Guest Feature: Kate's Quarterlife Crisis

By Kate Morgan

Last month, both my brother and my soon-to-be sister-in-law sent me an article about the “Quarterlife Crisis.” The article detailed a phenomenon happening with 20- and 30-somethings characterized by indecision, isolation, confusion and anxiety about work, relationships and direction.

Just another narcissistic article for the most narcissistic generation? That’s what I initially thought.

But I think my chest started to tighten a bit after the article specifically mentioned taking a “trip to Peru” to find yourself. Who knew that when I dragged my mom to Peru last summer I was in full-on crisis mode? Really? Eh, probably not, but for the sake of a kitschy blog post title, I’m gonna go with it.

So now what? Well, what helps in a time a crisis? Yes, that’s right; it’s a list of goals! And the wonderful people over at Day Zero decided to help me out by creating the 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days Project.

Oh man, I love lists. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than to check something off of a list once it’s completed. Hmm … maybe that made me seem a little sad.

Moving on.

Some goals will certainly be more challenging than others; just as some goals are clearly more serious than others.

Below is a sampling of my list. It is a sampling because 1) I have been told to keep things snappy and 2) because some of my goals are a little too personal to broadcast to complete strangers. No offense.

OK, here we go, broken down by category, naturally:

Travel
1. Visit an Asian country
3. Visit Seattle
7. See a ballgame at three more stadiums
9. Have a local give me a tour of Chicago

Adventure
13. Go skydiving
14. Hike up a mountain
17. Ride a horse
18. Go snorkeling

Culture and stuff
23. Go to the ballet
25. Read LOTR trilogy
28. Try sushi
31. Watch Cirque de Soleil

Give
34. Knit a friend a baby blanket
39. Volunteer 100 hours
41. Donate $20 for every item not completed

Train
43. Eat a raw diet for two weeks
48. Complete the 100 push up challenge
50. Complete a half marathon
51. Touch my toes without bending my knees

Learn
52. Read through the Bible
53. Become conversationally fluent in Spanish
62. Take a CPR class
63. Learn to drive a stick shift

Connect
67. Catch up with an old friend
69. Send out Christmas cards
71. Take my parents to dinner

Earth-friendly
73. Grow tomatoes
75. Go carless for a week
78. Plant a tree

Just for me
85. Pay off car
86. Save all my change
88. Get set up on a blind date

Just for fun
92. Take a picture every day for a month
95. See a sing-along version of The Sound of Music
100. Fly a kite

Want to join in the fun? Let us know in the comments section — and you’ll be helping me complete goal #72: Get five people to make a 101 in 1001 list.

Kate Morgan is the marketing project manager at Olivet Nazarene University.