 5. Banksy, 6.Amy, 7.People Places Things)

57.     Keep my car clean (inside and out) for a month (Oct/Nov '14)

58.     Go to Te Papa museum

59.     Go to the Stardome

60.     Visit 5 beaches I've never been to before 
          (May'13 - El Matador, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, Port Lincoln Beach & 'Shit beach' in South Australia)

61.     Get a massage every month for four months

62.     Go mountain biking

63.     Go to Great Barrier Island

64.     Visit the Auckland Art gallery (October '14.. Light Show)

65.     Buy a piece of NZ art (Feb '15)

66.     Get a tattoo

67.     Do a liver cleanse diet for two weeks

68.     Go barefoot for a weekend

69.     Go skinny dipping - Feb '15

70.     Buy a new car (October '14)

71.     Go to Kawau Island (November '14)

72.     Visit 10 new markets (Hobsonville Markets June '13, Pakuranga Night Markets Aug '13, Parnell French Markets Aug '13, Te Atatu Night Markets - Mar'14, Oratia Markets Mar'14, Avondale Markets May'14, Browns Bay Markets Sep'14, Henderson Night Markets Nov '14, Awanui Markets Dec'14, Rarotonga Saturday Markets May'15)

73.     Waiheke wine tour (November '14)

74.     Overhaul the underwear drawer!

75.     Go paragliding or get my British passport

76.     Go to the opera - Opera in the Park Jan '15

77.     Get acupuncture treatment

78.     Drive from Auckland to Wellington

79.     Go Skydiving - Booked for June > August

80.     Buy an SLR camera - decided to buy a new camera instead (May 2013)

81.     Take a course for said camera

82.     Floss every day for a month - Feb '15

83.     Host 10 dinner parties

84.     Have a candlelit dinner

85.     Go gluten free for a month

86.     Take a salsa class

87.     Go away on holiday with my best friend (Lu & Jo's Epic Roadtrip, Dec'13)

88.     Spend a weekend (or more) at the snow - Booked for September

89.     Buy a designer dress or outfit

90.     Buy a decent bookcase & bedroom furniture

91.     Attend 5 Comedy Festival shows (1. May'13, 2. Guy Montgomery Apr'15, 3. Ed Byrne May'15, 4. The Naked Magicians May'15)

92.     Get my tarot cards read

93.     Get a salon hair treatment

94.     Complete the 50 Questions that will free your mind.

95.     Go TV free for a week

96.     Cook 101 new recipes, one of which must be pavlova!

97.     Go canyoning/abseiling

98.     Kayak Puhoi to Wenderholm

99.     Sleep under the stars for a night

100.  Learn to meditate - Jan '15
101.  Write a letter to myself to open in ten years

And there we have it! 

As I write this I have already started one on the list (watching James Bond #1: Dr No). If you'd like to be part of my 101 or even start your own let me know as I'd love to see what other challenges my friends set themselves.