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My Birthday Catch-up – Revisiting the Kettle List

Polly

My Birthday Catch-up

It’s that time of year when we sit down for a birthday catch-up and see how the whole ‘Kettle List’ thing is going.

Once upon a time, I wrote a Kettle List. (If you’re not up to speed, it’s like a Bucket List, but more focused and you get to have a cup of tea while discussing it, here at Polly’s Pad. Also. Where have you been? Pull up a chair and chill for a bit!)

Having finished the previous 40 x 40 List (finished in the sense that I turned 40, not that I ticked everything off) I started a new one.

It was my birthday on March 16th, although it has all been a bit low key obviously. I had started writing this piece with the intent to put it out then, the idea was I was going to tell you about my plans for this year. They are, for now, on hold. But I can still tell you about what I have already done.

Happy Birthday to me!

We are now officially 3 years into the tasks, so here is a quick round-up of what I have ticked off, what I am working on, and what I have now got planned for the coming 12 months. (Quick? There’s 50 of them, but you know what I mean)

While I didn’t intend to make the Kettle List a 50 x 50, it currently sits at 49 tasks – with a space to add a new adventure, if I think of one. Anyone who has read my previous piece on ‘Why you need a Bucket list’ will know that picking an arbitrary number of tasks is not really the point of a ‘Bucket List’; you should be adding tasks that mean something to you.

Having said that, my list currently has got an arbitrary 49 tasks on it, all of which I hope to complete by March 16th 2027.

Kettle List Focus

So let’s have look over what I have managed to get done, and after that, you should definitely check out my post on writing your own list, as well as subscribing to the blog, so you can be kept up to date with when my E-book ‘The ultimate guide to creating your own bucket list’ is released.

When I started creating the list, I initially chose to break it down into a few different areas: travel, creative, health, spiritual… that kind of thing. After a while, I started adding all manner of weird things, so the pattern goes a bit odd. But for the ease of writing this post – and for you reading it – Let’s break it into 7 lot’s and see what has been done.

The first 7: Developing skills and a self-own

You know what the worst list writing trait is?

It’s the one where you add things to a ‘to-do’ list that you have already done or were nearly finished doing anyway.

You know’ the one’! It’s ‘the one’ that lets you cross them off and give yourself a much-needed boost, by tricking your brain into thinking you are achieving.

Well, I did that.

In my defence, I added these items to the list back in December 2016, long before I had done any real research into the world of organising and planning. I now know better and would suggest you do not do this, you are gaining nothing by cheating yourself.

Out of these items from the list, we have one ‘Definite Complete’ for the ‘Pass my driving test‘ task.

I am still working on developing the blog, and my Japanese Learning, although, I have still not decided on how I will measure either of these. My 40×40 is one of those cumulative things that requires a load of work, so I will probably do a separate post on what is left to do there.

Pat and I had started Salsa lessons, but we only got to have one before lock-down, so stay tuned for news on that front.

Hopefully, once we are allowed back out, we will survive our 8-week course and I become a dancing queen! As for the instrument task? I am still debating which one to choose.

The self-own

As for the ‘self-own’? I added ‘complete my Masters’ it to the list while I was studying it, but while in Japan in April 2017, I realised it was stressing me out and I was not enjoying the course. Therefore, I made the decision to pack it in on my return and left University with a Post Graduate Certificate in Social and Cultural Theory. There is always the option to top up my certificate to a Masters, and I have investigated the OU and other local Universities. Currently, though, I can think of other things I would prefer to spend my money on. Therefore, this task is definitely on the back boiler for now.

5 ‘sporty’ tasks

Quite why I added any of these tasks, I have no idea.

The idea of flexibility is still appealing to me though. So much so, that I have written a piece on it and why flexibility in middle age is important. Now I’m in lock-down I’ll have no excuse not to spend 10 minutes a day stretching. As for the others? I am sure I will get to them later in the year.

The Travel Tasks

A successful section, as I have not only completed two of them (Japan, & California), but I have made a start on the European Capitals (Berlin) and I have now visited 3 out of 7 continents.

Obviously, these are on hold for now, but as I mention in my piece about working on your Bucket List, that doesn’t mean you can’t plan trips.

The Crafty Tasks

I really thought I would have made more headway on these particular tasks, as I have always loved all things crafty. For my birthday I bought myself some watercolour pencils, so I might be able to make a start on the Sumi-e art. Perhaps I will need to check out YouTube for some pointers.

My Newer Additions

All of these items have been added in the last couple of months. While the first 2 are certainly on hold, for now, I am currently working on both writing articles and my TEFL – which I will need to teach abroad.

The Spiritual Tasks

Two of these have been completed: the RAK and the volunteer hours.

However, I intend extending those, as you can never do too many acts of kindness, or help people enough.

The one task I will be working on while stuck at home is the one that involves me decluttering the place and becoming happier with it. Time to get those clothes sorted and that paperwork shredded.

Homestretch (nearly there!)

While I won’t be making any headway on the tasks that require me to go outdoors, or indeed require it to be Christmas, I can certainly work on my novel and my E-books. It is amazing that I have nothing but downtime; I’m not allowed to leave the house, we have food, electricity and access to the internet.

Conditions are perfect for writing, reading and generally chilling at home. I just need to stay focussed and not sit and watch hours of Youtube all-day. Slightly bitter that the weather is so beautiful and Spring-like. Wishing I was having a ‘Hanami‘ picnic in a Kyoto park, but that will happen one day.

Surviving a lock-down

I will need to start using the time I have to work on the tasks I can do while at home. There are crafts to make, things to write, trips I can plan (travel bloggers will certainly appreciate you visiting their sites and it is never too soon to list ideas for places you can visit) and stretches to…stretch?

One of the things I will be working on is establishing a routine to keep me focused on my goals, so expect a few posts over the next few weeks as I try and keep myself busy.

Stay safe, stay home, and wash your hands.

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