With 51 less than a month away, my 50 for 50 list is still lacking, with numerous items on it that simply won’t be completed.
For those scratching your heads wondering what I’m babbling about, I’m referring to the list of things you make out to do before you’re 50. It’s kind of like a bucket list except in 50 for 50 you don’t die at the end, well, hopefully not anyway. Some people do it for 30, some for 40. I gave myself a little wiggle room and decided to aim for 50.
I actually had one for 30 but I fell woefully short, barely completing any of it, scratching off very few accomplishments. Of course, my 30 for 30 was very much financial based since that was my mindset when I was younger, figuring that money was what you measured accomplishments by. Those goals were stuff like making my first million (which I still haven’t done even if you add up all the money I’ve made in my lifetime) and getting to be my own boss, independent of working for any corporation or entity. Oh, and election to elected office, that was a 30 for 30. What was I thinking?
These were what I called my riding lawnmower dreams. Those were things I dreamed up to accomplish when I was a teen mowing my parents’ lawn on the riding lawnmower. It seemed pretty easy at 16. All I had to do was win the lottery even though Tennessee didn’t even have a lottery yet. Oh, by the way, I didn’t win the lottery last week so don’t call asking to borrow money.
So, the 30 for 30 list was really more of a wish list than anything, containing unrealistic wishes rather than accomplishable things. My 50 for 50, now that’s more of a life-based list.
Let’s see, I can check off having a family. Got that done and almost got one kid through high school. I have a house, although the wife is quick to point out it is “her” house but I’ll go ahead and check it off anyway. I published a novel, four actually with a fifth coming this spring, although I’m still waiting to add the best seller tag onto my list. I have owned a new car, only checking that one off in the past couple of years. And, I use the word “own” very loosely since the bank still owns a lot more of the car than I do. I guess it’s kind of like “owning” a house.
I’ve traveled abroad and I’ve been in most of the states, traveling to every region except the northwest. My travel abroad includes a short journey into Mexico and a couple of cruises to the Caribbean. I would like to go to Europe at some point so I could check that off. I’ve not really gotten a travel bug for anywhere else since it seems a lot of the world has gone nuts.
When I look back on my 50 for 50, it’s apparent it was a lot more successful than 30 for 30. Was it because I became more of an adventurer or because I lowered my expectations? I guess we will see when I complete my 60 for 60.
Standard reporter Duane Sherrill can be reached at 473-2191.