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On January 9, 2020, I’ll turn 62 years old. As far as birthdays go, it’s nothing special. However, my granddaughter Aubrey made an awesome suggestion. Her clever idea was this: celebrate my birthday by doing 62 special things, one on each day leading up to it.
I love the way this girl thinks! And she knows me well. Aubrey understands that I enjoy trying new things, playing creative games and growing through experiences.
I adopted Aubrey’s suggestion, writing out activities on slips of paper. Coming up with 62 things was a bit of a challenge! However, I prevailed and today begins a birthday version of one of my favorite games to play. I will randomly draw out a slip of paper each day, through January 9, 2020, and do what’s printed there.
Here are 62 outrageous things to do for my 62nd birthday.
A Note about Outrageous
A few explanatory sentences, before I type out the list. I’d love to include items like “jump out of a plane” or “vacation in Paris”, however, I also desired to actually do the activities listed. Having one action per day means I must have the time to carry out the activity.
So these suggestions are very doable, in a few hours or less.
On the other hand, I love trying new things and going beyond my comfort zone. My intention is that most of these activities challenge me a bit…or a lot…and result in personal growth, all while providing outrageous fun.
Following the nudge of curiosity, I looked up the word outrageous, which today means “bold, unusual and startling”. The word originates from outrage, which in turn comes from the Latin ultra, which literally means “beyond”.
How cool is that?? Cindy goes beyond…outrageously…for her birthday. I love it!
62 Outrageous Things to Do for My 62nd Birthday
And…here they are, the activities I wrote on slips of paper. I folded the papers up and dropped them into a jar.
Activities 1 – 20
- Say “yes” 10 times during the day
- Drive to Scotland…Missouri
- Start a conversation with a stranger
- Do a vlog in place of a blog post
- Download a new tech app
- Listen to a new genre of music
- Watch a movie in a genre I don’t typically choose
- Find a role model who overcame challenges, to do what I desire to do
- Apply to a writing fellowship, in another country
- Brush my teeth, while standing on one leg
- Hike a new trail
- Create a new recipe
- Watch a tv show/movie in a foreign language
- Take a class
- Take a power nap (I do not usually sleep during the day)
- Make eye contact and smile at everyone…all day
- Listen to music from a different genre
- Read a book in a different genre, that’s way out there for me
- Work in a different room/spot
- Travel to a familiar location, via a different route
Activities 21 – 40
- Try a product I’ve never tried before
- Eat at a new restaurant
- Make a request SO crazy, that I’d expect a “no”
- Visit a local shop I’ve never visited before
- Have a mini afternoon retreat
- Do an interview
- Reach out to a brand that I love, for a sponsorship
- Reach out to a resort, for a comped stay
- Outline Video 1, in Believe in Yourself for 5 Minutes Series
- Record Video 1, in Believe in Yourself for 5 Minutes Series
- Write chapter 1 in House Haunting book
- Storyboard ideas for online products
- Meditate for one hour in a new place
- Try a unique vegetable
- Experience a new fruit
- Do a 24 hour water fast
- Order biz cards for blogs
- Design and order t-shirts for blogs
- Change theme for Cindy Goes Beyond
- Change theme for Journey With Healthy Me
Activities 41 – 62
- Spend 30 minutes brainstorming ideas, as rapidly as possible
- Plan a 10 day trip to a country NOT on my Travel List
- Write a travel piece and submit it
- Have a midnight picnic, with candles and firelight
- Go to a thrift store, with a $20 budget, and buy a cool new outfit – wear it to lunch or dinner
- Have an indoor campout – sleep in a blanket tent
- Leave encouraging sticky notes all over town
- Watch The Lighthouse at Bookhouse Cinema
- Attend Birth of Darkness book launch
- Attend Return of the Christmas Kid at Joplin Little Theater
- Make a heart ornament for my Christmas tree
- Create a fresh Christmas vignette
- Decorate my live pine tree, instead of purchasing a cut Christmas tree
- Send a message of appreciation to an actor or actress that I admire
- Listen to a podcast that I’ve never listened to before
- Give something away today
- Research a topic I’ve never researched before
- Compliment a stranger
- Sign up on Quora and offer advice
- Watch a TED Talk that I wouldn’t normally watch
- Write down 62 things that I am grateful for
Celebrating One Day at a Time
There they are, my 62 Outrageous Things to Do for My 62nd Birthday. I’m grateful for Aubrey’s idea and I’m excited to play this fun game. The rules are that I randomly draw out a paper each day and do the activity listed. No missed days. No excuses. My only exceptions are the three activities that are connected to events that are available on specific dates.
It’s been a very busy week and this day has been full. Nevertheless, I drew out my first slip of paper this evening. This is what I got:
I love gifting experiences for special occasions. I can’t think of a better gift to give to myself, in honor of my 62nd birthday in January, than 62 daily experiences.
I’m smiling at the thought.
And I’m off to watch a movie, in a different (for me) genre. Thank goodness for Netflix and Amazon Prime! I know I’ll find the perfect movie to kick off two months of outrageous celebrating.
Week One Birthday Update: First Seven Activities
Read about the first time I played a “draw an activity” game in this post, Launching Arrows of Desire.
Curious about Quora? Check it out HERE.
And try out Amazon Prime, so you too can start a movie any time of day, in the comfort of your own home.
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