With the official halfway mark of this project whizzing along behind me, I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a halfway-point reflection; now seems as good a time as any, especially considering how contemplative I tend to grow while packing for travel. (I’ll be traveling from tomorrow ’til Sunday the 22nd, btdubs, but don’t abandon the blog in my absence I’ve scheduled some rocketsauce guest posts from my favorite real-life people. TKOG Mom fans rejoice.)
If you’re not in the mood for schmoop, feel free to check out my SSoL nostalgia bomb of Toys I Coveted as a Kid and still desperately want instead.
A Disneyland reference, just for Sister. Also? A pretty good motto, if you're not crazy-strict about "live in the moment" stuff.
I’ve got a confession for you guys. It’s become difficult to write this blog.
It’s not the actual writing, of course — that’s the reason I’m here. I haven’t run out of inspiration — there are about a dozen completed NTKOGs on my to-blog list. It isn’t my social anxiety or the increasing amount of time I spend living online or my having realized the sheer enormity of the number of challenges I have left. (250?! What was I thinking?!). The problem is that the whole premise of this blog is doing things that Old TKOG couldn’t have done and — I just really don’t remember who that girl was.
Snapshot of the effects of this project, more or less halfway in: Last Friday I found myself standing on a street corner, blowing bubbles, listening to Stevie Wonder, and high-fiving a Save The Children campaigner. I was on my way to a blogger meet-up, where I would voluntarily interact with strangers. In my bag, rolled posterboards with which I planned to ask out a man I’d never met in front of six thousand people, on the Jumbotron of a hockey game. Who the frig is that girl?!
Weirdly, all of it felt normal. I don’t remember who I was before this project, but I seem to remember feeling afraid, feeling judged and unhappy sometimes. No, my problem isn’t thinking of NTKOGs to do — it’s confronting how very much of what I accomplish on a daily basis is now something I’ve never before been the girl to do. Complimenting people who walk past me on the street, dancing to my music at a stop sign, trying new foods with new people. I mean, dude, five months ago, drinking a beer was an NTKOG; now I can spend an evening sitting on the curb, drinking wine out of a bag with a Jordanian immigrant and talking about French film and not even think to blog about it.
There are two comments I frequently hear about the project, one from friends and one from strangers. Friends ask me, after a typical whirlwind TKOG monologue, equal parts vitriol and cheerleading: “When did you get so damn self-helpy?” Um, since I had a dishwater life and with nothing but a free WordPress account and sheer force of will, made myself a little bit extraordinary every single day.
The other comment has cropped up on the blog, in Twitter DMs, my email and gchats: “I love this project. I wish I could do something like this.” Yes, because I’m working with such a huge budget and have received years of project-intensive training, so — are you crazy? Do it do it do it! To me, the greatest aspect of this project is that it isn’t esoteric or time-consuming or even all that scary.
We’ve already established that I’m a big ol’ self-helpy cheerleader, but honestly, I think people might be happier if everyone tried something uncharacteristic just once a week. You don’t need to hurl yourself out of a plane (well, you do, sandyb) — just order the dang beer. Bake some bread. Try something.
I can’t believe I’m already halfway through this; I can’t believe I’m only halfway through this. It’s impossible to convey how completely this has been the best year of my life so far. And a huge part of that has been due to you guys. Depending on my blog philosophy of the moment, sometimes I’m kind of hands-off with commenters, but I want you to know that I read every single comment and they all make me smile (especially the ones that make me cry — yes, there have been a few).
I used to think that bloggers were being glib or disingenuous when they said that they loved their readers. Then I started this blog. I love you guys. Thanks for sticking with me. And prepare, if we ever meet, for a rib-crushing bear hug — fear of touching be damned.
Now go do something awesome and scary.
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I’ve actually been really inspired to try new things lately, and I’m pretty sure a lot of the fear has been taken away after reading your blog. This past week I’ve helped renovate a tattoo shop, I’ve tried beer-flavored cupcakes, I helped build a brick wall yesterday, I gardened for the first time in my life… not once did I think to myself “I can’t”. Thanks!!
You rock girl. I’ve been reading since almost the very beginning. There have been times when I’ve been scared to do something and then thought “That would totally be a NTKOG moment.”
