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The 10 Things I Want to Do Before I Die

By: Gini Dietrich | July 24, 2012 | 
206

Last week, Jayme Soulati wrote a blog post called, “20 Things to Do Before I Die.”

It was an off-the-cuff blog post; not something she’d been thinking about for years, nor her “final” bucket list.

In it she described things she can control (write a book on how to buy colored stones) and things she can’t control (never say goodbye to my parents).

I learned things about her I didn’t know (she likes rocks), but most importantly, she asked the meme be passed along from blogger to blogger.

Because yesterday’s blog post was so intense, I thought we’d have a little fun today.

So here we go. I ran out of time, so here are the 10 things I want to do before I die.

  1. Ride the Tour de France route. Maybe not all 2,200 miles, but a good portion of it, particularly through the Alps. And I’m talking on my bike. Not in a car.
  2. Grow – and sell – a business. Sure, I could sell Arment Dietrich today if I really wanted to, but it wouldn’t allow me the flexibility to retire if I wanted to. So I guess the real goal is to sell a business that affords me that luxury.
  3. Adopt some kids in need. Mr. D always jokes he wants a built-in basketball team. I don’t want that many kids (I’m the oldest of six; I’ve experienced it already), but I would love to adopt siblings who would otherwise be split up.
  4. Make enough money to provide scholarships. Mostly for our 14 nieces and nephews. And, if there is money left over after that, provide it to under-privileged kids.
  5. Write Spin Sucks, the book. It won’t surprise any of you on this one. This is likely the next book. I am looking at 2014 to get it done. I need a break after this year first.
  6. Ride (and drink) through Italy. Again, on my bike. I’d love to ride from Italian winery to winery, sipping and tasting.
  7. Take cooking classes from a renowned chef. I love to cook and it’s my stress release when it’s too darn cold in Chicago to ride outside. How cool would it be to take lessons from an Italian or French chef?
  8. Write a novel. You would think this blog affords me the flexibility to write business books. And it does. But I’ve also began crafting my fiction, based on some of the bigger and loftier things we discuss in the comments about the change we’d like to see in the world.
  9. Support my mom. Not just when she gets old and can’t take care of herself, but even just provide her a little spending cash to go to the scrapbook store or fabric store or kitchen store. That way she could retire for good.
  10. Take one big vacation every year. I have this really bad habit of not taking time off. The last time I had a real vacation was when Mr. D and I went to Europe to celebrate our five year anniversary…four and a half years ago. That’s stopping this year. I don’t know where we’ll go this year, but somewhere warm after it gets cold in Chicago.

What about you? Care to comment below or blog about the 20 (or 10) things you want to do before you die?

About Gini Dietrich


Gini Dietrich is the founder and CEO of Arment Dietrich, a Chicago-based integrated marketing communications firm. She is the lead blogger here at Spin Sucks and is the founder of Spin Sucks Pro. She is the co-author of Marketing in the Round and co-host of Inside PR. Her second book, Spin Sucks, is due out in November 2013

Gini Dietrich

189 comments
MissDulcieMae
MissDulcieMae

When I think about things I want to do before I die, I usually think of places. I went on a few holidays when I was a child, however I would love to have the opportunity to actually visit these places and more now that I'm older, and can appreciate them without doing all the touristy things.I've already conquered Ireland (not that I remember a hell of a lot...)But also on my list ...- New York- India

- New Zealand

- Austraila

- South Africa

- Canada

- Some sort of tropical island, that I don't know exists yet!

Late_Bloomers
Late_Bloomers

Hi, Gini, seamlessly continuing:  now that #6 and 7 are taken care off, you can add some more ...

 

What a lovely list, I particularly like #3, 4 and 9, considering the needs and wellbeing of others. And your #10 could be combined with 6 and 7, what an inspiration and battery charger this vacation would be!

 

And how could I have missed out on the Scotch tour of @DebraCaplick , ok, make it 13 on my list.

 

I would love to see @M_Koehler sitting in your fridge, make sure he does not squash your cheese!

 

Thank you so much, you brighten a grey morning here in Basel, Switzerland! Sunshine for you! 

Latest blog post: 12 Things I Want To Do

ginidietrich
ginidietrich

@karlsprague I get to see you next week!

karlsprague
karlsprague

@ginidietrich I look forward to wit, wisdom... and dinner!

