Societies have survived decades without math, but never has there been a society that didn’t tell stories. It seems crazy, but it makes sense because life doesn’t come to us like a math problem; it comes to us the way a story does, scene by scene. In fact,stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful and meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact, and they are good medicine in times of trouble and adversity. It’s the reason why “fine” is just not a good enough answer when someone asks how your weekend or winter break was. Nobody wants to or even cares to remember the easy stories.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the point of life is the same as the point of a story, which is character transformation. If the character doesn’t change, the story hasn’t happened yet. It’s ridiculous how much of our lives are spent trying to avoid conflict; half of the commercials on television are selling us something that will make life easier. Part of me wonders if our stories aren’t being stolen by the easy life, because the truth is, great stories need a little disadvantage and discomfort. A person has to go on strange adventures to build up a list of stories. He has to jump off bridges and go for midnight swims, travel to new places and stand in empty deserts, engage in rambling conversations with strangers, and eventually allow himself to fall in love. The ambitions we have will become the stories we live, so if you want to know what a person’s story is about, just ask them what they want.
If you ask me, I want my life to be a testimony to the joy that can be found in spontaneous living. I want to live in a way that inspires people to find out who they are uniquely made to be and what they are uniquely designed to do. I want to live a great story with my life that leaves a beautiful feeling even as the credits roll. And that’s exactly why I created this blog and my travel website in the first place. When I look back on my life, I want to remember the crazy things I did, and all the times I worked harder to make a day stand out. Now, I will list down some of my plans/goals for the year 2016. Goals that will make my year happier than the other years that have past. Here are my 15 goals for this year:
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the point of life is the same as the point of a story, which is character transformation. If the character doesn’t change, the story hasn’t happened yet. It’s ridiculous how much of our lives are spent trying to avoid conflict; half of the commercials on television are selling us something that will make life easier. Part of me wonders if our stories aren’t being stolen by the easy life, because the truth is, great stories need a little disadvantage and discomfort. A person has to go on strange adventures to build up a list of stories. He has to jump off bridges and go for midnight swims, travel to new places and stand in empty deserts, engage in rambling conversations with strangers, and eventually allow himself to fall in love. The ambitions we have will become the stories we live, so if you want to know what a person’s story is about, just ask them what they want.
If you ask me, I want my life to be a testimony to the joy that can be found in spontaneous living. I want to live in a way that inspires people to find out who they are uniquely made to be and what they are uniquely designed to do. I want to live a great story with my life that leaves a beautiful feeling even as the credits roll. And that’s exactly why I created this blog and my travel website in the first place. When I look back on my life, I want to remember the crazy things I did, and all the times I worked harder to make a day stand out. Now, I will list down some of my plans/goals for the year 2016. Goals that will make my year happier than the other years that have past. Here are my 15 goals for this year:
1. Achieve My ideal weight
Making the commitment to overcome my emotional eating, live healthily, and lose my excess weight is one of the single best decisions that I will make in my life. Having a fit body is one of my goals this year.
2. Run a marathon
A marathon is a long-distance race of 42.2 km (26.2 miles) long — definitely not an easy feat that requires training and hard work! Training and completing a marathon will not only develop my physical strength and endurance, but also my mental persistence, will, and attitude.
3. Take up a new sport
Sport is a great way to keep fit! Whether you’re an indoor or outdoor person, there is a sport for everyone. I want to try new sports like table tennis, lawn tennis and archery, just for a new adventure.
4. Learn a strategy game
Strategy games like chess and rubrics cube are great ways to train your mind. I don’t know if playing such games helped me to be smarter, but I know it certainly taught me to think quickly, to develop plan of actions in anticipation of future issues, and to think before I act!
5. Let someone know how much he/she means to you
In our life’s journey, we are constantly touched and supported by people around us, be it friends, family, or acquaintances. To tell them, to let them feel, and show them how important they are to me is one of my goals.
6. Give a heartfelt surprise to someone
When’s the last time you gave someone a surprise? It’s always heartwarming to come home to a nicely cooked dinner, to have a bouquet of flowers sent to you at work, or to even receive a simple text message from a loved one. One of my goals this year is to give a pleasant surprise to my mother on her birthday that will happen on January 28. Birthday is one of the important events in our lives; to give them surprise will make them feel special that’s why I want to give her a simple surprise to tell her how much I love her, to tell her how important she is to me and to thank her for everything.
7. Perform a kind deed without expecting anything in return
Many of us are often waiting to receive rather than to give. Yet for any relationship to work, there has to be both giving and receiving. If you often find yourself wondering why no one is giving you what you want, how about practicing giving to others first? The rest will follow.
8. Be a mentor to someone
Teaching is one of the most rewarding things we can do. No matter how old you are, even if you are in your teens, you are always in the position to mentor someone else — perhaps someone who is more junior than you or someone who is older but can benefit from a particular expertise you have. Mentoring others is also a great way for you to develop yourself too. Many communities are always looking for volunteer mentors, so check with your local community programs for such opportunities. At the same time, is there anyone you know who can benefit from being mentored by you? Extend your hand to help — who knows, it may well be what he/she needs at this moment!
9. Do volunteer work
Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back to the world. Volunteer work is one of the best ways to expose myself to a new medium of helping other people. There is tons of volunteer work out there, from assisting the elderly at the old folks’ home, working with delinquent kids, being a mentor to kids at orphanages, helping out at animal shelters, beach cleanups, and so on. Volunteer work doesn’t have to be some grandiose act. As long as you are offering a part of yourself to the world (be it in terms of skills, knowledge, time, effort, or money), you are in fact volunteering.
10. Befriend a stranger
Who says that there needs to be a reason to start a friendship? A connection can start anytime, anywhere, in any way. I have many great friendships that started off from the most random of situations. Not saying that the next stranger you contact is going to be your romantic partner, but rather, that a great friendship can start in any way.
11. Experience a sunrise/sunset
Sunrises and sunsets are some of the most beautiful gifts from Mother Nature. And the best thing? We get them free every day. Well I think a sunrise/sunset is beautiful in most places around the world.
12. Play a (new) musical instrument
Have you always wanted to learn how to play the guitar/violin/piano/etc. but never had a chance to? It’s never too late even if you’re an adult because science says it’s still possible! Learning to play a new instrument not only teaches you discipline but also makes you smarter — did you know that musicians use both sides of their brains more frequently than average people?
13. Go on a road trip
A road trip is a journey taken on roads, typically by automobile. While some would consider a road trip as tiring, a road trip can actually be fun, especially when accompanied by the right people — and perhaps, great music! Not only is it relaxing to go on a long, non-stop ride, it also provides a great view of the country/city (depends on where you are driving) and creates an opportunity for me and my companions to bond with each other.
14. Whip a home-made meal for my loved ones
When it comes to food, nothing beats a home-cooked meal. While restaurants can offer you top-of-the-world ambiance and gourmet foods, a home-cooked meal is where you can feel the love and effort that went into the meal preparation, by a loved one no less. Who are the most precious people to you? What do they love to eat? How about whipping these foods for them, over lunch/dinner? It doesn’t matter if I am not an award-winning chef — it’s about cooking a meal by myself for the people I love. Watch some cooking tutorials, research on recipes, and get down to cooking! Not only will they get to enjoy their favorite foods, my efforts will also express my love to them in a way words can’t.
15. Achieve these 14 goals for this year!
This will make my year happy. Achieving all my goals this year is my last goal for my bucket list!
I am in no way a master of bucket lists, I do not have any unusual talents, and I have never done anything that you are not capable of doing yourself. What I do have is drive, and passion, and an undying desire to help anyone who asks. THANK YOU!