I loved your reflection in this post. I hope you know you’re inspiring. :)
I know exactly what you mean, and I appreciate you putting it out there. Over the last few years, I’ve done so many things I never thought I would. It makes me so excited about all the surprises waiting down the road!
‘Now go do something awesome and scary’. You know, just yesterday, I tacked up a paper above my desk that says GO BIG OR GO HOME. The time has come :)
I just wanted to say, I think this project is awesome, and you’ve definitely inspired me to get off my butt and do something new (like you, I moved to Boston without much to go on, and it can be hard to get out there and create a new circle of friends). So – kudos! I’ll be sad when you’re finished, though…
I have really enjoyed reading your blog. I think the awesome thing about being introspective is that it does help you to make those changes, which you’re obviously doing. I also think of your posts help others to consider being more open to others, which is a great thing to be able to do.
Like so many before me have said, you are an insperation! You give hope to those who are afraid, for what ever their reason may be, to try something new.
I’m happy to hear that you feel you’ve made progress with this project. Really, that’s all that matters. As long as it brings you happiness in some shape or form then it’s all the better.
I think we could all take you as an example. You can’t really know who you are or how to be happy until you try something that you’ve told yourself that you’d never, in a million years, do. So thank you. Thank you for being you, the awesome, changing, ever learning person that you are and sharing it with the rest of us.
Yippee! Way to go NTKOG. I’ve loved following you since the inception of your project. And you are right, fellow bloggers do start to feel like friends and family when they keep up on your life and vice versa. Its a nice little community. Now come to DC so I can hang with you and LiLu!
Oh and speaking of NTKOG moments…I boned a chicken yesterday. This coming from the girl who doesn’t like to cut slimey boneless chicken breasts and usually eats an almost vegetarian diet. I was so proud.
I love you too, in a Platonic way.
You know, I don’t think “not being who you were 5 months ago” actually matters to the blog that much. It’s about the challenge of doing new stuff, not just doing stuff you’d not have done at a particular time in your life, isn’t it?
p.s. i’d totally be down for a guest post switcheroo. i’m running out the door, but i’ll email you about it!
Dear, drinking wine out of the bag with street people? Please advise: was it
Thunderbird?
I’m serious when I say that something like this should be part of college curriculums. Getting what you want out of life is about way more than just education and qualifications. It’s chutzpah. At the risk of sounding condescending, I’m proud of you.
Riff Dog! Thank you! I love the idea of an NTKOG class in college. A student-initiated course or a writing class or something. I think if I’d known during college how friggin’ infinite my potential (and everyone else’s potential) was, I might have made some ballsier post-grad decisions. I mean, not that what I’m doing now isn’t totally awesome, but to think I could have learned these lessons earlier!
I LOVE this project. I love how it’s forced you to put yourself out there and try new things. It’s totally inspiring and I’m a little sad there’s only half left!
hmmm, you know what I just realized? I think my recent good fortune (grad school for those of you I don’t know, which – wow – is most of you) has pretty much shot to shit my chance at the ultimate TKOM: getting into a fight. I don’t think I can chance getting arrested as a result of my (spoiler) guest post next week. Any suggestions? I guess I haven’t really described That Kind Of Muscles I am, but suggestions still welcome.
Dearest NTKOG,
I’m fairly new to your blog, but you had me hooked in a just a couple of posts – I love your style, what you’re doing, and your sense of humor and self. I’m with those above who referred to you as inspiring because really, in the little bit of time that I’ve been reading your blog, I have, with every post thought, “Incredible. Absolutely.”
So I hope you know you’ve inspired a girl from across the world to look at her life and think, I can be that kind of girl :)
Thanks and keep writing!
-Carolina
Sometimes when I feel like maybe I have a boring life or maybe I am behind on my yearly list of things to do (making a “things to do this year” list is something I have done since I was a kid) I read your blog for inspiration and a little reminder that life is meant to be an experience! Thanks for sharing all your moments, good, bad, awkward, and winning!
This post reminds me of this article I read the other day: http://chrisguillebeau.com/3×5/why-you-should-quit-your-job-and-travel-around-the-world/
Thanks for reminding us that there is no reason to sit around and wait for happiness. Your blog is awesome and I am really glad to hear that you’ve improved your life just by recognizing what your fears were and conquering them. good for you!!
