50 WAYS TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL
Earlier, I found an article on Vice who had found a survey about 50 things for a fulfilled and happy life.
1. STOP WORRYING ABOUT MONEY.
I do and I don't. I'm stupid and impulsive with money, which I guess makes me both happy and sad. Happy because, whatever, this new item of clothing looks fucking good but, sad because at the back of my head I can see my mum shaking her head and being worried about whether I can afford to feed myself one day to the next.
ACHIEVED?: Sort of.
2. STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK.
Ah yes, this old gem. It's true. I really don't worry. Countless people have told me I'm weird over the years and I used to take offence, but now I can see where they're coming from. A flatmate of mine once sat me down and told me that I'm a liar because I don't care about what other people think. I'm fairly happy with who I am and it's not like I'm friendless, so why should I worry about what people in club toilets think of me for that brief meeting as we wrestle for a spot in front of the mirror? Sure, it's a bit harder if you like someone and that person thinks you're a complete wanker, but come on, you know you're cool deep down so fuck them.
ACHIEVED?: Yes.
3. TAKE 2 HOLIDAYS A YEAR.
You know what, I'd really love to, but my student loan doesn't cover that, thanks. A holiday with friends would no doubt stress me out overall because I can't even hack Reading Festival without a major amount of eyerolling.
ACHIEVED?: No.
4. ENJOY THE LITTLE COMFORTS.
I do, oh how I do. Let's not lie to ourselves and say that we don't enjoy it when someone we don't like gets pimp slapped by karma and they're weeping into that 140 character box on twitter about how hard it is. Or maybe I am just a bitter person. Who knows. Other things include finding good things in the sale and music.
ACHIEVED?: Yes
5. EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT CULTURES
Been on holiday, innit.
ACHIEVED?: Yes
6. WORK TO LIVE, RATHER THAN LIVE TO WORK
One day, one day. I once had a PROPER job looking after kids parties and nothing was less rewarding than the £5 an hour it was to get stabbed by hairgrips and sat on by hyperactive children.
ACHIEVED?: No
7. PAY OFF ALL DEBTS.
Oh if only, eh? I've got a few more years of racking up ridiculous university fee debts before I can start the long, drawn out and depressing commotion of paying it all back.
ACHIEVED: No.
8. BE TRUE TO YOURSELF
God knows I am. I definitely embrace my lazy, weird self daily, but that doesn't exactly mean I'm over the moon about it.
ACHIEVED?: Yes
9. CONCENTRATE ON WHAT YOU HAVE INSTEAD OF WHAT YOU DON’T
I try to. But then I go to TopShop.
ACHIEVED?: Sort of
10. USE MONEY FOR FUN RATHER THAN A RAINY DAY
You don't need to tell me this, because I do it already. However, I used to use my money for 'fun' at the shithole that is Purple Turtle and now that I look back on it, well the last few times, it wasn't really fun at all. It was, and still is, a cess pool of twats. So I guess be wise with your money depending on the amount of fun it is. It is true though, I do feel better after I've spent money on myself doing something that I've enjoyed.
ACHIEVED: Yes
11. MAKE TIME FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
I always have time for family and friends because I have fuck all else to do really. And whilst, yes, they can bring happiness, they can also bring me moments where I think 'I'd rather be on my goddamn fucking own.' For example, parental nagging. Also, what if your friends barely make time for you? It's enough to make me want to go to their houses and egg them.
ACHIEVED: I guess.
12. TRY ALL TYPES OF FOOD.
I try and it aggravates me when people don't bother and stick to stuff like chips and a burger constantly. Fair enough, that's what you like, but shit, broaden yourself. My last boyfriend and I could never eat out because he basically couldn't handle anything other than pizzas and burgers. Not even Nando's (see that's changed now, HUH). Insufferable. He also didn't know how to work an oven either, so.
ACHIEVED: I've tried a lot but I wouldn't say I feel happy. Unless I'm eating when i'm hungry. Then yeah.
