In January 2011, I ran across a little list created by Glamour magazine of ideas single gals ought to consider doing while they are free as a bird. For fun, I went through the list and commented on each item. Well, I've decided it's time to give you an update. I won't review the items I'd already accomplished, but I will revisit the items that, as of one year ago, were left unchecked. Below you'll see that I've extracted each item along with its old answer, and in a new color, I've written the status of that item as of today. The original list had 36 items on it. Ready, go!
1. Go to a movie alone. One time I went to meet friends at E Street Cinema for a movie, and I couldn't find them because there is no cell service down in their theaters, so I sat down to see "Waiting for Superman" which I had wanted to see and was almost done in theaters. But, then they found me, and I watched "Fair Game" with them, and it was fun. So, I haven't done this, but I came close and would be fine with doing this.
I have not gone to a movie alone yet. Isn't that silly? I mean, I'm a foreigner here. I have the perfect excuse to be by myself in a movie theater. What if I have no friends? What if in my home land, going to movies alone is what people do? Alas, neither is the case. I will do this one though. I will.
2. Lift weights. I swim. It's free for DC residents and my current financial situation (the rent is too damn high) does not really allow much for a gym membership. I'll stick to the chlorine routine, thank you.
Hmmm, I think I'm further from lifting weights than I was last year. It mostly comes down to the fact that I must carefully plan where my money goes, and to a monthly gym membership doesn't make the list. I do however buy passes to my local swimming pool here, though I swim wayyyy less often than I was. I also took majorly for granted how nice it was to have free access to DC's pools. 3€ for per 90 minute pass is not as awesome.
5. Live alone, or at least move apartments in NYC without the help of family. I will live alone when the rent is not so damn high.
I live alone! and though my friends helped me pack up my life and move it from DC, and my family had to listen to me stress out over sorting out that life and fitting it into 2 suitcases to live out of for one year, I did, actually, move across an ocean without the help of close friends and family to assist me at both point A and point B. This one-- big, fat checkmark!
6. Train for (and finish) a huge physical test like a half-marathon. USMS does a one hour swim during the month of January. I'm doing it. Half an "X" for this one...
Ok, well, I didn't do that swim, though I did train for and compete in multiple swim meets last Spring, including USMS Nationals. I am running one of those crazy 15km obstacle course "dashes" at the end of May. I'm not really "training" so much as eating cake, but I'll have to run now and again so that I don't make a fool out of myself there. I don't really know if that means I can check this one off or not.
7. Go to a scary doctor’s appointment by yourself. So far, thank God, I have not been critical enough to merit a scary doctor's appointment. But I have gone to the doctor by myself like a big girl and got a shot. That's pretty scary for me. I rocked this one.
I did this. It was scary not because I was lifethreateningly sick or anything, but because it was within my first weeks here and I had to do everything in German when I didn't know German and the doctor spoke very, very little English and I would study my German-English dictionary on my way to the appointments... and I lived. Check!
8. Quit your job. It feels so good to take a job and shove it (and not be affecting anyone else’s livelihood). Not on your life. Have you looked at the jobless rates right now? I will strategically transfer careers when the correct opportunity presents itself.
Welp, I did this. Not because I wanted to "take my job and shove it", as this item states, but I did this because I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to move to Germany. I now also remember how tiring looking for jobs is. Check!
9. Fly to a foreign country by yourself. I like to travel. Lots. I fly by myself all the time and have since I was, what, 11? Flying to Hawaii from DC is a chore, but since it's not a foreign country, I'm going to play by the rules and not X this one off.
Oh boy, check, check, check, check, check. I have now increased the number of countries I've been in from 5 to 11 and have trained/planed/walked into them. Thank you, Europe, for the unbelievable amount of countries and cultures packed into a relatively small space. Glorious.
21. Attend a wedding (or 15) alone.
In July, I drove a third of the way across the country with Emma. And then I drove another third of the way by myself. And when I got to Wyoming, I put on a dress, brushed my hair, and got myself to the church in time to see good friend Michael marry his lovely Laura. And I went by myself. And had so much fun. Check!
22. Date the creeps. You’ll really value the nice guys afterward. Can I amend this to say "date the nerds, they are the nice guys"? (I think people in touch with their inner nerd are fantastic, for the record.) I will not go on a date with a guy who creeps me out. I can value a nice guy without having to feel unsafe with a creeper.
Germany provided me with a creep date. Thank you ever-so-much for an always good story, dear country. And don't worry, mom. I was never in danger of any sort. Check!
25. Sit at a bar by yourself and drink a martini. How very "Sex and the City" of them. There are a billion things I'd rather do alone before drinking alone.
I have certainly now, being a foreigner and sometimes a lone travelor, had a drink in a public venue alone. Never right up at a bar all up in the bartender's zone, but outside at cafés with a glass of local wine or nice, German beer. I give this item a Check!
27. Finish all your schooling if you can. Learning is an ongoing life process. Bachelor's degree will suffice for now.
I have added language schooling to my résumé. Further proof that learning is an ongoing life process, and I will never check this one off because I plan to never be done.
28. Throw yourself into something time-consuming, like learning a foreign language. You may not have time to do this again until you retire and the kids are off to college. I'm in the works... more on this at a later date.
Holy cow... this I have earned my checkmark for. And I'm so happy to be able to say that!
30. Learn to cook well. Not my strong suit, but I have started planning my meals for the week. I shall be the Yan Can Cook in no time.
I have learned to cook creatively, given that I moved from a gorgeous kitchen to living without and oven, toaster, BBQ, blender, mixer, set of pots and pans (one of each), or most other cooking utensils commonly found in kitchens. However, "well" is not what I would classify the outcomes of cooking a la kitchenette.
32. Let your married friends edit your online dating profile. Um, first I'd need a profile. This is for people who are on the market and are concerned with being off the market.
My answer holds, though I am sure someday I'll begin to get awkwardly paired through well intended friends.
34. Babysit someone’s baby for an hour. I have babysat babies many times, but not recently. Hey Rachel, can I book a trip to Phoenix soon?? :)
Baby in reference is now closing in on the one year mark, and I have moved even more time zones away from her lovely self. I would positively adore babysitting her for an hour. Someday, someday.
35. Help a friend through her divorce or a bad break-up. I hope that no one has to go through a divorce, and I am here for anyone with a bad break up, but I don't wish for that to happen to anyone either.
A friend of mine whom I was very close to in high school recently had to deal with this, and it was a reminder to me that I should be a better friend, not only to her but to all of my friends. I can't necessarily say that I've help in any way, but I do strive to provide support to any friend who needs it and would like it.
So there you have it. 8 more definitively checked off.
Regardless of your relationship status, what have you done in the past year to branch out and grow? Tasted new foods? Picked up a new hobby? Seen a new place? Become a world-record speed diaper-changer? And what new, bold things can we do in the year ahead?!
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