Nic_Cartwright
Nic_Cartwright

Sounds like you need that holiday (as I sit on holiday in uk).... A touring/eating trip of France/Italy to boot... Just had friends "ride" the tour (some of it) as they watched... And loved it.

ginidietrich
ginidietrich moderator

 @Nic_Cartwright I am so jealous! I really want to do that!

jelenawoehr
jelenawoehr

I never knew you wanted to adopt, Gini! I have the same idea -- if (and that's an IF) I ever feel ready for kids, I would love to adopt a sibling pair. I've browsed adoption websites from time to time and it is SO heartbreaking to see posts like "Tom and Jane would love to find a home together as they are very attached, but could be separated if no placement together is found." I had the opportunity to visit a First Nations tribe where adoption is very common and kids tend to call all males their father's age in their family "dad" and all females their mother's approximate age "mom," and just go back and forth through their upbringing between their many dads and moms, which works beautifully--the whole village really does raise the child. I've been in love with the whole concept of adoption since. (Also, pregnancy is terrifying.)

TonyBennett
TonyBennett

How cool - we share number 3! And here's 5 more to put in print. 1) If I happen to outlive my wife, I'm going to the middle east. I want to meet with as many radical Islamic leaders and citizens to better understand were they're coming from. My goal would be to craft a covenant toward the ever-elusive world peace thingy... Or die trying. 2) Be a Senator - Tony Bennett for Senate, 2020 baby hear we come! 3.) Build/design/be responsible for creating a dam in Michigan 4) start a research institute specializing in neuroscience, nanotechnology, and renewable energy 5) have something name after me, like a library or stadium

bdorman264
bdorman264

I'm a volunteer Guardian ad Litem; I currently have 5 boys, five and under in foster care who would LOVE to become Cubs fans. I'm sending them up.............:). Big kids too, if not basketball, certainly football..............

 

I just want to be like you when I grow up; that's all I need. 

namfos
namfos

Seems to me, and probably Joe Queenan, that way too many here are too young to be talking bucket lists, http://on.wsj.com/NJv4xy ;-)

ginidietrich
ginidietrich moderator

 @namfos A proper bucket list is like seeing "Radiohead at midnight on New Year's Eve at the North Pole beneath the aurora borealis on a quadruple bill with Björk, Willie Nelson and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir"

Latest blog post: Declare Your Content Mission

namfos
namfos like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @ginidietrich True enough, though I have no idea what Radiohead, or Bjork sound like.   BTW, who should open on that quad bill?

barrettrossie
barrettrossie like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

1) Own a place in Hawaii, with guest quarters for my zillion relatives (but no more than 4 at a time)

2) Coach a kid to make it at a high level of pro soccer

3) Help a great candidate win a big office

4) Speak to a huge -- really huge -- crowd, and have them love it

5) Take care of my parents

6) Reconnect with people I was friends with in seven different cities and eras of my life, and thank them for their friendship, kindnesses and inspiration

7) Build a great team to work with, like some of the teams I left in the above cities and eras

8) Get back to my college weight (not saying what I am now, or was then!)

9) Make my home so welcoming that everyone wants to drop in just because it's so much fun (even if it's not in Hawaii)

10) Live off the interest

PattiRoseKnight
PattiRoseKnight like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @barrettrossie I love your list.  Your #5 tells me a lot about you.  Your parents should be proud and I am certain they are!  Bravo!  

Nikki Little
Nikki Little like.author.displayName 1 Like

Providing scholarships is on my bucket list that I wrote at the end of last year. I would love to have a scholarship for the PR program at Central Michigan University. One day. :)

michandwalker
michandwalker

We have SO much in common!! Tour de France, cycling in Italy (Duvine - have my eye on ztuscany), writing a book, and of course vacation!! Was so nice o meet you tonight. Hope we can keep in touch nd re-connect someday

annedreshfield
annedreshfield

Okay, I know a few of these... 

 

1) Write a book. I've wanted to do this since I can remember. I have several stories on my computer...and most of them are hundreds of pages long. I'm hoping to turn one of them into a book once I'm done with school. One day!

2) Own a horse. Preferably I can write books so I have a flexible-enough schedule to own a horse and spend as much time with it as I want. 