I hope you are taking time off to solidify your book deal. :)
Your Mom’s writing is anxiously awaited
Ahoy there!
So apparently I know one half of a pair of twins and you know the other. I was linked here to discover that we’re both blogging on opposite coasts about doing things to be someone who we are not but for the better. This is like some cyber rom-com meets coming of age story.
But anyway, I just want to be another one out of crowd to say your blog is so awesome and inspiring! Especially for those days where I simply don’t feel like stepping out of my comfort zone and mounting a mechanical bull. But then I wonder WWTKOGD?
Seriously, keep writing and keep growing. I’d call you one of my recent heroes but I think I’ve taken this comment way past rom-com territory already.
I can’t believe it’s already the half-way point! I think I’ve almost been a reader since the beginning.. and I don’t know what I’ll do when this project is over, I’m addicted!! You’re a daily inspiration, even when your tasks at hand are quite silly. I love it!
halfway! that’s very exciting! :-) i think it’s great that you’re *already* TKOG who is unphased by doing things NTKOG would shy away from. hopefully it’s making each challenge more fun, and not something anxiety-inducing anymore. (in other news, i now want to go blow bubbles.)
oh darling. love you too.
Man, I love this blog so much, and I have actually started thinking about it when I get freaked out about doing something that doesn’t seem like “me.” Like, flirting with the coffee shop guy I have a crush on, going on a date (or, heaven forbid, ASKING someone on a date, yikes!), singing karaoke, dressing up all girly for a night out and so many more that I can’t think of right now. And you give me IDEAS–I loooove the bubble blowing thing!! I have some in my bedside drawer that I get out on sunny days, but why not any day? And I could use something to keep me occupied and not thinking of smoking, what a fabulous idea! It seems cheesy, but reading this thing inspires me.
Adventures in NTKOG Land! Your writing is wonderful, your progression is delightful. If you aren’t careful you will be a full fledged member of the wicked ones by the time this project of yours is over. ;-)
Have a great trip. Do lots of things the pre blog you would have never dreamed of doing!
You’ve actually inspired me quite a bit to do things I never thought I was TKOG to do. : ) At least once a week or so, when I’m confronted with something that makes me borderline uncomfortable (i.e. starting up a convo with a stranger in the elevator) I just go ahead and do it. Thanks for showing all us bookish, solitary gals out there that nobody’s going to bite/trip/laugh at us for being outgoing and friendly.
im so glad to have stumbled over here a couple months back! your posts are refreshing and damn straight inspiring! keep it up baby!
You know, when I first found your blog, I stayed up until three in the morning reading your entire archive. Since that moment, I’ve been preaching about your blog to everyone I know, and every stranger I encounter with whom it comes up. I *proselytize* for your blog. People are starting to be scared of the mad gleam I get in my eye when I demand things like “You’ve never tried a Mojito? Do it. Now!” The best thing I’ve learned from you is that no one cares what you do – they’re not paying attention. This has lead to my singing plentiful Karaoke (seriously, no one’s listening – sing your heart out!) and wearing my beloved vintage top hat around, which I was always scared to do. You’re my hero.
In my efforts to imitate you, the hardest part I’m having is coming up with 250 things, all at once. Usually I find that life throws something new at me every day, and I just go with it.
Thanks for helping me develop a pair, and stop being so stuffy.
i obviously love you. obvi.
I am glad our comments effect you because your blog certainly affects me. Lately, I’ve been on my own path of self-discovery. I am learning to grow and change who I was into someone more healthy, financially independent and happy. While my changes may not be a laugh-out-loud funny as what I read here, I thought you should know that I find a nearly daily dose of inspiration to keep on plugging through my own journey through reading about yours. So, keep it up NTKOG because we are certainly cheering you on!
I honestly just had my very first NTKOG moment this past weekend. I was so nervous, but I wanted it, and I did it, and it felt SOOOO good!! I still feel powerful, empowered, amazing, and all that business and it’s so much better than the place I was in only a few days before.
