The Inspired Writer

Mridu has an amazing post on things to do before she turns 30. I commented on the post, mentioning that some years ago, I re-discovered a diary entry (the days before blogs!) and found a list of ‘things to do before I die’. I had forgotten all about that list. And I was very happy to be able to cross out several items.

Writing about things makes them happen. I’ve always believed this to be true. In an attempt to give voice to new dreams and old, here is a renewed list.

May it happen for me.

I want to (in no particular order):

1. Be a full-time writer. (w.e.f August 2008.)
2. Take an art class.
3. Paint / be original in my art.
4. Start a business in interiors.
5. Re-start my training workshops.
6. Learn to illustrate.
7. Take part in a marathon (2003. Okay, I didn’t run the whole thing – just 7k, but it was the ‘taking part’ which was the goal, not running a full marathon!)
8. Run (part of a running group 2005-2007)
9. Be published and paid for my writing. (2005-present)
10. Start a ‘Writers in Schools’ project in India.
11. Learn to dance properly. (Tango lessons, 2006. Ballroom classes pending.)
12. Write fiction.
13. Learn to swim.
14. Cut my hair short. Real short. (Finally. June 2009)
15. Let my hair go grey without interference
16. Write more hand written letters.
17. Learn to cook.(2005)
18. Travel abroad.(2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007,2008.)
19. Live abroad. (2005-2008.)
20. Have a portrait painted.
21. Be self-employed / run my own business. (2005-present)
22. Get married. (2005)
23. Have a child.  (February 2009) 
24. Adopt a child.
25. Buy my own house.
26. Go to a Michael Bolton concert. (2006)
27. Own a bookstore.
28. Work in a library. (Does being in-charge of the office library count? Didn’t think so.)
29. Run a 5k. (2006)
30. Start a charity.
31. Volunteer.
32. Learn to renovate old furniture.
33. Learn to DIY.
34. Make a scrapbook.
35. Have an exhibition of my art (target: by Dec 2009).
36. Grow lavender
37. Read a 100 books a year or more.
38. Photography: make it to the cover of a mag (talking about photos I’ve taken)
39. Organise a literary festival (target: Dec 2010)
40. Start/work with a project to bring libraries within the reach of every child. (Room to Read?)
41. Work with municipal schools for reading programs, libraries, mobile books.
42. Have a garden, a green expanse to blot out the world.
43. Clean up Goa.
44. Do ‘Morning Pages’ for three months. Repeat.