"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
So says Mark Twain, and although I don't have a scooby-doo what 'bowlines' or "trade winds' are, I think I understand his point. Life is for living, not sitting by and regretting missed chances later in life. I like to think that I am a very open-minded person, and as such I have read a lot of self-improvement books and visited similar websites since I became ill in the hope of inspiring myself to live a more fulfilling life.
Last year, in the lead up to my London to Paris bike ride, I went to a talk by adventurer Alaistair Humphreys who cycled around the world. He has also cycled from Pakistan to China, walked across India and competed in the Marathon des Sables (like a normal marathon - but in a desert!!), amongst other things. He is a passionate advocate of getting out there and making the most of life and has also taken some more local challenges such as walking a lap of the M25! The talk, about his round-the-world bike ride was hugely inspirational and I am now a frequent visitor to his website.
Another source of inspiration has come from writer/presenter Danny Wallace. I used to see this guy on telly and think he was a bit of a berk, but he is actually a genius. He started his very own movement, Join Me which is now thousands and thousands of members strong and all of these people are encouraged to perform random acts of kindness towards strangers. This has the power to make the giver feel extremely satisfied and content. He then wrote a book about saying Yes to everything, Yes Man which was equally innovative. In each of these books, he has put himself out there, left his comfort zone and done things that so-called 'normal' people would consider mad - but it has broadened his horizons and led to increased career opportunities and helped him deal with life.
I have now decided to compile a 'Bucket List' of sorts - now I hope that I have many more years left on this wonderful planet but there are many things I want to do, and I need to put them down in writing as a reminder to do them. I hope to achieve most of these before I am at least 40, but you never know. The list is short at the moment, I will add to it as and when I want.
I may even set up an independent blog to document my adventures and achievements, but for now here is my initial list.... why don't you do one too?
- cycle to every city in the United Kingdom in alphabetical order
- Be an extra in a film
- Visit every football league ground in England (the 92 challenge)
- Enter the World Quiz Championships
- Volunteer
- Write a book
- Make a short film
- Set a Guinness World Record (I don't know what yet)
- Appear on a TV Quiz/Game Show
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