13. FIND TRUE LOVE
Uuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmm, yeah because that's easy. Can anyone fucking do this though, or do they just end up settling because they're 'hopeless romantics' (or just hopeless in general) and/or lonely. I'm 19. I've gotten to the point now where I know I don't want to look back at my younger years when I'm like 30 and have a burning desire to slap myself and think 'wow what a waste of time.' I'm also awfully unromantic and too immature. I think I'll have to grow up first before I can even be bothered to find this.
ACHIEVED?: I mean, I think I've been in love, but not true love. It's no 'Still Into you' by Paramore situation 4 months down the line, it's usually just a sense of 'well, this is it then,' so er, slightly?
14. TRAVEL TO AT LEAST 25 FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Erm, that would be nice wouldn't it? I'm also only 19 so there's plenty of time to scrape up those pennies before dying, having only visited 24 countries.
ACHIEVED?: Not right now.
15. GO OUTSIDE MORE
It depends where you go though, doesn't it? If I take a trip into the city centre I KNOW this won't bring me any more happiness than me sat inside weeping at not being happy. The city centre, from my experience in both Oxford and Southampton mainly, is full of awful people. People who can't push their buggies properly, crying children, gangs on unruly youths just waiting to make a comment and people who walk slow, or walk and just suddenly stop. On the other hand, I can go and sit at the docks and think 'yeah, life's alright' or I can sit there and still be in the same pissed off mood that I was before I went there to 'be alone' and 'clear my head.'
ACHIEVED?: I guess.
16. LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE
I could do. I wish I could. I wish I had the patience to do so, but if my secondary school German and Spanish lessons are anything to go by, I'd really rather not.
ACHIEVED?: Parcialmente (that's partially in Spanish. According to Google Translate)
17. BE WELL THOUGHT OF BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS
It'd be nice to be well thought of by everyone, and maybe I am for the most part, but sometimes you can just tell they're thinking 'what an absolute class A asshole.' Don't blame them. I do like it when someone compliments me though (EGO!!!!!!!!!!!). Someone I met at Isle of Wight fest called me a 'good friend' when I insulted someone who upset him; I've also been called funny which I think maybe the best someone can think of me. Good job, me.
ACHIEVED: I think so.
18. HELP YOUR FAMILY WHEN THEY’RE IN NEED
When I'm raking in the big bucks due to my well handy degree, of course. I like to think I can also emotionally help them out too, but God knows I'm shit with that stuff.
ACHIEVED?: sort of?
19. LOSE 1 ST IN WEIGHT
cba.
ACHIEVED: no
20. TREAT EACH DAY LIKE IT’S YOUR LAST
It'd probably help to think like that wouldn't it? 'So what did you do on your last day?' 'well I sat in my room with the curtains closed in my pajamas, re-blogged a bunch of meaningless shit on tumblr, stalked someone good looking on facebook instead of trying to lure him to me and ate my weight in yoghurts.' Depressing.
ACHIEVED: no, not yet. or maybe ever.
21. VISIT ALL BRITAIN’S HISTORICAL LANDMARKS
See, this just doesn't really sound fun to me and I could think of better things to spend the money on travel getting to these places on. Sorry.
ACHIEVED?: no.
22. BOOK AN IMPULSIVE LAST-MINUTE HOLIDAY
I'd love to do this as i love travelling and love sporadic behaviour. But do i have the money or the friends who can do such a thing? er, no.
ACHIEVED: no.
23. VOLUNTEER FOR A CHARITY
I've yet to do this and maybe I will one day. Maybe.
ACHIEVED?: no
24. TAKE UP A CHALLENGE
Every day is a fucking challenge at this point. Do you know how many morons there are out there?
