28 Things
It's my 28th birthday, and I've decided to share 28 things I'm going to do in the next year…
- Blog daily. One of my aims is to document the build-up to the next expedition - the training, the preparation of gear/food/etc - on a day-by-day basis. I'll probably start this late next month, with a 12-month countdown…
- Get some swim coaching. I'm useless at front crawl, and I'm going to need to change this on order to…
- Complete an Ironman triathlon. I'm not sure which one yet - maybe New Zealand or South Africa. Watch this space.
- Eat organic.
- Go to bed earlier. I've been averaging 1am recently.
- Get up earlier. Averaging 8am. Not enough zzzzs.
- Give ten presentations for free (to state schools, charities and youth groups).
- Learn about China. I know most of the States in America, but I couldn't tell you anything about China's 22 Provinces.
- Call my mum more often.
- Eat lower GI food.
- Race the Ballbuster Duathlon.
- Start using my Flickr account.
- Learn to cook.
- Learn to dance. (For me, this is probably the scariest of the 28.)
- Learn to say no.
- Learn to ask for (more) money.
- Learn to deal with confrontation. (See point 17.)
- Learn to *never* sign a contract without getting a lawyer to look at it. (See point 16.)
- Finish the Expedition Resources section of this website.
- Get my VO2 MAX to 65ml/kg/min. (This will only mean something to the fitness geeks amongst you. I'm around 60 at the moment.)
- Start writing a book.
- Take self-defence lessons. (Probably Krav Maga.)
- Do some commercial web design. And then…
- Open a savings account. (And pay into it!) I have no savings right now. No pensions, no investments, nada.
- Stretch more.
- Stay on top of my emails. I'm getting a shed-load of email nowadays, and it's going to take a bit of focus, discipline and ruthlessness to stop the inbox overflowing again (I've answered 338 emails in the last seven days).
- Speak more. Professionally, I mean - motivational and after dinner speaking.
- Take my mum to New York. I promised her this years ago. It's one of my favourite cities and she'd love it.
{ Filed under Random thoughts and reflection on Friday, August 5th, 2005. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site. }
Ben Saunders is the youngest person to ski solo to the North Pole and holds the record for the longest solo Arctic journey by a Briton.
Rachel wrote:
Happy birthday, Ben!
What a delightful list of goals.
I hope 28 is an amazing year for you. I know it will be.
August 5 2005 · 1:13 am
irene wrote:
Nice list. I have frighteningly similar one in many ways - above. Only my loftiest goal is a 1/2 ironman, which is not too on track at the moment, and much beneath what you've set your sights on. I don't know if I'll ever want to do the full ironman. Anyway, just wanted to advise you to get the best swim coach you can possibly find, no matter what the cost - it's been totally worth it for me. And check out http://www.totalimmersion.net if you haven't already heard about that method of learning to swim better. I've been in the program for the last 8 months and went from not being able to swim 25 meters without choking to swimming my first 800 meters in open water. I tried Krav Maga 2 years ago but didn't stick with it because of work not allowing enough time, but it also rocks, totally worth it. I joined a martial arts gym and it and wushu were my two favorites, vs 10 other kinds I tried there. anywho, happy bday and good luck this next year of your life, may all of your goals and dreams come true!
August 5 2005 · 2:37 am
Superflid wrote:
Happy birthday Ben, have a great one.
The list is a great idea, but at 45 I'm not old enough to get all the things I should do onto mine, maybe if I did one for my age in months………
August 5 2005 · 7:01 am
Peter J Lambert wrote:
Happy birthday Ben. Have a good one mate.
I reach my quarter century next week. Time to start doing some of the things I always said I would do before I was 25. THink I might need a list too.
August 5 2005 · 8:28 am
John Hornbaker wrote:
Happy Birthday Ben! Great goals. I'm afraid I can't help you with the scary one, but I can help you with the swim coaching.
August 5 2005 · 8:36 am
Ben wrote:
Thanks everyone. Irene - yowzer, that's some list… Peter - I'm glad you worked out who has the fish - it took us a while as well…
And John - I'd love to hear more (although be prepared for the hardcore adventurer facade to slip as soon as you see my floundering breaststroke)
August 5 2005 · 8:48 am
Helen wrote:
Happy Birthday Ben! Glad you have caught up with Tony - again. Of the list, No. 9 is the most important (!) - we mums need cosseting for the next 18 months whilst you pursue your dreams… Thanks for the link to Steve's blog - will follow his progress.
August 5 2005 · 9:38 am
Ben wrote:
I'm hoping I didn't jinx my brother's trip (!) - hours after I linked to his site, he and Kat were forced to stop with knee problems…
August 5 2005 · 11:01 am
Michael wrote:
Hello Ben, the list looks very impressive but I am afraid I didn't get beyond item 17 - some kind of weird vortex struck and I got stuck there. Also, point 6 - if you are not getting enough sleep, I would recommend getting up later, not earlier. You need your sleep if you are going to do all those things. I believe you can get to the south pole in the way you intend, but I have my doubts about completing the list - you could maybe set up another blog on completing the list challenge. Oh and happy birthday.
From Michael (occasional visitor to your website)
August 5 2005 · 3:15 pm
Rich...! wrote:
Happy birthday bro. Many more. Here's hoping I can help with #27…!
August 5 2005 · 6:28 pm
Shannon wrote:
Happy B-day Ben!
It's great to have goals…when you keep them it feels so good to look back at what you've accomplished!
Shannon
August 5 2005 · 7:47 pm
Mark Lloyd wrote:
Heh Ben, happy birthday. So a quiet year ahead then;-)
August 5 2005 · 10:20 pm
Wren wrote:
Happy birthday, Ben! I hope it's a great one.
I just happened by your blog and am very glad to have found it.
Hello from Montreal, Canada.
August 6 2005 · 4:03 pm
coda wrote:
Happy Belated Birthday, Ben! (p.s. I know a good swimming coach if you're looking ;)
August 8 2005 · 12:37 pm