3) Own a convertible (stick shift only). I learned on an automatic and my dad's been teaching me how to drive stick on his Porsche. 

4) Give back to my parents. They've done so much for me...I'd like to help them in some way that they would enjoy/appreciate.

5) Have enough money to comfortably retire with my future husband wherever we want.

 

That's all I've got for now on the fly! 

ginidietrich
ginidietrich moderator like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @annedreshfield When I was your age (which wasn't all that long ago, I might add), I knew I wanted to write a book. It took me until this year to do it so don't give that up. It will happen!

Latest blog post: Declare Your Content Mission

lizreusswig
lizreusswig like.author.displayName 1 Like

Excellent list, @ginidietrich - My only suggestion would be changing the title to be 10 Things I Want To Do While I'm Alive!! (Pollyanna has reared her perky head again!!)  ;)  So now, I've learned we have yet another thing in common - I'm also the oldest child!  However, I'm pretty sure I'll never have your #1 on my list, but you (and only you) might get me to go along with your #6 - or maybe I could just drive slowly alongside you!! 

rustyspeidel
rustyspeidel like.author.displayName 1 Like

1. Your #1. How did you know?

2. Your #6. Uncanny! 

3. Write and record my solo album.

4. Have my own, REAL recording studio, not this ProTools on the laptop BS.

5. See all my kids through to healthy adulthood.

6. Weigh 175 again.

7. Own a 56 Chris Craft and and a sailboat.

8. See Yosemite. And Montana.

9. Mountain bike the Pacific Crest trail.

10. Learn to be a gourmet cook.

11. Be debt free. As if.

12. Live in California. Even for a year. 

13. Play guitar on a major rock tour. 

14. Drive a Porsche convertible down the Italian coast. Maybe at the end of #2. With a brunette. 

15. Develop a national reputation as a digital business strategist.

3HatsComm
3HatsComm like.author.displayName 1 Like

These lists are too fun to read - and too daunting for me to think about. Love the travel, mentioned it on Jayme's post - that's what I want to do more than anything .. the eat/drink/play through lovely places. I'd want (the time, the money, the freedom) to be a traveler, not a tourist. FWIW.

ginidietrich
ginidietrich moderator like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @3HatsComm I love the idea of being a traveler, not a tourist. But on your own time, with no plans once you get there. I'm a traveler right now and it's not so much fun.

M_Koehler
M_Koehler like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

Ok this should prove interesting. In no order and are completly random and off the top of my sleep deprived head. 1. Skydive- i'm shocked I haven't done this actually. 2. Beer/brewery tour in Belgium. Fat Trappist monks are the greatest people on earth and they make the best beer. The world is a better place with then in it. 3. Beer/brewery tour through England- This will require me to actually go to England which Mrs K will not allow. I have a good friend who lives in London who has promised me this. The problem is it would require weeks and I would not be coming back. Hence why I'm not allowed 4. To see Pulp/Jarvis Cocker live in concert. One of my big musical regrets...... 5. Reconnecting with one of my closest friends from high school... Oh wait I did that already! 6. Run a marathon. Oh wait, i did this 3 times already and working on more 7. Get re-married to Mrs K. She really is my rock and savior 8. Do a concert tour through England- See #3 as these will go hand in hand 9. See both my kids graduate collage 10. Learn to make cheese. What can I say, I love cheese.

DebraCaplick
DebraCaplick

 @M_Koehler You made me think of one I left off my list: A scotch tour of Scotland. There's this one hotel, Craigellachie, in Speyside, that supposedly has over 400 single malts in its bar. That is nirvana!

jasonkonopinski
jasonkonopinski

 @M_Koehler I visited a few breweries & cideries when I was in Devon-Cornwall in '07. Glorious Dark and Pale milds.  Making fresh cheese is quite easy - I make mozzarella, ricotta, queso fresco and feta often.  Aged cheeses require a bit more attention to temperature and humidity. 

M_Koehler
M_Koehler like.author.displayName 1 Like

@jasonkonopinski Jealous on the tour. It really is my ultimate dream holiday, 2 weeks in Belgium and at least 3 in England. I may not survive but good grief what a way to go. Plus I love English cheeses so I'd do some damage there to

Trackbacks

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