ACHIEVED?: Yes
25. GO ON SAFARI
I went on 'safari' at Marwell Zoo or something and the school van got attacked by monkeys. They ripped off the wing mirror and my teacher went a bit pale in the face. I used to have a safari game when I was like 9 years old and it pissed me off. You'd go round in your little safari truck or whatever and there were loads of winding roads before you even got to the plains and my character would die of dehydration cus i'd get fucking lost all the time.
ACHIEVED?: No
26. BLOW MONEY SHOPPING
I do that most of the time. Student loan goes in, payment to Topshop goes out.
ACHIEVED?: Yes
27. LEARN A NEW INSTRUMENT
Last year I bought a ukulele off my dear friend Kara. Every now and then I look at it and dream of being a ukulele playing sensation. But I can't quite be bothered. Yet. I'd like to learn drums, tbh. Aggressive. I used to play the violin but my bitch year 4 teacher would make me stay in during play times to finish whatever work had been set in the maths lesson I missed. I was shit at maths, and ended up losing my playtime every week, so I quit the violin. My fingers also bend to the side like a mutant so some guitar chords are hard to play, as my guitar teacher gleefully told me as he tried teaching me 'Wild Thing' for the 100th time.
ACHIEVED?: Not yet.
28. BE MARRIED FOR LONGER THAN 20 YEARS
oh fucking hell, that'd be nice wouldn't it? maybe. if I can find someone that I can tolerate for more than a few months, which looks less and less likely every day.
ACHIEVED?: maybe one day
29. SAVE MONEY FOR YOUR GRANDCHILDREN TO ENJOY
yeah. maybe. one day. if they deserve it.
ACHIEVED?: n/a
30. START A FAMILY
I just shuddered. i'm 19. I don't want children yet. I get enough of them walking through town and people posting their brats all over facebook in albums such as 'my lil man xx.' no. fucking. thank. you.
ACHIEVED?: one day. maybe.
31. EARN MORE THAN YOUR AGE
ooooooooooooneeeeeeeeeeee daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy. if i'm lucky.
ACHIEVED?: no
32. HAVE A PET.
i've never had a pet. ever. nor am i allowed one due to my mum being allergic and 'you wouldn't even look after a fish.' when i was in primary school people felt sorry for me because of this, and the fact i was an only child. 'you must be so lonely!' they'd tell me. not really, i was overly occupied with CBBC and a game about computerised cats.
ACHIEVED?: no
33. DRIVE A REALLY FAST CAR.
Yeah... I could do, but I'd be too pussy to go really fast and besides, I hate people in fast cars who overtake you.
ACHIEVED?: no
34. TRAVEL ALONE.
I could do this. No one to piss me off. It sounds perfect.
ACHIEVED?: not yet
35. KEEP CHILDREN ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW.
yeah, fingers fucking crossed.
ACHIEVED?: not yet
36. MEET STRANGERS.
You constantly meet strangers in clubs and most of them are drunken idiots, so don't meet them there. What about online? What if they're catfishing? argh. there's no point in anything!!!!!!!!!1111111 I met someone IRL I met online once. He was weird. Apparently he used to tell ALL the girls he fancied them etc. I saw him back in May and he still looks like someone stuck in 2009 so haha.
ACHIEVED?: Yes
37. MOVE AWAY FROM HOME TO AN UNFAMILIAR PLACE.
I did and it bought me immense joy because I could do whatever the fuck I wanted and explore a new place. Downsides - I missed my mums cooking.
ACHIEVED: Yes
38. HAVE A ONE NIGHT STAND.
Aren't you meant to end up feeling a bit cheap and used? Bangover. It's the people who are like 'oh my god yeaaaah, get under to get over someone! ha ha ha' I don't get. How does it work? Surely if you had any feelings left for the ex you'd be crying through all 5 minutes of your new sexual conquest thinking 'but HEEEEEEE (or she) use to pound me like this and wear me as a hand puppet!!!!!' and then crying on your walk of shame home because you've made a mistake, just as the guy texts you 'don't ever contact me again' before he laughs about you to all his mates. I don't know, it seems like an alright set-up if you don't want feelings involved other than lust.
