Fibromyalgia Support Group for Surrey and Sussex

101 things in 1001 days
by Linda Miles

Hi everyone I was reading a blog about saving money and discovered a link to this challenge. Having attended many self help groups and become a keen target sette, I know how much it helps to have things to look forward to especially when you are faced with another duvet day. I was intrigued to think about what things I would like to do in the future. So notebook in hand I set about making my list.

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

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? Many people have created lists in the past — frequently simple goals such as new year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities. I used these websites for info to start me off for ideas of things to do but really you can put anything you like.

http://www.dayzeroproject.com
http://www.foldedspace.org/weblog/2007/04/101_thing_in_1001_days.html

Its a bit like an enormous target list. I really find its important to have things to look forward to especially on those days when you are not able to do very much-like yesterday. I like to do a bit of planning and have a few note books on the go with various projects that I am working towards. I start with a list then Break it down into achievable bite size bits.

I had a nice big bit of paper and put 101 things in the middle and then used these headings to help me get inspired:

Fun, Entertainment, Adventure, Finance, Home and Garden, Personal, Self Improvement, Friends, Work.

I have sent my list to my family and friends and have been delighted to find that my Mum who will be 95 on 20th March has started her own list am really looking forward to seeing hers. I know top of her list is to go on a cruise.

There are now about six of us starting our 101 lists and it really seems to have caught everyone’s imagination. My sister has been out to dinner with her husband for the first time in ages. I am visiting pubs with my husband with real fires and am having a spa day here with some other fellow 101ers on Tuesday. I have shared a skill with my friend by helping her to use a computer and started a blog well two now. Originally I was going to start one about living well with fibromyalgia but have also found it easy enough to do to start one on a 101 list.

You can see my list here and my fibroblog here.

If you do have a look and comment please be kind as they are both in their infancy and need to be cherished.

I have also taken one of my children to lunch and we had a lovely chat one to one and when we got home he encouraged me to burn all the papers I had kept regarding my having to leave work when I became ill. That was fantastically freeing.

I am really enjoying this challenge and hope I can encourage some of you to join me.
Love and gentle hugs
Linda Miles

My complete list

italic/bold=completed / bold = working on

1. Lose 30lb and keep it off -7/30
2. Play on Nintendo Wiifit 3 times a week for a month 0/12
3. Swim every other day when in Turkey in the summer 0/56
4. Do all fitness DVDs’ in cupboard at least once 0/5
5. Have spa day at home with friends 0/1 planned for next Tues
6. Have Turkish Massage 0/1
7. Pay off credit cards 0/2
8. Pay off at least half other debts 600/10000
9. Save towards emergency fund 3 months out goings 200/10000
10. Put £10 away each time complete challenge use to finance other goals 10/1010
11. Don't buy any clothes for a month 7/31
12. Use pain machine every day for a month record if it helps 0/31
13. Go to comedy club 0/1
14. Go to cinema that has sofas in Knightbridge 0/1
15. Go to outdoor cinema 0/1
16. Cover sofa cushions 0/5
17. Get Front garden tidyed 0/1
18. Insulate loft space and put flooring 0/1
19. Fix fence at bottom of garden 0/1
20. Plant more flowers in garden
21. Get curtains for front room 0/1
22. De-clutter every cupboard in house 0/15
23. Spring clean every room- not me!! 0/8
24. Complete the dreaded Disability form 0/1
25. Dye my hair purple or blue or pink before I am too old to 0/1
26. Become a Reiki Master 0/1
27. Try a flotation tank 0/1
28. Learn Turkish good enough to hold conversation in shop or restaurant 0/2
29. Stay in Belleek Castle in Ireland 0/1
30. Drink 8 glasses of water a day for a month 0/31
31. Go for a ride in a hot air balloon 0/1
32. Go to have feet nibbled at place in Turkey 0/1
33.Ride on banana sofa by sea 0/1
34. Go to Saltsburg to waltz and opera with David 0/1
35. Get a tattoo even if it is fake haha 0/1
36. Drive an open top sports car 0/1
37. Go to Istanbul 0/1
38. Have a bonfire with all papers re work complaint 1/1completed marvellous - see photo!
39. Swim the English Channel in pool 0/38000yards
40. Go to lunch alone with each of my children-don't be scared kids 1/4
41. Make some soap 0/4
42. Go blackberrying and make jam 0/6 pots
43. Meditate every day for a month 0/31
44. Learn to play ukulele one song well 0/1
45. Wear makeup every weekend for a month 0/4
46. Have eyelashes dyed 0/1
47. Make air raid shelter into house 0/1
48. Listen to all songs on ipod A-Z 153 now on B/3765
49. Make some saresses- sarong like dress for family and friends 0/4
50. Make pattern for dress and make it 0/1
51. Go to tea dance in afternoon 0/1
52. Sing karaoke in public 0/1
53. go dancing with friends 0/1
54. visit all pubs in Surrey bit of 2009 good beer guide with fire with David 2/69
55. Wear a dress every day for a week 7/7
56. Wear everything in my wardrobe at least once or give it away 2/50 ish
57. Keep gratitiude journal for month 5 things a day 0/31
58. Go on a picnic 0/1
59. Book a hotel on Friday to go on Saturday 0/1
60. Take dance class (with husband for bonus £10) 0/1
61. Take some good photos and enlarge and frame them 0/4
62. Have family portrait done 0/1
63. Make use of library go at least ten times 0/10
64. Go to Bath for a holiday 0/1
65. Have a clothes swapping party – swishing 0/1
66. Add more slate to back garden 0/1
67. Go to auction and buy something nice 0/1
68. Blow big bubbles in the garden with Catrina my grand daughter 0/1
69. Go to three art galleries 0/3
70. Send up a video to you've been framed 0/1
71. Read all books on bedroom shelf and give away ones don't need to keep 0/50
72. Watch 50 new DVDs 0/50
73. Read a Turkish book or newspaper 0/1
74. Write a short story and send it to a magazine 0/1
75. Make and print family recipe book 0/12
76. Do an online blog for a month 7/31
77. Learn to put talking books onto my computer instead of having to ask P or T 0/12
78. Start a website ask for help P or T 1/1
79. Write a song 0/1
80. Sing a song and record it 0/1
81. Ride on a trike in London 0/1
82. Spend a weekend doing exactly what I want once a year 0/3
83, Go to a spa once a year 0/3
84. Go to Ritz for high tea 0/1
85. Go to London be a tourist on tourist bus 0/1
86. Give 5- just because-gifts 0/5
87. Donate 1,000,000 grains of rice to www.freerice.com 5000/1,000,000
88. Ride on back of tandem 0/1
89. Paint an oil painting on canvas 0/1
90. Make a quilt 0/1
91. Knit a squares blanket 0/1
92. Go to belly dancing class 0/1
93. Write a book in a month www.nanowrimo.org 0/1
94. Beat David on the Nintendo Wiiplay ideally tennis but will settle for golf 0/1
95. Holiday with kids here and in Turkey 0/2
96. Furnish house in Turkey planned March- April 2008 0/1
97. Make a bean bag 0/1
98. Give myself reiki every day for a month 0/31
99. Share a skill-reflexology or Indian head massage, computer training with Joyce 1/4
100. Learn how to make cards 0/12
101. Go to flower show 0/1

Note: This was Linda's list as at 12th March 2008. If she keeps us updated the list will be changed accordingly. Good luck - here's hoping you achieve it all Linda!