In December 2015, I wrote a blog where I set a goal to do 52 new things in 2016.  I turned 52 in April, so it was a fun time to accomplish my “52 at 52.”

It was an interesting exercise for me.  I kept a list, and although there would be no one to “audit” my list, I found myself a bit critical as to whether or not certain actions were “good enough” to be added.   I rode in a helicopter, shot a gun, walked on a glacier, and wrote a book, so was it “enough” to add that I tried a new food or went to a new restaurant?

A friend of mine told me she took this challenge a couple of years ago with a group of her college friends.  They shared their “new thing” at the end of each week, and she felt judged.  It was so much pressure for her to worry if her “new thing” was going to be good enough?  It is fascinating to me that we do this to ourselves.  The goal was meant to be fun, to try new adventures, foods, activities, create new habits, or simply be open to some change; yet, our natural drives can lead us to be critical and judgmental.

It reminds me of my favorite quote from Donald Clifton, founder of the StrengthsFinder movement:

“What will happen when we think about what is right with people rather than fixating on what is wrong with them?”

And not just “other people,” right?  It’s ourselves as well!

So, here’s my list; you can judge it if you’d like, but I hope you use it for ideas to try something new in 2017 and just be open to it, and not judgmental.

1. Shot a gun at point blank
2. Made 20 meals in one day!
3. Filed all our family tax returns in January
4. Saw High School Musical
5. Ran 92 miles in January
6. Trained 120 people in a 3 hour session
7. Spoke at the Corn Belt Seed Conference
8. Trained in Roachdale, IN
9. Attended an indoor Ultimate Frisbee game in Bloomington
10. Spoke at a University of Evansville alumni lunch
11. Took the senior discount at a movie
12. Went to the high school swim meet sectionals
13. Went to Mass in Vegas
14. Had 4 new cheeses in one meal at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant
15. Attended WCC championship game – Zags win!
16. Had 2 massages in 2 days at MGM
17. Lost $180 gambling in Vegas
18. Joined The O’Connor House board
19. Went to my first CD release party
20. Ate a steak dinner on Easter!
21. Hiked in the Smoky Mountains
22. Went to Asheville, NC
23. Had a hygienist say my teeth were “delightful”
24. Had a non-family-member live with us
25. Bought pork tenderloin
26. Had a chemical peel
27. Ate brussels sprouts
28. Went to Canada for a client
29. Had a massage at Bridgewater
30. Ate raw octopus
31. Went to Hartford, Connecticut
32. Did (and lost) the Escape Room
33. Had acupuncture
34. Went to a polo match
35. Took a cruise to Alaska
36. Went to Vancouver, Canada
37. Walked on a glacier
38. Bought Alpaca moccasin boots
39. Flew in a helicopter
40. Went to Brickyard qualifications
41. Had plantar fasciitis
42. Published a book!
43. Had 3 kids travel internationally in one summer!
44. Hosted my own book signing
45. Attended Carmel’s Porchfest
46. Strategized at a Purple Ink retreat at Lake Santee
47. Spoke to an IU HR group
48. Taught a SHRM class in Atlanta
49. Saw a Donny and Marie show
50. Won $217 on a slot machine (later lost all of it!)
51. Bought the meal plan at Disney World
52. Took the Magical Express from the airport to Disney World

My goal for 2017?  To spend a lot more time thinking about what is right – with me, my team, Purple Ink, my family, all others and all situations – than I spend fixating on what is wrong.   I’ll keep you posted on my success, but I challenge you to do the same!