You ARE an inspiration. Thank you for letting us know that we CAN do things- scary things, uncharacteristic things, crazy things, silly things, anything!- and that it might turn out a million times better than we ever imagined. And if not? Its ok, we’ll just go on from there.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Can’t wait for the 2nd half!
Word to this post. Also, your mother.
why are you so goddamn inspiring?! just kidding. but truly, this blog is really great and i think im going to start trying some on these.
starting with the bubbles :D
You’ve definitely inspired me–well, I haven’t done anything quite that out there, YET, but I always read your blog and think about how awesome the things you do are, and how I wanna be that awesome, too! kudos to you.
You really are inspiring. and you words kinda got to my head, do something I never did huh?
So many possibilities, I gotta list what to do :)
You, yes you, are totally inspirational. My life’s been good but stuck in a rut for awhile so after about a month of reading your blog I thought it was about time for me to do something similar! I’ve even created my own blog to document my NTKOG moments. “Go do something awesome and scary” indeed – this weekend I’ll be holding a tarantula!
amazing what kind of affect focused blogging can have on your life!! what an inspiration. i wish i had a cool idea for a ‘project’ and i would totally do it. i just can’t think of anything cool like NTKOG :)
Look at all this outpouring of love! Did you ever think, a year ago, that you would be the source of inspiration, literary entertaining and admiration for so many? It’s impossible to even perceive, but it’s happened. Now, without getting all mush ‘n’ deep, just wanted to say that I’m included in that pack, of people who (whom?) you’ve inspired.
I, too, am often accused of being one of those odd motivational/positive/always-on-the-bright-side people, which if funny, because I swear a lot and am pretty sure sarcasm bleeds out of my ears, but I accept the finger pointing. In the end, people will always question or criticize what they fear or don’t understand, but keep at what you do (and do it with absolute confidence and genuine nature) and eventually they’ll “get it”.
Thanks for shout the sky dive shout. You rock my world.
That’s the thing.
You’ve been quoted!
http://qoddessquotesblogs.blogspot.com/2010/03/quotes-march-13-2010.html
You have no idea how much this blog means to me – it’s what inspired me to start a blog of my very own, because I thought that no one would want to listen to me.
You’re a real inspiration.
Keep being amazing. I’ll be here to read it. =)
Rib-crushing bear hug? From the girl whose punch is like a gentle breeze? Oh, I think not. Or perhaps you expect us to do the rib crushing. How masochistic of you!
I think I may have said this to you before, but it probably bears repeating. This blog, this project, YOU… has/have inspired me. I am the kind of girl that likes to stay inside her comfort zone. Because, you know. It’s comfortable.
But now and then I’ve been finding that situations have been arising where a thought flickers through my mind – “what if I did this?” – that I would normally be quick to dismiss. They’re brash, they’re scary, they’re ballsy… and then I think to myself – “why not?” What is the worst that could happen if I did them? usually – nothing. Maybe a few moments of uncomfortableness, or, God forbid, embarrassment, but usually? There is nothing to lose, only things to gain, and in most of these situations, I stop, and I second-guess my instinct, and I take a breath and just DO IT.
It’s been kind of liberating. To do the thing, you’re scared to do.
And I can promise you… I would not have even thought twice, about thinking twice, if it weren’t for you. You have showed me that it’s okay to take risk, to do things you wouldn’t normally do, to just say fuck it and make the leap. I have no doubt in my mind that just by reading your words on my screen, it has helped me to be a better version of myself. I don’t want to look back and think “If only I had done this one thing, that one time, when I had the chance..” Carpe the freaking diem, right? Do it. We only get the one chance. And our lives become so much fuller and more interesting and so much more LIVED when we take those little chances everyday.
And I’m getting borderline schmooptastic here so I’m going to shut up. But you and your blog has come to mean a lot, besides just the obvious interesting-to-read factor. I hope you continue with it once your project is complete, and moreso, that you continue to provide me with something to read when it’s done.
So – thank you. And good luck on your next half.
xoxo
*have. HAVE come to mean a lot.
Good lord, I need to learn to proofread.
Also… apparently I am having a love affair with commas today. Whatever THAT’S about.
The fact that the project itself is changing who you are in a good way…isn’t that the point? Growing and expanding? It might make the project itself harder, but it’s working!