Tag: mighty life list

Friday Mixtape

I’ve always wished I knew more about music, and this is part of my Life List project to listen to 1,000 new songs. Right now I’m up to 228, and on Fridays I share some of my new favorites.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10012635&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1

“Invincible” by OK Go
I just saw these guys at the Fillmore. A friend had tickets, and I mostly knew them from You Tube (as you may know, they’re the treadmill/Rube Goldberg Machine guys). The performance made me feel smarter and more hopeful. Go see a show if you get a chance.

“French Navy” by Camera Obscura
via Josh A. Cagan See his movie!

“Away with Murder” by Camera Obscura
You know what? Just go ahead and love this whole album.
Also, via Josh.

“How You Like Me Now” by The Heavy
Via Andy Langer in Esquire

Still looking for more music? Here you go: Mixtape 1, Mixtape 2, Mixtape 3, Mixtape 4, Mixtape 5

How to Write Your Life List: 10 Simple Tips for a Better Life

Every day we make choices that shape our stories. We take chances! We do brave things! But maybe not often enough. Brave things are scary, and scary stuff frightens us. It suggests to our lizard brains that we’re endangering our ability to procreate.

In the couple of years since I started my life list project, I’ve learned a lot from all of you. More of you have written lists, more of you are taking risks, and some of you have started to give great advice on how to get started. Here’s mine:

1. Get your goals out of your head. You’re sitting down, right? Reading this on some sort of device that can be used to record things? Great. Please open a blank document, or grab a pen and paper instead. You don’t need to prepare, you don’t need to study, you don’t need a better pen. Just write the first thing that comes to mind. Here’s why:

“Because whether you realize it or not, you have all of these little things in the back of your head that you’ve always wanted to do and every few years (or months, or days, etc.) you re-realize that you’ve been meaning to look into taking a photography course and you think “oh yeah, I should do that…” And remembering that over and over is taking up useful space in your soul.” —Scarlet Lily

Do you hear that? Your soul is cluttered. That can’t be good for your complexion.

2. Relax. Don’t get hung up on what your list says about you. This isn’t about how intellectual, or sexy, or morally fit you are. It’s about listing some stuff that would make you happier. Just admit you want to be a backup dancer for Lady Gaga. Who cares? Lady Gaga is rad, and pants are overrated. If you put too much weight on what other people think, you’re doing a different exercise. An exercise you should consider doing with an expensive therapist instead.

3. Go to your happy place. Think about what makes you happiest. Baseball games? Visit every stadium within 1,000 miles. Long baths? Take one every Sunday for a year. Furry conventions? Let your flag fly, my fluffy friend. Spending more time doing happy things makes you happier.

4. Focus on yourself. Make sure your list items are about your goals and what you want, not what you want for other people. They can make their own lists.

5. Strap on a pair. You may hear a voice in your head saying that something you want is stupid, or too small, or not interesting enough. The voice may insist that your biggest dream will never happen. Why are you hanging out with that voice? That voice is a total dick.

6. Cut yourself a break. Then again, nothing on your list should make you cringe. This is the wrong place to punish yourself for being too lazy to hit the gym, or too ungrateful to call your parents more, even though all they’d do ask you if you’re ever going to move out. Anyway, if you don’t anticipate a task with pleasure, put it on your to-do list, not your life list.

7. Don’t worry about mechanics. Don’t think about how you’ll achieve any of this stuff yet. If you want to pose like Charlies Angels with Oprah and Alec Baldwin, write that down. By the time you get to 100 items, you’ll have plenty of doable tasks. Keep the seemingly impossible ones. Sometimes we’re poor judges of what’s possible.

8. Crib some ideas. Maybe you only come up with thirty things and then draw a blank. Go read some lists written by other folks, find some ideas that inspire you, and claim them. This isn’t cheating, because it isn’t a contest. Though if it were, you would totally win. You’ve always been such an able competitor.