ACHIEVED?: Yes.
39. PASS YOUR DRIVING TEST.
I think me being able to drive would bring me immense happiness. Until I realise how much it costs to go on road trips etc. Pain.
ACHIEVED?: No, not yet.
40. GET A DEGREE
I am. In Music Promotion. I am laughing all the way to the plank with this one. People don't even bother asking me about the course because they probably can't believe it's a real thing.
ACHIEVED?: in the process
41. RESCUE SOMEONE SO YOU’RE A HERO FOR A WHILE.
So what am I meant to do? Walk around waiting for someone to look like they're about to die or something? Sounds exhausting. Maybe I could lurk around rape park at night just in case someone tries to do something, whilst looking shifty myself.
ACHIEVED?: nope.
42. DATE SOMEONE EXCITING BUT COMPLETELY WRONG.
I think I do this all the time. Not the exciting bit, but the completely wrong part. Maybe I'm desperate... Maybe I think 'oh, well, maybe we can teach each other different things and appreciate that about our relationship...' Maybe I should join The Breakfast Club... Maybe it's meant to be exciting because they're completely wrong for you... Oh, what's the fucking point? What happens when you get attached to the them because of other reasons, but they're like 'no, we don't suit' and dump your sorry ass. Then what?
ACHIEVED?: Yes, but I fail to see the fucking happiness part.
43. GET A PROMOTION.
Obviously I need a job first.
ACHIEVED?: No
44. REACH YOUR CAREER PEAK BY 40.
See previous answer, ty.
ACHIEVED?: No
45. HAVE AN ALL-NIGHT DRINKING SESSION.
I'm in university so it's obviously going to happen, and happen a lot. I'm not complaining. Nor does anyone else really, apparently I am on top form when drunk, which is nice to hear. Ash and I once had an all night drinking session in his room, being rowdy and got indirect tweets aimed at us, so we thought 'fine, let's go for a walk.' We went to the docks and it started snowing so we came back and kept drinking. The next day was crap.
ACHIEVED?: Yes
46. PERFORM SOMETHING ON STAGE IN FRONT OF OTHERS
I've been in a few crappy plays, and done karaoke. It was okay. Sort of. I was a GaGa kid in my schools production of We Will Rock You. Sometimes I get flashbacks of the dance routine and wake up in a cold sweat. I also did Sk8r Boi as karaoke with some holiday friends when i was like 8 or something. And Too Lost in You by the Sugababes on my j's in Majorca or somewhere. I ran to the karaoke guy to give him my slip on what song i wanted to do. Needy.
ACHIEVED?: Yes.
47. SNOG A STRANGER
Yeah, done this. Nothing 'life fulfilling' or anything to write home about with this one is there? Once when I snogged a stranger, at the end of the night, he took the piss out of my phone. Also: stranger danger.
ACHIEVED?: yes
48. PLAN A SURPRISE PARTY
Yeaaaah, I could do but that requires effort. Maybe one day. Also my friends are renowned for being late and cancelling so there would be no point. I'm not standing behind a door, in the dark, party popper in hand, phone in the other with a text saying 'I can't make tonight, what about Thursday?' Bitch, no.
ACHIEVED?: No.
49. EMBARK ON ADRENALINE-PACKED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BUNGEE JUMPING
No. Fucking. Thank. You.
ACHIEVED?: nooooooooooo
50. KEEP YOUNG BY SPENDING TIME WITH CHILDREN.
I used to work with children and some of them are fucking awful. One time this girl sat on my neck whilst her friend stabbed me with her hair clip and another tickled my feet. That does not keep me young, that keeps me stressed out to the point of grey hairs probably appearing. Another time this other kid was being a bit of a dick to the birthday boy so I nicely told him off and he kicked me. Asshole. Having said that, there have been some incredibly sweet children who have been nice.
ACHIEVED?: Slightly.