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Intro to yoga class at yogabarn in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.
July 27, 2012
in Asia, Bali, Indonesia, Life List, Round the World, travel, Ubud

Life List #148: Do yoga.

OK, so I only went to one intro to yoga class at The Yoga Barn while I was in Ubud, Bali. But that one class counts for my life list goal of "do yoga," right? I mean, I did "do yoga" while in Bali. Technically....

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Beginner surfing lesson in Kuta, Bali
July 19, 2012
in Asia, Bali, Indonesia, Kuta, Learn Something New, Life List, Round the World, travel

Catching waves.

The problem with long-term travel is that things stop feeling exciting. Whereas on a one or two week vacation everything feels new and different, sometimes, after traveling for a while, things start to feel mundane. Oh, it's just another beach. Oh, it's just another temple....

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Volunteering at Sambhali Trust, Setrawa
April 5, 2012
in Asia, India, Life List, Round the World, Setrawa, travel

#64: Volunteer abroad. (Volunteering at Sambhali Trust in Setrawa, India.)

My name is Valerie. I am 31 years old. My favorite color is green. My favorite fruit is bananas. My favorite vegetable is eggplant. My favorite animal is a dog. Today my feeling is worried. Every day we sat in a circle with our Sambhali Trust butterfly class and one by...

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CP Biggest Eater Bangkok
February 9, 2012
in Asia, Bangkok, competitive eating, Life List, Round the World, Thailand, travel

Life List #26: See competitive eating in another country.

My entire trip around Asia has been designed to get me to Bangkok right at this moment. It was part of the reason I decided to switch my initial flight in from Bangkok to Singapore. It was part of the reason I decided against getting...

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Getting my first massage in in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
December 3, 2011
in Asia, Cambodia, Life List, Round the World, Siem Reap, travel

Life list #73: Get a massage.

I'd never gotten a massage before. I don't really like when people touch me unless it's a guy I want to sleep with. And I get bored easily. Seriously, I have trouble going to movies because by the time the previews are over I'm cursing...

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Taking a horse and carriage ride on the Princes’ Islands of Istanbul, Turkey.
October 27, 2011
in Europe, Istanbul, Life List, Round the World, travel, Turkey

Life list: #116 Take a horse and carriage ride.

I had plans to meet up again with Gulender and Murat, who I met a few weeks ago, the last time I was staying in Istanbul. I had no idea what they had in store for me for the day. We started with breakfast at a...

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Ride on a hot air balloon - Hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, Turkey
October 17, 2011
in Cappadocia, Europe, Life List, Round the World, travel, Turkey

Life List #12: Ride on a hot air balloon.

On Thursday morning I woke up dark and early at 5am to get picked up for my hot air balloon ride. Really, it's the thing to do in Cappadocia. I waited with two others from my hostel until the bus driver came to whisk us...

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Backpack through Europe for at least three months.
October 5, 2011
in Europe, Life List, Round the World, travel

Backpack through Europe for at least three months. (Life List #1)

Writing something down next to number one on your bucket list can be daunting. It's the one item everyone is guaranteed to read and it just sits there like a sore thumb waiting to be bandaged. Waiting to be ticked off. It has to be...

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I survived La Tomatina!
September 6, 2011
in Bad Decisions, Bunol, Europe, Festival, Life List, relationships, Round the World, Spain, travel, Valencia

Life List #24: Throw tomatoes at La Tomatina.

I was beginning to think I might never see a tomato. That I'd come home from that small town in Spain, from La Tomatina, from the biggest tomato fight in the world, with my 4 euro dress still pristinely white. The cannon that signaled the...

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The Louvre in Paris, France
August 4, 2011
in Europe, France, Life List, museum, Paris, Round the World, travel

Life List: #20: Go to the Louvre.

As I said, Paris wasn't in the plan. I intentionally left it off my itinerary because I had decided that I only wanted to go to places I've never been before. And I went to Paris five years ago. But I was in need of...

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Hi, I’m Val. I spent most of my 20s in a standstill, unable to pick which path in life I wanted to take. I wanted the nomadic life of a traveler but also wanted the husband, the condo, and the teal couch. Unable to decide which life I wanted more, I did nothing. I lived my life in limbo. When I turned 30 I’d had enough of putting my life on hold and decided to start “choosing my figs.” So, I quit my job and bought a one-way ticket to Europe. After 3 years on the road I’m back in Chicago, exploring the city, learning guitar, decorating my apartment in too much teal, cuddling my cats, and planning my next adventures.

            

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2006 –

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WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR LIFE?


Feeling stuck? Sick of living your life in limbo? Want to finally do all those things you always say you're going to do? Sign up for the Choosing Figs newsletter now to get a FREE e-book with tips on starting your own life list, inspiration for things to do in life, and worksheets to get your life goals out of your head and into action!


Your information will be used to send you our Life List e-book and subscribe you to our bi-monthly newsletter. View our full Privacy Policy.



            


MEOW | Is Val in Chicago?