Introducing 101 in 1001!

If you asked me to make resolutions for this year a week ago, I’d probably say that I wanted to stop eating whole meals that consist solely of brie+fig preserves or goat cheese+local honey on crackers or to stop buying so many books in hardcover. But a standard I set for myself a few months ago was to be less negative— to stop “calling people out” when I don’t agree with them, to compliment strangers and commend excellent service, to be optimistic and uplifting and supportive. In that vein, I decided to make a list of 101 goals I want to complete in 1001 days instead. They center around doing things and bettering myself (as well as my relationships and my surroundings) rather than simply trying to eliminate bad habits.

Last year, I was introduced to the concept of 101 in 1001— a challenge in which bloggers (or anybody!) complete 101 predetermined tasks in 1001 days. I loved the idea but didn’t have time to implement it in 2011. This year, I’m doing it. You can find my comprehensive list here and the two bloggers who inspired me here and here. I would love for you to join me.

I broke my list into categories such as health, kindness, and creative/edifying goals. Some of them are easy, jumping off points (join a gym!), while others are things I want to implement into my daily routine (both working out and writing every day). Some will require lots of advance planning (host a formal charity fundraising event) or patience (learn to French braid hair— I’ve been trying since I was nine), or getting over my fears (riding my first roller coaster). Looking over my goals, they seem mainly focused on two things: trying new things and organizing the old. I tried to keep everything manageable— blogging five times a month, for example, as opposed to fifteen— so hopefully I’ll succeed. For every item on the list not completed at the end of 1001 days, I’ll be donating a dollar to a to-be-decided charitable organization.

We’re already almost a third into this month (!), but here are the goals I hope to achieve:

• Join a gym. Stop flitting around from one free two-week membership to another and actually commit.
• Renew the domain name for a website I made to fundraise for a school in India we’re building in memory of a friend and send an update about the school’s status to all of the 200+ people who donated to make it happen.
• Go through my clothes and jewelry and donate the things I don’t wear (that’s two!)
• Learn to cook something new

Additionally, I’m working on on-going goals, one of which is to read one new fiction and one new non-fiction book every month {no. 27}. At the beginning of the January, I read and really enjoyed Night Circus, a novel I’ve wanted to pick up since reading a WSJ article on it this past August. It’s an easy, fun read with fantastical elements and wonderful details. I just started my non-fiction option, The Convert, which I was given last February but never finished. It’s about a secular Jewish woman in the 1960s who converts to Islam and moves to Pakistan. It’s very interesting so far, and I’m always intrigued to read about Partition from the Pakistani/Muslim side, since I grew up hearing first-hand accounts of what happened to Hindu-Indians.

I also went to my first Atlanta Underground Market this weekend, which neatly crosses off my first of many new adventures in Atlanta {no. 82}.  The AUM is a secret market— the location is only disclosed the night before— full of gourmet food vendors who cook out of their own homes instead of restaurant-grade kitchens. It was held in the ballroom of the Atlanta History Center this month and the effect was oddly reminiscent of the International Festivals we held every year in our high school gym— but in a good way and with much better food than the blender-made mango lassi we used to always give out at the festival. The vendors sold everything from ginger lemonade and hibiscus flower juice to bacon+chocolate petit fours with crepes, arepas, sliders, and tamales in between. There were plenty of options for people who don’t eat meat, dairy, or wheat, and fare from Brazilian, Ethiopia, India (North and South both featured), Japan and Trinidad made appearances, and so did cupcakes, cake pops, pots de creme, and truffles. I tried a five-cheese macaroni with dark chocolate cabernet wine jelly and definitely enjoyed it— I’m a fan of mixing sweet + savory but had never done so with mac and cheese before— and a green tea + pomegranate cupcake. Friends of mine had pork curry from Kerala and gluten-free donuts that came with a variety of sauces including salted caramel and orange-rosemary. The one thing I was intrigued by but didn’t get? Sweet potato + Nutella empanadas. The market was a great experience and I hope to attend another one soon.

What do y’all think? Are you better at getting things done when you make lists?

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