The 2010 Bucket List

The year 2009 is over. For some it was a great year, but for the most of us, I don't think we're going to miss it. It had its moments, like the 140 character conference in New York, some very interesting projects I worked on for clients, a U2 concert in Barcelona and a one week hike in Southern Greenland with my oldest son. But it was also a very stressful year with financial uncertainty, kidney stones and a collapsed lung. Twice.

So I'm heading for a better year in 2010, trying to stabilize my income, outsource my work for more efficiency and a better bottom line, and experiencing some new exciting adventures with my family.

I hope you all had a fantastic new years eve, because you know what, it might be your last. I don't want sound pessimistic, but I think it's healthy to remember that one day you'll be living your last day. Hopefully not any time soon, but we never know when our time has come.

Therefore I've got a little practice for you. Are you familiar with the bucket list? It's a list of thinks you want to do before you die. Most people don't make one until it's too late, if they ever make one. So I recommend you find ten things to put on your bucket list. Ten things, small and big, you'd like to do before you die. But not only that, pick one of those things and put a date on it. One thing you'd like to do before you die - and actually do it in the year 2010.

Here are a few things on my list:

Learn Spanish fluently so that I can enjoy a whole Fidel Castro speech (in process)
Climb Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Participate in a cross continental rally (like the Paris-Dakar)
Go coast-to-coast USA
Visit the forest people in Borneo - the Orangutans
Ride a camel to Petra in Jordan
Rent a "Priscilla" and drive to the Australian outbacks
Sail up the Amazon river
Learn tango in Buenos Aires
Find the grave of Thorvald Ericson, brother of Leif Ericson, who's buried in America
Finish some of my half finished books and get them published

So, I've got a date on one of those things. July 25th 2011 I'm going to start on an adventure in London: race to Ulan Bataar in Mongolia, over 10.000 km long rally through countries like Distanistan and Absurdistan.

So check your list, pick a thing and put a date on it! What dream are you going to make come true this year?

Have a fantastic 2010 :)

Hjörtur

Comments

[Egill Harðar]

Going coast-to-coast in the US sound great. I'd add that on my list too. And, like you, I would also add publising books.

This year I'm certain you and I will both grow as professionals and get paid accordingly. It is one of my resolutions for the new year to get better at what I do and I'm sure you are aiming at that too. And who knows, we might even collaborate on some projects. In fact, I'm sure of it.

Have a great new year!