9. Let yourself reconsider. You didn’t write your list in blood, which is good because that’s unsanitary, and also your list is bound to change. You’ll wake up one day and realize that you don’t actually want to jump from an airplane and plummet to the ground, you just thought it sounded badass when you wrote it down. Which brings us to our next point.

10. Make it your game. Your life list is a living document, and you make the rules. You can decide that the first rule of Life List is you don’t talk about Life List. You can add items to the list, or delete them, whenever you want. You may feel like you’ll never have 100 ideas, but once you do, you’re bound to think of more and wish you’d added them. And you should add them. Your objective isn’t to cross everything off, or hit the finish line, it’s to collect rich experiences for yourself.

Now go live a little. And send me a postcard.

Mighty You: Your Mighty Lists, Part 5

These are some of the latest Life Lists readers have sent in. If you have a list you’d like to share, you can leave a link in comments or send an email to maggie at mighty girl dot com. If you don’t have a list yet, maybe you should make one right now. Yes! Great idea.

Jen of The Good Life with Jen is going to:
“Get to the top of a lighthouse.”

Amy Gravis is going to:
“Go cave spelunking in Hawaii.”

Jessica Eiden Smedley of Pleased to Meet You is going to:
“Buy Spices in Morocco.”

Kate Wolin is going to:
“Speak at TED.”

Natasha of Becoming Something is going to:
“Learn to can my own fruits and veggies and then actually do it.”

Weirdo Mom is going to:
“Take a mechanics class/learn about engines.”

Emily of Lucy’s Spleen is going to:
“Volunteer, full-throttle, for a political campaign.”

Jennifer June of Cowboy Boots is going to:
“Start a cowboy boot museum.”

Ella Dorband is going to:
“Go night SCUBA diving”

Lesley Watson is going to:
“Tell more stories – live more stories.”

Jacque is going to:
“Pose nude.”

Sara Krafft of Misfit in Any Space is going to:
“Learn every word in the dictionary.”

Christina Gambino of the Lovesome is going to:
“Develop/write my own recipes from scratch.”

Samantha Wedelich of Dwell Deep is going to:
“Learn to linocut.”

Patricia Williams is going to:
“Put myself through nursing school.”

Kendra Bentle Rainey of Southern Constitutional is going to:
“Take trumpet lessons.”

Carly Fornabio is going to:
“Attend Brimfield Fair in Massachusetts.”

Christina Larsen of The Me Show is going to:
“Go to Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico.”

Amber of Strocel is going to:
“Create a ‘Balancing Motherhood’ workshop.”

Mary of The Adventures of Benmar is going to:
“Try to never buy another bottle of water again! ”

Torrie of Shifting Life is going to:
“Learn how to operate a boat.”

Luna Pie is going to:
“Hold a snake.”

Martha of mVelope will:
“Never say, ‘I’m too old for that'”

The Psycho Mama is going to:
“Try hot buttered rum.”

Sarah Brown of Que Sera Sera is going to:
“Go to Svalbard in February when it’s always blue and never light.”

If you’re looking for even more inspiration, here’s where you can find more reader lists: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4. Cribbing is strongly encouraged.

Friday Mixtape

This is part of my Life List project to listen to 1,000 new songs. Right now I’m up to 174, and on Fridays I share some of my discoveries. If you’d like to send me your own mix, please email me a link or send a CD to Friday Mixtape c/o Maggie Mason, 766 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94115. Happy weekend, everyone.

http://v.nate.com/v.sk/movie/0|211421692/20100126010100978325241001

“Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)” by Kid Cudi, MGMT, and Ratatat
Via the Let’s Make Party Mix sent in by reader Jennifer Nichol. Thanks, Jennifer!

“Two Weeks” by Grizzly Bear
Also via Jennifer Nichol

“Undercover Martyn” by Two Door Cinema Club
Also via Jennifer Nichol, though she actually sent the Passion Pit Remix.

“Brand New Shoes” by She and Him
Via the ladies at Merge Records. Thanks guys!

Live My Best Life? Check.

