Sixty things to do before you hit 60
1st September 2007
Most of us dream of doing something wacky, wild or just plain weird before we get too old to manage it (or be able to remember afterwards!). Why not see if your burning ambition is on our list of 60 things to do before your 60th birthday. If it's not, drop us a line and tell everyone what you have in mind to make your mark on the world.
1. Do a bungee jump. They say a bungee jump is guaranteed to quicken the pulse, but it could equally be a parachute jump, or even a sky-dive. Or, if heights aren't your thing, why not try a scuba dive?
2. Bury the hatchet. A grudge is a bit like an old cardigan: comfortable and familiar to the person wearing it but much less attractive to everyone else. Don't get so used to carrying a grudge around that you can't imagine life without it. Put it down - NOW!
3. Eat out really well. Even if you're more used to foie gras than fishfingers, everyone, just once in their lives, should push the boat out and dine in style like there's no tomorrow.
4. Stop smoking. If you do smoke, do it now. And don't think of it as giving up or stopping. Be positive about it, tell people you've taken up living, or started breathing.
5. Come out of the closet. A wise person once said: the truth will set you free. Whatever your secret, if it's getting you down, just loosen your grip and let it go. You'll feel better for it.
6. Clear out the closet. Few of us like to admit to being a hoarder but be honest, do you really need those old cheque book stubs? Will you ever find the part for that food mixer? Go on, chuck 'em out!
7. Give away something precious. They say you can't take it with you, and what better way could there be to show you care than to give your most precious possession to someone you love.
8. Give flowers to a stranger. It doesn't have to be a stranger, just someone to whom you wouldn't usually give flowers. Their reaction will make it all worthwhile.
9. Play a round of golf. Mark Twain called golf "a good walk, spoiled". Even if hitting a little white ball isn't for you there can be few activities better for mind, body and soul than a walk round a well-manicured golf course.
10. Plant a flower. Or a vegetable. Or a tree. Whatever takes your fancy, there's really nothing to beat the feel of fresh soil between your fingers.
11. Take a dog for a walk. Already got a dog? Take a rabbit instead (they love it, and you'll be amazed at all the attention you get).
12. Wash your neighbour's car. Someone once said (or should have), it's the small acts of selfless kindness that make life worth living. And remember: what goes around comes around.
13. Go barefoot for a day. Don't wait for the beach. Get those shoes and socks off and get those toes waggling.
14. Swim in the sea on your birthday. For anyone born between October and April, this could be a tough one (unless your nearest sea is the Caribbean!). If so, paddle.
15. Learn to dance. Maybe you have two left feet or you're already an accomplished hoofer. Either way, it's never too late to get those toes tapping to a new beat.
16. Spend Christmas in a non-Christian country. If your Christmases have become a bit predictable, one surefire way to reinvigorate your festive spirit is to go without one for a year.
17. Surprise someone. Best of all, surprise yourself.
18. Take a cruise. Go on, you know you want to. And just look where you can go nowadays. There are even cruises to Antarctica!
19. Ride a horse. Already safe in the saddle? OK, try a camel.
20. Get a smaller car. Save money, save petrol, save lives, save the planet.
21. Go to Glastonbury. No, not for the festival. For the other 51 weeks of the year you'll find a pretty, sleepy little Somerset village steeped in legends that hardly anyone visits.
22. Spend a day being pampered. Go on, you've earned it.
23. Draw/paint a self-portrait. Warts and all.
24. Go for a week with no telly, radio, papers, magazines or the internet. Can it be done? Dare you try?
25. Host a party for the neighbourhood. In an increasingly isolated society, what better way could there be to connect with those wound you?
26. Swim with dolphins. Those who've done it say there's nothing like it. Just don't try holding your breath for as long as they can.
27. Snorkel off the Great Barrier Reef. Australia may be out of reach but there are plenty of places closer to home where you can discover the beauty of the world under the waves.
28. Go on safari. In truth, safari simply means 'journey' in Swahili. Don't delay, go today.
29. Visit a wonder of the world. With seven to choose from the only trouble will be deciding which one.
30. Bake a cake for someone special. There really is nothing quite like the aroma of your own, home-mixed cake, fresh out of the oven. Don't forget the icing!