March 13th is Always a Good Day for Reflection

Since the day that I launched this blog from Taiwan, I've wondered one thing: would I regret making this blog "themed?" After all, doesn't that limit creativity and keep me from posting about a lot of things that I would otherwise be glad to talk about?

About eight months later, I'm about 97.565% sure that I don't regret the decision. And I'm sure you're curious as to why - and trust me, you are - so I'm going to share.

Having a blog that is "themed" is tricky. However, without a theme, and therefore, a purpose, this blog only becomes about one thing: me. So, by not choosing a theme, I automatically would be choosing the default them of, well, me (for lack of a better term; see how this could get old quickly?).

This was never and will never be the purpose of my writings and ramblings. I might do this for myself to a point, but I don't want it to simply be about me. I want to encourage you. I want to inspire you. I want to make you laugh and help YOU to enjoy life a little more fully, even if just for a few seconds every few days.

Having a themed blog has actually forced me to become more creative, not less. Writing about my life goals has truly helped me to find more direction and purpose as I live. It has helped to keep me accountable. However, there are days when I want to post about subjects that don't involve me cliff-diving (it will happen) or flying an airplane (it will definitely happen). This is where the creativity comes in.

Take this post for instance. It was about giving to a great cause: The Adventure Project. However, giving to them wasn't on my Bucket List anywhere, and my 111 in 2011 didn't exist yet, because, well, it wasn't 2011. But I made it "fit" because it matters to me. And frankly, it's my blog, so I can bend the rules a little if I need to.

I'm saying all of this to eventually get to the point of this post. And I promise we are about to arrive. Just stick with me and my unnecessarily circular tangents for a few more moments...

My 111 in 2011: Falling Short

If you've been reading this blog for any amount of time, you may have noticed a trend. I have this really bad habit of going on what I have officially deemed "blog spurts." And they're just what they sound like. I get in the mood to blog and come up with 70 ridiculous ideas in a row to blog about. And then... nothing.

So, for the last 9 days I've been wanting to blog, but my fingers haven't let me. I'm not really sure what that means, except that I haven't been motivated in the least bit to blog. I'm pretty sure I know why, though. I knew that this post I'm currently composing would have to come eventually. I've just been avoiding it at all costs.

I know I tend to be pretty light-hearted when I write here, and that's purposeful. I believe we take life entirely too seriously. However, there are definitely times in life where reflection is good. This is one of them. Sort of...

8 of 111: Goal 63

It's the first day of March! Finally! 

No more snow! 

No more snow! 

No more snow!

As you can see, I'm excited about the beginning of this new month and a bit optimistic. Probably a little too optimistic. Isn't it supposed to snow next week or something?

I'm so excited about March I want to blog! And en route to actually blogging about what I'm going to blog about, I want to play a little game. We'll call it "Word Association" (because that's what it is).

I say a word, and you say the first word that pops into your mind...

7 of 111: Goal 90

It's a beautiful Friday morning.

(The imperative word here is Friday, in case you missed it.)

Actually, I like most mornings. I'm not really sure that I'm a morning person, because my wife has an abnormal fear of waking me in the morning. But, regardless of her (most likely justified) paranoia, I enjoy my mornings.

Okay, I lied. Just a little.

When I say "I enjoy my mornings," what I'm really saying is double-speak. It's something more like...

"I enjoy a little time by myself, which only seems to happen early on in the day. And I REALLY like coffee and waking up is a great excuse to enjoy it."

Don't tell my mom, but when I was a kid, I hated coffee. Everything about it disgusted me. The smell, the look, the taste, the way it made your breath stank (and no, that's not a typo). It grossed me out, and I swore on some meaningless moniker that I would never drink coffee.

Boy, was I wrong. And my deepest apologies to whoever I swore on, as well. Hopefully they don't haunt me in my old age as I continue to enjoy my coffee, even when I can't remember my own name, let alone theirs.

I was so wrong, in fact, that I made it a goal this year to drink 5 cups of coffee in one day. Now, mind you, I know people who drink whole pots of coffee like their lives depend on it. I, however, cannot do that. My stomach does not expand to the size of a small cow on command, so I am content to have two cups of coffee every morning. 

Okay, maybe 3. 

Sometimes even 4. 

But 5? 

Nah. Don't even go there...

6 of 111: Goal 12

January 21st, 2011.

A monumental day in my life.

When I woke up that day, I had no clue how life-changing it would be.

I had no clue that I would accomplish one of my 111 in 2011.

And that it would forever alter the course of history...