At the start of this year, knowing my 50th birthday was fast approaching, I decided to create a list. Of challenges. Of to-dos. Of to-make-happens. 50 things at 50.
I have allowed myself until I turn 51 to achieve it all. Some are simple. Some are a little bit more adventurous. But mostly they are set to make me focus and achieve things that I know I’ve wanted to do for a while.
There are so many benefits in having a challenge – it gives focus, boosts confidence when goals are achieved, generates purpose and increases happiness.
In no particular order
1. A windsurfing lesson – I tried it in my teens, fell off a lot, feel like trying again.
2. Visit Tony’s Chocolonely factory – the trip is booked, I’m making my own bar of chocolate.
3. Power tool course.
4. Make something out of wood and learn a bit of carpentry.
5. Go on an extreme day trip.
6. Throw some pottery.
7. Stay in a shepherds hut (maybe even digitally detox too).
8. Record my own podcast episode and actually publish it.
9. Design and install (not with me doing the work) a new bathroom.
10. Be a mentor – tick, slightly cheated because I started this last year and finished in February.
11. Grow a plant from scratch – I’m all prepared with this bought this amazing acorn vase – just need to wait until acorns are ripe.
12. Write a will – boring but essential and also an LPA will be needed at some point
13. A spa day.
14. Swimming lessons – I can swim well but want to feel stronger in the sea and maybe put my head under water and be able to breathe properly.
15. Solo city break
16. Create my own fragrance – I booked to do this last year and it was cancelled.
17. Start some sort of woman’s group or learning group.
18. One good deed a week and celebrate a win of the week.
19. 50th party.
20. 1 new restaurant per month – have started already – Stem and Palmito have not let me down.
21. Visit Cornwall – never been
22. Have a stay at Soho Farmhouse – loved it the last time.
23. Visit an English vineyard
24. Have a non processed food week – this book is super helpful in preparing – Unprocess Your Life
25. Try a new vegetable per month – I actually ate something called a Cardoon the other week, from the a relative of the artichoke apparently.
26. Test a new recipe out every month, so far I’ve tried a few from The Natural Menopause Method Cookbook by Karen Newby. And since I’m inundated with carrots from my Riverford Veg Box, I am going to make a carrot tart tatin this weekend.
27. Enjoy an outdoor sauna each month – anther one that’s in progress. Love, love, love them.
28. Complete the Peak District 50km ultra challenge – signed up.
29. Raise over £1000 personally for menopause and cancer – you can sponsor me here. The reason I’m raising funds is that this is an unspoken side effect of cancer treatment, the effects of menopause live long after active treatment has ended and its hard to get support. Menopause and Cancer bridges the care gap.
30. Run every day January – tick, will do again in Jan2027.
31. Complete the 16 bridges challenge in September – signed up too.
32. Go to see Lily Allen – booked and can’t wait. There’s been some rehearsals and line learning already.
33. Apply for Game of Wool – done and I think unsuccessful!
34. Knit a cuddly toy – trying, its hard.
35. Knit a vest.
36. Knit a fair isle jumper.
37. Create my own knitting pattern – work in progress.
38. Make my own lipstick – there is a place in London you can do this.
39. Set up knitting lessons for others
40. Invest each month – started, its scary but empowering. I use Invest Engine currently and have a recommend a friend code
41. Sort out wardrobe – its got out of hand, I have clothes dating back to the 2000s.
42. Sell at a car boot sale. See above.
43. Create my own journal to sell.
44. Learn how to use my knitting machine and create a simple scarf – exciting, have just had a very old knitting machine repaired.
45. Try out Padel. If I can get a space on a court.
46. Set up shopify/etsy site, maybe both – not quite sure what I’ll be selling there yet but watch this space. I have a lot of vintage yarn and knitting stuff…
47. Read one new fiction book a month, at least. I’m currently reading Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley, next on my list is Imperfect Women by Araminta Hall
48. Read one new non-fiction book a month, at least.
49. 1 hour learning each week.
50. Calligraphy – I love the art of handwriting and in lockdown I tried to do some brush stroke lettering, but I’ve also seen a class I can do too.
Feels exciting, feels possible. Can’t wait to share the adventure.