Writing thank you notes to my teachers is one of the goals on my Mighty List, and I’m starting off with a doozy.

A couple weeks ago, Bryan surprised me with a ticket to see a taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show. I’ve been watching Oprah since I was little, and as I’ve mentioned before, it inspires me:

“I cannot stop talking about the things I saw on Oprah. As I will myself to shut up, I can hear my mouth charging ahead with enthralling anecdotes about the Olsen twins’ business philosophies (shut up!), extending your passion to the world (shut! up!), and S-shaped bowel movements (ohmydeargod, shut up!). It’s gotten so bad that I decided I had to stop mentioning Oprah’s name in conversation. So now I say, “I saw this thing on… TV about how your poop is supposed to be S-shaped?” And all the women around me nod knowingly.”

You’re nodding right now, aren’t you? Yeah. That’s why you’re on my team.

I signed a contract saying I wouldn’t blog about behind-the-scenes stuff, so I thought I’d tell you how much it meant to be at the Harpo Studios.

Meeting Oprah is on my Mighty List, so when I found out I’d get to see a show taping, it was an oddly emotional week. On the plane ride, I kept tearing up thinking of how much I’ve been influenced by the show, and then pretending to be asleep so the flight attendant wouldn’t see my eyes misting “Oh, no no! It’s nothing. I’m just thinking about… TV.”

I knew I wouldn’t get to meet Oprah this time around, but I figured it would be enough to sit in the audience and radiate gratitude. And you know what? It was.

The crew was taping three shows that day, and I’m sure Oprah was up at 4 a.m. to work out, do some reading, then hair and makeup, then tend to the tedium of world domination. Seeing her at work, I realized I never, ever want to be yet another thing on her to-do list. What I want is to bring her a glass of wine. Bryan used to work in politics, and he said he feels the same way about getting photos with presidents. You see how hard they’re working for the things you believe in, and you just want to do something to ease their lives, instead of inserting yourself in their paths.

Sitting in that studio, I realized that I don’t need to meet Oprah. What I need to do is thank her. So here it is, my very first thank you note to a teacher:

Dear Oprah,

Your message shielded me through a difficult childhood, and your example shaped the woman I’ve become. Through the years, you have been my Mary Tyler Moore, my Maya Angelou, my Mrs. Duncan. I am profoundly grateful for everything you have done for me; for every one of us.

Because of you I have known better, I have done better, I have thrived.

With thanks,
Maggie Mason

March Domination, Part I

If I wait to publish the entire list of everything you got done in March, you won’t see it any of it until May. I keep stopping to read everyone’s posts, and get all emotional, and go in search of people to high five. For the purposes of momentum, I’ve decided to post installments:

We’ll start with Elly, who changed her first flat tire.

Daffodil Campbell quit a job she needed because she wasn’t being treated with respect, joined a roller derby team (yes, yes she did), and sent out her first ever query to a magazine. Daffodil Campbell also made me cry. Seriously girl? Nice job.

Almost Kinda Sorta took her newborn baby to see her grandparents home.

Tamera commissioned a piece of custom artwork by Julie Lewis. She also organized a blood drive, signed up for a dance class, and started working toward her fitness goals.

JJ is staying offline one day per week, and got a mammogram. She is cancer free. Suck it, cancer!

Sandy wrote down her list for the first time — huge. She saw Kevin Smith live and learned to cook really good steak, signed up for a sushi-making class, and looked into joining the cast of the local Renaissance Faire.

Nancy King finished three chapters in her Head First Guide to Programming, met up with friends from her grade school, and started Bikram yoga.

Dana Says:
“I’m working toward one proper pull-up with lots of practice, push ups and other strength training. I’ve made progress but when I get my chin about three quarters of an inch from the bar, my arms turn to concrete. And I simply CANNOT go any further. I’m so insanely frustrated because I can’t imagine how I’m ever going to cross this from my list. ARGH!”

This is on my list too, and I have deep-seated Presidential Fitness test flashbacks whenever I attempt it. You can do it, Dana. Maybe this will help? We’re rooting for you.

