40 things to do before I turn 40
Next year in June will be my big 4-0, which seems crazy as I still feel like I am 18. I can’t believe it, in my head 40 is how old my mum and aunties are and so to be reaching that age myself doesn’t feel real. I started thinking about what would I like to achieve before turning 40? So here is my list of 40 things to do before I turn 40.
The way that the world is right now means we have no idea when life will return to some sort of normality and so my list will be so much more local than it would be otherwise. I would always add travel to any to do list as I absolutely love going to other countries and exploring the world. But I just can’t see too much foreign travel happening in the next 7 months!
Life with illness
After the past 7 years of surgeries and illness, there were times when I didn’t think I would even make it to 40, so I don’t begrudge getting older. I have realised that it is a privilege. I’m also really lucky that I have had some amazing experiences in my life. I have travelled the world and been to India, Australia, Vietnam, America and more. I have been to lots of festivals, got my own radio show and been on TV. I have done talks about chronic illness, disability and life with an ostomy all over England, Scotland and in Germany and Spain. And most recently, I got to be on the stage at the Crucible in Sheffield when I interviewed author Helen Mort which has been a lifelong dream! I also just started university at the age of 39 so I am definitely up for continuing to tick new and brilliant things off my list!
I don’t say these things to brag, but just as a reminder for myself that even through years of unbelievable difficulty, I have had some of the most amazing experiences.
Experiences not things
What I have learnt so far in my life is that experiences are so much better than things. I don’t care for having the fanciest clothes or most expensive brands. What I do care about is the time I have got to do wonderful stuff with amazing people. I don’t need a diamond, just give me a night in eating dinner with my favourite people!
So I am doing this list as a little nudge to me to make time for the things that make me really happy, here we go!
40 things to do before I turn 40
1 Do the North Coast 500 in my campervan with Timm.
2 Go wine tasting! I love wine and I have never actually been wine tasting!!
3 Go kayaking – this has been a dream since a few surgeries ago when it popped in my head and I couldn’t stop thinking about it!
4 Get my kit off for a life drawing class
5 Start doing yoga
6 Take a solo trip – I have been a mum since I was 19, I am always so busy and I would love to go away on my own for a short break.
7 Get another tattoo
8 Raise money for a charity
9 Go to a cookery class and learn to make something fancy
10 Read my way through a ‘must read’ book list
11 Go in a hot air balloon
12 Climb Mount Snowden – we visited last year but I was unable to even walk very far as I was so unwell and awaiting surgery.
13 Go on the cable cars at Heights of Abraham
14 Visit Brighton – 40 years and I have never been!
15 Go skinny dipping
16 Write a handwritten letter to my closest friends telling them how awesome they are.
17 Have a family photo shoot
18 Bake a rainbow cake
DONE! It was delicious!
19 Play hide and seek in Ikea
20 Make a dress from a pattern
21 Get over my fear of frogs
22 Say yes to everything for one day
23 Learn to make the perfect cocktail
24 Learn to jump in the air and click my heels together
25 Get through my first year at university!
26 Build a giant den in the living room
27 Get onto the Shaw Trust Power 100 of most influential disabled people in the UK for 2021. I was on it in 2018 and would LOVE to make the list again by helping people and making a difference.
28 Ride a zip line – we were booked in at ZipWorld a couple of years ago but had to cancel it twice due to surgery. I was gutted but I would love to actually manage it now!
29 Play a game of paintball
30 Go on a boat trip
31 Watch a Formula 1 grand prix in another country
32 Be an extra in a film or TV show
OK, so it wasn’t a big film, but I was in my husband Timm’s university film!
33 Learn to play one full song on an instrument – I would love to have a go on an accordion!
34 I have avoided travel based things as we have no idea when we will be able to do this again, but I will add in Visit Iceland!
35 See a whale in the wild
36 Sleep under the stars
37 Sit on a jury. I know I have no control over this, but it is something I have always wanted to do!
38 Get in the Guinness Book of Records! (I did this once, the most number of people dressed as Superman) but would love to do it again.
39 Be in a play – am dram here I come!!
40 Get to 40 – my health has been such a difficult barrier for so long, there have been many times when I didn’t think I would survive and so my main aim for my 40 things before I turn 40 is to just actually reach the age of 40!
I will come back to this post and hopefully cross them all off in the next 7 months!
What would be on your to do list?
Peace and love
Sam xx
Hey Sam, that sounds fantastic and doable too, not like jumping out of a plane or climbing Everest.
There is a book just out here in Australia called ‘Unseen’ by Jessica Parsons, I think you would find it interesting. There’s a lot about the Australian health system (which I kind of glossed over). I’m not sure if it’s published in the U.K. but maybe you could get it on your Kindle. Anyway congratulations on your uni.
And best regards to you
Thank you! I will check it out!
It is so good to read your wish list of things you want to do before you turn 40. I remember getting to a stage in my IBD journey where I could actually look to the future instead of solely focusing on trying to manage my pain; it was so liberating. Btw you’ll be able to go whale-watching while you’re on your A500 road trip!
Thank you!
Not much then Sam!
Build on yours? Skinny dipping – in ‘wild’ water?