The other day, I stopped for a moment and I worried that it was all passing me by. Life, money, love, time, inspiration. The whole lot of it. It seemed that the hero-father of my childhood had aged in a matter of moments, that my career had spanned on for years but got me nowhere, that my wedding day zipped by and I didn’t even get the chance to enjoy it.
I realised this in New York City of all places. I’d only just begun to understand what the New York minute was, because despite my thorough planning and aptitude for reading maps and hailing cabs, my time there felt like a minute and a half and my trip was over before I knew it.
In fact, I’d gotten so lost in the buzz of the city that I’d missed my flight back home, and had to fork out an extra $1600 that I didn’t have for premium-economy seats just to get back to Sydney in time for Christmas.
Almost two weeks later, I am sullen at the prospect that marriage, a mortgage and potential motherhood will decrease my chances at meeting the goals on my life to-do list.
Things like seeing Prague, learning French (it used to be German) and taking Ballet for Adult Beginners. And more basic everyday things, like trying a particular Italian restaurant in Paddington, having High Tea at the QVB, watching Indiana Jones or climbing the Harbour Bridge on a Sunday morning with my dad.
My new husband (as of yesterday, we’ve been married one month) jokes that I juggle too many jobs and tasks to even make it to my list of restaurants let alone achieve some of the goals on my life-list.
But out of sheer stupidity and child-like optimism, my list keeps on growing. If this is the last year I get to travel, buy, try, enjoy, eat, drink and dance before my hopeless writing, defeating mortgage, or starved-of-attention family life gets the better of me, then I better make the most of it.
Maybe I will see Prague, maybe I’ll just eat at a new Paddington place. Perhaps I’ll High Tea at the QVB in Sydney or at the Ritz in London. I might sell my novel, or get expelled from university.
All I know is that come 2012, things could be a hell of a lot different. So I am going to start making the most of right now by making my long list a hell of a lot shorter.
And in the process, I might shortlist things for you too. Books to read, beauty products to try, shoes to lust after, shows to watch, destinations to dream about.
But I’d still like to know, for my very own inspiration, what is on your shortlist?
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Love this Sarah! It’s so true and wow can I relate! I’ve stopped writing lists altogether. Instead Prague, Italy, food writing, swing dancing and learning Italian were tucked away into the “too hard basket” This has actually inspired to me to not forget any of it maybe I just need a shorter list.
My short list would probably be to save for Italy and Prague, start practicing Italian and try to blog once a week. Doesn’t seem so difficult after all.
I know exactly how you feel.
Being married for over 2 years now and knowing that I’d like to start a family within the next couple of years, it’s like I’ve set myself a deadline to achieve everything I want to do before motherhood arrives. My main goal before having a baby (and I’ve been fighting the cluckiness for a while now) is to go on a big 6 week trip to the U.S with my hubby, because I’ve never been and have heard so many fantastic stories. Of course, many of my favourite TV shows are also based there!
I also want to get my career a bit more established, learn sign language (always had a fascination with it) and declutter my house so that it’s a bit more like a home and not a dumping ground.
Good luck with your goals! I know you can do it. 🙂
Couples dance lessons, buy a Burberry product, get at least 100 pages written in new project, save $7000 between hubby and I, read less young adult books and more adult literature, gain a distinction avg at uni, wear dresses more often lol. Don’t worry, Sez. You’re definitely not alone. Did I tell you that we had to buy a new suitcase in London because we’d bought too many books?
Thanks for those comments ladies, they’re definitely very inspiring. Liz, I bought my dream Burberry trench in the US. I don’t think I’d ever buy brand names in Oz again, everything there (bar Chanel of course) was so much cheaper. But I love your goals, they are definitely achievable.
Leanne, I have been married a month and am already fighting the cluckiness. I am purposely not avoiding motherhood, but not chasing after it, if you know what I mean. I am too frightened that it may never happen if I hold it off for too long. But the US trip would be amazing, and it is definitely worth saving for. On another note, I totally get you re: the decluttering. I am so anal about cleanliness and clutter I am like Monica from friends. I live in a unit, and buying a townhouse or house is something that I definitely want if I can scrounge up enough money for it. It sucks that house prices are pushing young buyers out of the market – in the US, the mortgage interest rates are like 1.5%!!
Bianca, swing dancing sounds awesome. You would look amazing doing it! Let me offer a suggestion to you: Save up for Italy to spend a bit of time there, that would inspire a lot of eating and thus a lot of blogging while you’re in the thick of it – that is two goals with one stone! And when you come back, you’ll be on a downer (for missing it) so do the swing dancing to keep optimistic. Easy!
Awesome, Sarah – good luck with your goals xoxo
Fabulous post sarah! It’s sad that when I was about to graduate, i had all these hopes and dreams circling in and around my head. I was motivated to do them all. I wanted to buy my mum a LV bag, I wanted to book tickets for European 2011 summer – mainly in Greece. I had a long list of books that I wanted to read (mostly expensive coffee table variety). I also wanted to get a professional hair stylist cut (hello split ends).
But that list slowly started dissolving from the night I graduated and got my degree. The reality of finding a job and a house was very blinding.
But then I feel, even though I might spend my 2011 summer in Australia and not get a good haircut. I will work hard to buy my mum her first LV. That’s on the top of my list. And i’ll make it happen. Well after I have a job. haa
I hope you accomplish your list too 🙂 x
Get through school and remain healthy (I’m a few months cured from a long illness). I deal with things day by day. Keep at it Sarah and I’m sure things will work out the best!
Life does fly by, but there’s not much we can do to stop it. Just make sure you take some time to smell the roses!
One thing I’ve always wanted to do is to go to Italy!!
Still on top of my list, but I think it may be 10-15 years away now. But having my baby boys, I don’t care if I never make it 🙂
Recently discovered your blog and have spent ages re-reading all your old posts…..!
My shportlist? This year, I have decided to try and keep life simple, to try and stop multi tasking and just take one day at a time! This perhaps does not sound like the right kind of answer for your question, in regards to achieving things! But I am hoping a change in how I do things will actually lead to me doing the little things I fancy doing but never seem to get around to…..eg, learning the violin and attending the creative writing group that operates from my local bookshop!
I became a mum in 2008 and then had my second son in 09….In some ways, I have had to put my own goals on the backburner since they were born but in other ways they have motivated me to work at goals I have had for years…..Isn’t it funny how there are always pros and cons to these things?
Thanks for a thought provoking post!
Gill xo
My short-short list this year is finish the book, find a publisher and get married. And continue to pay my bills by doing what I love. Which, despite its relatively small number, is really quite a lot.
I’d also like to do a bit more travel (Greek Islands are at the top of my list, but New York, France and Australia are also looking likely), keep up my fitness and keep off Coke Zero, and continue to explore all the wonderful things London has to offer.
Great post, Sarah. I fancy having quite a ‘quiet’ year in 2011… my two big goals are to run a marathon and to ace my final film school project, so I kinda just want to get my head down and get working!
Loved this post, Sarah. I’m a fellow list lover and, in the past, have become swamped in overwhelming goals, dreams and aspirations.
This year, my short short-list follows on from the last six months of 2010: aim for a pleasurable work-life balance, cook new meals and desserts every week (a most enjoyable and delicious New Year’s resolution) and exercise to retain/find sanity.
xx
Thanks Gabby! You might want to follow my new column at ONYA mag, where I chronicle the adventures of my short list 🙂