Dottie booked a massage for herself.

Suzanne started running trails in the hills above where she lives. She decided to “be happy where I am, while I’m here, while working toward being somewhere else in three months.” She also started on her resume so she can find a new job.

Stephanie made a soufflé, bought a lottery ticket, and was the first to borrow a new book from the library.

That’s it for now, but I’m coming for the rest of you soon. If you didn’t cross anything off in March, go ahead and get started now. This is officially a rolling project, but we’ll do another group push in May.

This project started over here, but you can jump in anytime. If you’ve made a Mighty List and started crossing goals off, please let us know in comments.

Mighty You: Your Mighty Lists, Part 4

If you’re working on a Mighty List, please send it my way by including a link it comments. If you haven’t started your list yet, here’s another set to inspire you. Cribbing encouraged:


(Amazing Mars Travel poster by Steve Thomas.)

Jenifer Hanen of Black Phoebe is going to:
“Go into space.”

Tamera Steele of Calling All Fairy Godmothers is going to:
“Eat only homemade meals for 100 days in a row.”

Abby Poulette is going to:
“Make my own mozzarella cheese.”

R Preston of Monster Goldfish is going to:
“Get a play produced.”

Rachel Krueger of On The Intrawebs is going to:
“Get PhD.”


(Beer Club “Tree Fort” by Brad Kayal.)

Kate Bouchard is going to:
“Brew my own beer.”

Carly Machado is going to:
“Learn to shoot a bow and arrow.”

Tasha Haley is going to:
“Learn common and latin tree names for those in my area.”

Krissa Corbett Cavouras of Petit Hiboux is going to:
“Take a knife-skills class.”

Laura Perlman is going to:
“Get onstage with Wilco.”

Annie Sorrensen is going to:
“Decide on Monday to take a fabulous vacation on Friday to somewhere I’ve never been…and go.”

Melinda Stacer of Days Like This is going to:
“Make baklava from scratch.”

Valeri Estrada of 29 to 30 is going to:
“Cook dinner every night for a week.”

Marisa is going to:
“Read a book a week for a year.” (starting in 2010!)

Danielle of Salaam wa Hubb is going to:
“Walk on hot coals.”

Michelle of The Metamorph is going to:
“Eat Sushi in Japan.”

Olivia of Powered by Tofu is going to:
“Learn to play poker.”

Lauren Cribbs is going to:
“Play Chopin’s Prelude in E Minor almost as well as Chopin did.”

Cameron Barrett is going to:
“See Michelangelo’s David.”

Amanda of The Living Room is going to:
“Help plant a church.”

Kelly of Bachelor Girl is going to:
“Take part in a political protest.”

Corin McLean Boyko of Travels with Darwin is going to:
“Read all of Darwin’s books.”

Tessa of Call Your Courage is going to:
“Re-upholster a chair.”

Therese of Shoeism is going to:
“Visit 5 fashion capitals of the world (Paris, Tokyo, London, Milan, NYC).”

Heather Meagher of Featherweights is going to:
“Get my passport.”

If you’re looking for even more inspiration, check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

And a big thank you to Verizon Wireless for sponsoring my Mighty List. They’re helping me cross off a few goals, and giving me the time I need to dedicate to this project. They also gave me a Palm Pre Plus, which has turned out to be helpful in keeping the site updated. Thanks, guys.

Mighty Life List: Market Street Tour

Yesterday was so good. It was gorgeous, I got dressed up cute to celebrate the sunshine, and Karen was in from Houston. I met her and a few friends downtown for breakfast, and afterward I called Jordan for a quick coffee at the St. Francis while I waited to take my first city tour.

It was the Market Street tour thorough San Francisco City Guides, a non-profit that hosts dozens of free walking tours. If you live here or plan to visit, I recommend them; I learned a lot.

For example, San Francisco is the second most densely populated American city after NYC. It’s mostly built on sand, and half the Financial District used to be underwater. When they do construction downtown, they sometimes unearth ships. This city is like a fairy tale.

