So, update on my “40 Things Before 40” mission… if you’ve not seen the list- Here it is!
✔️ Tried kayaking.
✔️ Ate a new food.
❓But do rambutans even count?
Let me explain.
When I wrote my list, “try a new food” felt like one of the easier wins. You know – order something random off a menu, surprise myself, maybe even look a bit cultured. Instead, I ended up peeling a fruit that looks like it was styled by a punk rocker with a bad attitude.
A rambutan. Have you seen one of these things? Spiky, hairy, slightly alien-looking. Honestly, if it started walking across the kitchen bench, I wouldn’t have been shocked. But I braved it, peeled it, and ate it. And you know what? Pretty good! Juicy, sweet, and definitely less scary once you get past the hairdo.
Still… can I really tick “try a new food” off the list just yet? Feels a bit like cheating – like saying you’ve learned Spanish because you can confidently order sangria and shout “¡Olé!” when the waiter walks past. (Although, let’s be honest, that is a very useful skill.)
Kayaking: Panic Meets Paddle
Then there was kayaking. Ah yes. The part where I voluntarily got into a thin piece of plastic designed to float on water (but in my head, it’s always in water).
I went in with one mission: don’t capsize. That’s it. Forget looking graceful, forget racing anyone – I just wanted to stay upright. And you know what? Mission accomplished. Victory was mine. Gold medal performance in the Olympic event of “Most Likely to Panic When the Paddle Slips.”
Did I look like a serene goddess gliding across the lake? Absolutely not. More like a woman on the verge of tears every time a ripple hit the side. But I did it, and that’s the point.
Why This List Matters
Here’s the real takeaway: even though my life is still bananas-busy (pun fully intended), this list has already done exactly what I wanted it to.
It’s making me check in with myself. It’s reminding me that I’m not just Ava’s mum, a wife, an employee, and the online-business-cheerleader for other mums. I’m also me. A person who used to love fun, who used to say yes to random adventures, who used to laugh so hard my cheeks hurt.
Somewhere between school runs, packed lunches, late-night laundry, and work deadlines, that version of me got shoved to the back of the cupboard like the Tupperware with no lid. This list is my way of dusting her off and saying, “Hey, remember me? Let’s hang out again.”
It’s like sticking a post-it on the fridge that says: Don’t forget you actually like fun things.
What’s Next?
So here’s where I need your help. The next items battling it out are:
-
Learn to cook a fancy signature dish.
-
Stay overnight in a treehouse (ideally without being woken up by squirrels staging a rave).
What would you pick? Greasy midnight joy, or rustic squirrel-neighbour vibes?
Month 1 Down, 17 To Go
So that’s Month 1 of 18 done. Two things attempted, one (maybe) ticked off, and plenty more to come. It’s not about doing them perfectly, it’s about doing them at all — and creating a dash that’s full of ridiculous stories, belly laughs, and maybe a few questionable food choices.
Thanks for being here while I makeover my dash. Stick around — this is just getting started.
Hi Sarah,
Maybe repeating myself here but that list you provided sure put things in perspective for me as well.
I’ve been quite fortunate to have a lot of my “bucket list” items scratched off. I still have a couple that will probably have to wait a bit (jumping out of a plane in a parachute isn’t too fun in the Canadian winter time). But thanks for the reminder and making sure that we tick one or two of these off every month.
Congrats as well on your kayaking experience. I tried paddle boarding during this past summer… it’s rather ironic how fast a 6 foot tall gentleman can hit the water! Cheers!
Hey Sarah! I think rambutans definitely count as trying a new food, they sound wild but tasty. And huge respect for the kayaking win, staying upright is a victory in my book. I’d vote for the treehouse next, it sounds like such a cool experience (squirrels and all). Can’t wait to see what else you cross off your list!
Meredith recently posted…Start Your Blog with Bluehost: 5 Simple Steps for Affiliate Success
Hi Sarah – YAY! I have been looking forward to hearing about you checking these items off and I’ve also been looking forward to hearing what you’ve learned about yourself as you complete your goals! You need to know that this is very motivational for me, and possibly others, as so many of us tend to stick to the comfortable. Broadening your horizons and having the courage to try new things is truly a gift that you are unwrapping. I say sleep with the squirrels next… OK, maybe not the squirrels but do the treehouse thing! have a wonderful week and thank you for sharing and please continue to share your wins!
Love this! Was wondering how you were getting on with the list!
Definitely try another food and then you can definitely say you’ve tried something new!
Never heard of that fruit though, interesting!!
Ooh would love to know what fancy dish you learn to cook!! Xx
Thanks Laura! I will, I need to book a restaurant I’ve not been to and then I can get all adventurous! I picked them up in M&S, go and try them- they are actually quite nice. We have been getting Gousto boxes again to try and get my back into cooking. We end up eating the same stuff- or maybe I should book a cooking class? x