Completed Task: 47. Give A Homeless Person An Xmas Gift.
When I saw this task on another 101 list I knew it was one for me. Since there aren’t too many Christmas’s available to you in a 1001 day period I wanted to get this one done this Christmas.
The first hurdle I came across was what to gift to get. I didn’t want to just do a card with money but wanted to get an actual gift, wrap it and include a Christmas card. After much debate I settled on a medium sized chocolate figure and a candy cane with Xmas decoration on it. It wasn’t a huge gift but once all wrapped up looked really nice.
The second hurdle was who I was going to give it to. While I was sure there were many homeless people in Rotterdam I had no idea where to find them. I was starting to think I was just going to have to wander the streets of Rotterdam when RC came up with the idea of giving my present to the man who sells the Street Paper nearby.
So today I headed off in the rain with all fingers crossed that he would be there. The first thing I did was purchase the magazine from him and explained in my best Dutch that I didn’t want any change. Then I stuttered out my well rehearsed phrase…
“Dit is een kerst cadeautje voor uw.” (This is a Christmas present for you.)
…while holding over my present and card. I got a very kind thank you and the traditional three kisses and was wished a merry Christmas and New Years. This was definetly one of my favourite 101 tasks to complete.
Completed Task: 64. Make Use Of My BlueMountain.com Membership.
Irritated that, even despite having removed my payment details from my account page, I was charged for the another yearly subscription www.bluemountain.com, I decided to make the most of it and send out lots of e-cards. In the end I sent out over 100 e-cards in the year. And actually, once you got into the habit of using the site, set up a few groups and updated the address book it was pretty smooth sailing.
Ironically, I decided to renew my membership when it ran out this year, so another year of e-cards awaits. 
)
My 101 List
In December 2007, while surfing the Internet, I came across a random 101 list. Firstly, from this 101 list I found out about a number of interesting ideas, websites and projects to take part in. Secondly I learned all about the world of 101 in 1001.
The Mission:
Complete 101 pre-set tasks in a period of 1001 days. See Day Zero for more information.
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 organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
I never did find that 101 list again but I am glad that I stumbled across it as I have gained a lot from it. As have my many friends and family members that have gone on to create their own 101 in 1001.
Below is my 101 list which started on January 1st 2008 and is set to finish on September 28th 2010.
1. Complete 101 list.
2. Learn Dutch well enough to pass the Dutch exams.
3. Complete my masters degree.
4. Complete the 50 Book Challenge.
5. Maintain a blog that people enjoy reading.
6. Complete Dream Director.
7. Make DVDs of my digital photos.
8. Scrapbook
9. Take a last minute city break.
10. See an Einaudi concert in Rome.
11. Go on a horseback riding holiday.
12. Learn about wine tasting.
13. Take a hot-air balloon ride.
14. Take a walk in the rain.
15. Sleep under the stars.
16. Learn to play a song on the piano.
17. Organise the basement.
18. Finish the guest room.
19. Explore every region of Holland.
20. Send a message in a bottle.
21. Visit all 7 continents.
22. Learn to touch type (officially).
23. Swim with dolphins.
24. Fly a kite.
25. Milk a cow.
26. See a monkey in the wild.
27. Make a photo album for a loved one.
28. Send a handwritten letter each month for at least a year.
29. Pick apples.
30. Make space cake.
31. Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
32. Invest in the stock market.
33. Complete a 1000 piece puzzle.
34. Sponsor a child.
35. Raise money for charity.
36. Overcome a fear.
37. Stay overnight in a haunted location.
38. Write a book.
39. Go into a library, randomly select a book and read it.
40. Start my own strange holiday.
41. Learn to solve a rubiks cube.
42. Complete the 26 Things Scavanger Hunt.
43. Participate in PostCrossing.
44. Add and update all my books in LibraryThing.
45. Learn my mobile phone number.
46. Pull off an April Fools Prank.
47. Give a homeless person an Xmas gift.
48. Buy a stranger something from their Amazon wishlist.
49. Find my signature dish.
50. Celebrate my half birthday.
51. See the Northern Lights (again).
52. Do up the balcony.
53. Build up to drinking eight glasses of water a day.
54. Purchase and take care of a plant for downstairs.
55. Learn how to knit.
56. Work on my Chinese brush painting.
57. Cycle once a week (at least).
58. Organize (and keep it that way) the house.
59. Take more pictures.
60. Volunteer
61. Complete scuba diving training.
62. Attend a Tony Robbins Seminar.
63. Organize I-tunes music.
64. Make use of my BlueMountain.com membership.
65. Get Christmas and birthday gifts organised early.
66. Turn off the lights when not using them.
67. Recycle as much as possible.
68. Buy fruit and veg from the local farm rather than in the shop.
69. Take an open learning course.
70. Makeover my commute.
71. Eat my lunch outside.
72. Resolve OU complaint.
73. Take vitamins/minerals every day for a month (hopefully by then it will be a habit).
74. Do a DIY mask/facial once a week.
75. Complete Moodgym.
76. Complete a community challenge.
77. Locate an old friend and keep in touch.
78. Buy the wine of the month for a year, learn about the wine and appreciate drinking it.
79. Visit Vinopolis.
80. Go to Euro Disney.
81. Take a trip with The Adventure Company.
82. Visit all the zoos in the Netherlands.
83. Get healthy.
84. Deal with all post the moment it comes through the door.
85. Keep a wine journal.
86. Enter a photo competition.
87. Visit a monastery.
88. Try a new restaurant in Rotterdam.
89. Try pottery.
90. Throw a dinner party.
91. Try archery.
92. Go cave diving.
93. Make an art sculpture.
94. Go to a concert.
95. Learn to use photoshop.
96. Go have a top notch haircut.
97. Make a ship in a bottle.
98. View a property that is way out of my price range.
99. Visit a candle factory.
100. Try to break a strange world record.
101. Try glass blowing.
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Recent
- Completed Task: 46. Pull off an April Fools Prank.
- Completed Task: 94. Go to a concert.
- Completed Task: 77. Locate an old friend and keep in touch.
- Completed Task: 41. Learn to solve a rubik’s cube.
- Completed Task: 6. Complete Dream Director.
- Completed Task: 42. Complete the 26 Things Scavanger Hunt.
- Completed Task: 72. Resolve OU complaint
- Completed Task: 47. Give A Homeless Person An Xmas Gift.
- Completed Task: 95. Learn To Use Photoshop.
- Completed Task: 88. Try A New Restaurant In Rotterdam
- Completed Task: 84. Deal With All Post The Moment It Comes Through The Door.
- Completed Task: 70. Makeover My Commute.
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