Always, Bekah

View Original

101 in 1,001: The Recap

1,007 days ago, I started a challenge.

The challenge was to make a list of 101 things to do in 1,001 days. I got the idea from Coffee With Keri, who encouraged me to make a list of my own and try the challenge.

Over the last 1,001 days, roughly 2 1/2 years, a lot has happened. I’m not one for excuses, but it has occurred to me that many of the things I did not complete likely would have been checked off, had we not, you know, experienced a global pandemic for 2 years. Just saying.

That’s life, though. I’ve accomplished many things on the list, and I haven’t gotten to a lot of the things on the list. There are some things that I thought were really important in 2019, that I couldn’t care less about today. There are some things that I’ve done that I wouldn’t have dreamed of even putting on the list. There are some things that I wouldn’t have had the guts to write down 3 years ago, and now I’m sharing them openly.

I know that the Bekah who wrote this first list would be so proud of the one completed who’s completed the challenge today.

Yes, completed. Because it doesn’t matter if I did everything on the list. I get to make another one and keep track and see how much I can do in the next 1,001 days.

Let’s go.

101 in 1,001

  1. Get a job in a field that I love. (June 2021)

  2. Update my blog at least once a week. (August 2022)

  3. Have 100 subscribers. Not quite there yet! Sharing this blog is huge, so if you like what you read here, please share with a friend!

  4. Do a guest post. (November 2019) Thanks, Keri!

  5. Start a new series on the blog. ( June 2020)

  6. Attend a blogging conference.

  7. Attend a social media conference.

  8. Take a photography class.

  9. Design a new logo for the blog. (July 2020)

  10. Create a Facebook page for my blog. (November 2019)

  11. Sign up for a fun half-marathon out of state. On to the next list!

  12. Finish the half marathon.

  13. Hike at least 5 different mountains (Acadia- Beehive + Precipice, Shenandoah, Rainbow Mountain, Machu Picchu). (February 2022)

  14. Heal knee. (February 2021? ish?)

  15. Try a chiropractor. (January 2020)

  16. Do yoga every day for 30 days.

  17. Buy a really nice workout outfit. (February 2020)

  18. Drink half my weight in ounces of water every single day. Check.

  19. Splurge on the good moisturizer (March 2021).

  20. Eat vegetarian for one whole week.

  21. Complete 2 Beachbody programs.

  22. Write letters of love + encouragement to 5 people a year.

  23. Purchase a new devotional. (January 2020)

  24. Dedicate 20 minutes every morning to prayer and devotions for 90 days. Check.

  25. Serve on SLT.

  26. Serve on Emmaus weekend.

  27. Serve on a Chrysalis flight.

  28. Organize church 5K and increase goal every year (2020, 2021,2022).

  29. Write a talk and speak at church or some event.

  30. Start tithing consistently (January 2021).

  31. Read 50+ books per year (5 biographies, 5 classics, 10 nonfictions, 10 re-reads). I haven’t done this yet, but I’m on track to complete this year!

  32. Find an opportunity to speak publicly on a topic that matters to me.

  33. Refrain from social media for one week (March 2021).

  34. Do Last 90 Days (2019, 2020, 2021)

  35. Go one month without shopping.

  36. Try 20 new recipes, and post them (both good + bad). Check out my recipes here!

  37. Unplug for 24 hours (no tv or internet).

  38. Listen to a new podcast every month.

  39. Give each member of my family an amazing gift.

  40. Donate blood.

  41. Learn to tie a tie.

  42. Vote in the next election (November 2020).

  43. Upgrade iPhone (October 2021).

  44. Play a show with the GAB. (December 2019)

  45. Send flowers to my grandmother out of the blue.

  46. Bless someone by paying for their meal.

  47. See Acadia National Park with Elliot. (September 2020)

  48. Travel to Singapore.

  49. Take a vacation to Hawaii.

  50. Take a trip with the entire family (both families- 2 trips)

  51. Go on a road trip with Elliot. (September 2020)

  52. Go on a week-long trip with Elliot-just the two of us. (February 2022)

  53. Visit a new state.

  54. Renew passport. (February 2020)

  55. See Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. (January 2022)

  56. Visit an orchard + go apple picking every year (2020).

  57. Take at least one trip out of state every year. (2020 - FL, ME, Aruba) (2021 - NC, VA, Cabo) (2022 - NC, Peru)

  58. Celebrate each anniversary with a fun day date. (2020, 2021)

  59. Plan a surprise weekend getaway. (February 2021)

  60. Make a will.

  61. Start looking for a single family home.

  62. Pay off car.  (October 2020)

  63. Debt-Free!

  64. Make a budget and stick to it. Check!

  65. Save 6 months of income.

  66. Start investing. (April 2020)

  67. Attend a marriage conference.

  68. Clean out spare room. (March 2020)

  69. Set up spare room to be functional. (March 2020)

  70. Have professional Christmas photos done (November 2020).

  71. Send out Christmas cards (2019, 2020, 2021)

  72. Organize bathroom and post on blog.

  73. Organize closet and post on blog.

  74. Order wedding photo prints. (May 2020)

  75. Have Christmas shopping done by December 15 (December 2021).

  76. Organize files on laptop. (January 2022)

  77. Unsubscribe from email lists.

  78. Clear off cabinets and find something cute to display (ie, vases, etc.)

  79. Host Christmas Dinner

  80. Decorate seasonally. (February 2021 - officially did fall, Christmas, spring and have summer ready)

  81. Make soup in the Instant Pot. (November 2019)

  82. Frame family + wedding photos for the stair wall. (May 2020)

  83. Touch up paint on trim. (January 2020)

  84. Freshen up/Paint front door.

  85. Freshen up/Paint shutters.

  86. Find cute wall décor for bathrooms. (September 2020 - powder room)

  87. Hang paintings and photos (June 2020).

  88. Unpack the last few boxes and throw away anything I don’t need anymore (January 2021).

  89. Acquire a piano or quality keyboard. (April 2020)

  90. See 2 Broadway shows.

  91. Finish Game of Thrones.

  92. Get a mani/pedi and don’t feel guilty about self-care. (June 2022)

  93. Establish a morning routine. (June 2021)

  94. Send a care package, just because.

  95. Go to UD homecoming one year.

  96. Take Ellie and Mollie to an agility class.

  97. Enroll Ellie in a therapy course.

  98. Get a couples massage.

  99. Come up with 101 things to do in 1,001 days. (November 2019)

  100. Create my next “101 things in 1,001 days” list. Haven’t finished yet, stay tuned later on this month for Round 2!

  101. Complete the “101 things in 1,001 days” challenge. CHECK!

52/101

Here’s what’s not on the list, but I did it anyway.

Learn to bake from scratch.

Get pregnant.

Change careers.

Watch Elliot graduate college.

Get in the best shape of my life.

Learn to be a better wife (always working on that one!)

Start going to therapy.

Rebrand the blog and launch.

I strongly encourage you to make a list of your own. Put things on the list that you’ve always wanted to do, know you’re going to do, and some things you’ve always said you’re “going to get around to do”. This has been such a fun challenge for me.

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3