Also, I had no idea that this view of the Ferry Building was blocked by the Embarcadero Freeway until 1989. The Loma Prieta earthquake made it unstable, and it was demolished. Farewell freeway.

Some of the buildings on Market Street are triangular because Market cuts across the city street grid on a diagonal, creating triangular lots and confusing the hell out of newcomers trying to get oriented.

I’d never noticed this plaque several blocks up from the bay that indicates where the shoreline used to be. During the rush, the bay was filling with abandoned ships and garbage, so the city began to sell “water lots” with the understanding that they’d eventually be filled in with dirt atop the rubbish.

The Shell Building was erected in 1939. After its construction, the war precluded plans for any new skyscrapers for thirty years. The next one went up in 1959 right across the street:

It was at 1 Bush Street, and it was the city’s first glass shell building. Look at how dramatically architecture changed in those thirty years. You can see the Shell Building’s reflection in 1 Bush’s panes. Neat, huh?

The De Young Building was San Francisco’s first skyscraper, and it was built in 1890. In 1962, it was covered with a glass “skin” to modernize it, sort of like the building at 1 Bush. In 2007 it was restored, and the architect who revealed the original face called it the architectural equivalent of raising the Titanic, which is awesome, if a little self congratulatory.

In 1875, a Shirley Temple-type child star named Lotta Crabtree dedicated Lotta’s Fountain as a thank you gift to the city. After the 1906 earthquake, San Franciscans gathered here to find loved ones. Now survivors and San Franciscans gather every year at 5:12 a.m. on April 18th to commemorate the date and celebrate the city’s survival. That’s just a few weeks away, so set your alarm clocks.

One tour down, four to go. This is fun.

As always, a big thank you to Verizon Wireless for sponsoring my Mighty Life List. They’re helping me work toward “Knowing San Francisco like the back of my hand,” and they also gave me a Palm Pre Plus. I used it to take notes on this tour and to take a bunch of the photos, including the one of the Shell Building, which is my favorite. Thanks, guys.

Mighty Life List: How You Doin’?

Hey, did you choose three things to cross off your life list this month? How’s that coming along? Did Jen get her learner’s permit? Did Lis frame the photos for her first show? Has Nicole had her baby? (I suspect so. It’s be a while since that last post.)

As for me, I’ve done three things, but one of them wasn’t part of my campaign with Verizon, which means I get to do one more thing with a benefactor on my side. Sweet. As I mentioned, Verizon has been great about supporting long-term, better-life projects, so the last goal I’m working on for the campaign is:

Get to know San Francisco like the back of my hand.

This could take a while. In fact, how will I know when I’m done? I’ve attended the Black and White Ball, but I’ve never done something untoward in the Transamerica pyramid. I’ve visited Alcatraz, but I’ve never mooned tourists on the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a tough one to check off decisively.

So I did what any good list maker does in this situation. I made a sublist. I decided I’ll “Know San Francisco like the back of my hand” when I:

1. Crown a favorite burrito.
2. Take five tours.
3. Finish 7×7’s Big Eats Top 100.
4. Make my own list of the hundred best things to eat.
5. Choose the fifty best cocktails.
6. Choose my fifty favorite shops.
7. Photograph all the public libraries.
8. See the view from Coit Tower.
9. Write up mini guides to the main neighborhoods.
10. Choose my top ten things to do when you visit.

That’s right. I’ve begun to make lists about making lists. (Take that, Escher!) It’s a lot to tackle, but I’m getting started in these last couple weeks of March.

And what about you? How are your projects coming along? Tell us in comments so we can cheer for you, because you are great.

A huge thanks to Verizon Wireless for sponsoring my Mighty Life List. They’re helping me cross off a few goals, and they also gave me a Palm Pre Plus. I’m using it to take photos and video of my escapades, and to make actual phone calls that don’t disconnect unexpectedly at awkward moments. Thanks, guys.