You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely.
-Ogden Nash
I had a birthday over the weekend, and though it didn’t end in a zero I sort of dreaded this one – perhaps because I’ve been feeling a bit boring lately. As Solo PR Pros, many of us work alone, so the occasional funk can happen (yes, I choose to call this a funk, rather than a mid-life you-know-what).
So I had a thought: “when I turn 50 in a few years, maybe I should resolve to do 50 things I enjoyed when I was younger.” But then I thought, “why wait ‘til my 50th? I can do them now!” I got a jump start on the fun on my birthday, which I chose to spend riding Go Karts and playing arcade games (it was just what I needed).
In case others may find this endeavor worth trying – or in the event it will inspire you to make up your own personally motivating exercise – I’m sharing my list of silliness below. Obviously, everyone’s list will be different (many of mine are embarrassingly girly and/or boozy J), but consider this an invitation: would you like to join me in my year of immaturity? 🙂
In no particular order, I plan to do one thing each week until my next birthday:
- Ride a moped at the beach
- Tell someone off when they're being sexist
- Wear really big earrings
- Make a big deal out of Valentine's Day
- Spend an hour on the phone with a friend
- Do some old-school dance moves (The Bird, anyone?)
- Chew bubble gum
- Take an unplanned road trip
- Watch music videos
- Have a party and invite everyone I know
- Volunteer at the Food Bank
- Go to a music festival
- Watch Melrose Place
- Play a practical joke
- Stay up late and sleep until noon
- Play a board game
- Write a letter
- Wear makeup every day for a week
- Play a game with a child
- Go to the midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Read a book for pleasure
- Go to a movie without reading the reviews first
- Spend a day outside at the park
- Go shopping and try on outfits I would never purchase
- Go to the drive in
- Watch a weird underground movie
- Take a long time getting ready to go out
- Drink wine coolers (do they even make these anymore??)
- Go see the Stone Mountain laser show
- Throw water balloons at somebody
- Watch Harold and Maude
- Go see a musical
- Wear something inappropriate
- Color in a coloring book
- Ride bumper cars
- Wear my hair big
(it used to be really big, ya'll) - Play a board game
-
Be a New Orleanian for a day
- Wear a wig and a boa (most likely combined with #38!)
- Blow bubbles
- Dance on a table
- Have a picnic
- Go to a punk show
- Make an impulse purchase
- Spend a day “lying out” by a pool
- Do a pub crawl with friends
- Have a Cat Stevens sing along
- Eat at a midnight buffet
- “Get the Led out” at 9pm (a Memphis tradition!)
- Swing on a park swing
I’ve been compiling this list for over a month now, and I have to say just reminiscing has been a ton of fun – I can’t imagine what it will be like to do them! Did I miss anything? What would be on your list? Let us know in the comments!
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I love this list! Last year I made a list of 50 ways to celebrate my 50th birthday all year. It was a combination of silly, fun things; things I would do more of to change for the better; volunteering; and stretch goals. It was awesome! This year I’m doing a similar smaller list but 3 things per quarter. I see some things on your list that I might steal! 🙂
Thank you for wedging that earworm “The Bird” into my brain for the rest of today. Hallelujah! I love this list. If you’d like company for #11, I’m game. I did #29, so it’s safe for you to skip it.
Love it! And yes, please steal away (it’s The Bird, right?). J
You’re welcome. 🙂 Yes, I do other volunteer activities, but when I was younger I loved the Food Bank – there’s something zen about sorting all those boxes…
This definitely made me smile! Drink wine coolers? Ohhh, boy! I hate being a grownup sometimes. What an ideal way to fight it off. Thanks for a great idea!
Run through a water sprinkler in the summer. If no sprinkler is available, just get silly with a garden hose.
Thanks, Jennifer – I was in danger of becoming too grown up. 🙂
Good one! I wonder when water from sprinklers became something to fear, rather than enjoy? Probably around the age a gal starts worrying about her hair!
I’m closer to 50 than you – I’m inspired by this list. Will be thinking about my list.
Great idea, and thanks for sharing your list, Kellye.
So which one are you doing (or did you do) this week?!
I should have included “make ‘magic potions’ using laundry detergent with my cousins”! J
Thanks, Gail!
This week is “make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day.” Most years Tim and I just look at each other and say, “Oh, it’s Valentine’s Day today. How ’bout that.” 🙂
Oh, I should’ve guessed! You’ll have to let us know how it goes. 🙂