I was 20 years when I wrote a list of things I wanted to accomplish in life…
This week I was reading a book and there was a sentence saying something like: “With age, we stop dreaming and believing in what we once thought it was possible. Society puts us so many limits and we simply stop believing … “
I started my first blog when I was 20 (THIS), a few days before Christmas in 2011. The negative comments from my friends and family made me doubt of my capacities and it took me 5 years to start sharing my thoughts again. It was in 2016 when I finally created danielamatinho.com. Fear and (dis)approval from others can have a big impact on our lives.
I went back to bisoubisou because I knew that one of the posts I wrote in 2011 was about the 20 things I wanted to do in this life. Frankly, I wanted to get back into the head of a 20-year-old girl and know what my dreams were at the time… Let’s get started?
1. Be on time
I was one of those people who would arrive late to everything. I was one of those people that made everyone wait for me. I was one of those people that everyone hated. Until the day I decided to change. And I really did. The last time I was in Portugal to have dinner with two childhood friends, they looked at me when they arrived at the restaurant and said:
-You went from arriving always late to someone arriving before the time scheduled.
YEA! To change, you just need to want to change and that is how I did it. Today I am proud to say I am usually a punctual person at work but also with my friends.
DONE
2. Love you as my mom did
Friends, I love kids and at 20 I was already thinking about loving my children as much as my mother did. This is BIG. This is not yet on the list of things achieved but we will see what the future reserves me.
3. Go to a Victoria’s Secret show
I have not set my feet there yet, but I keep hoping for it. I think that at the age of 20, I was more obsessed with this brand than I am today BUT if I receive an invitation to the show tomorrow, I am not going to say NO (OFC I will be there applauding). : D
4. Be in; Write in VOGUE
NOT DONE YET. I think today I am more attract to be featured in Forbes than in Vogue (at age of 20, I was studying Luxury Marketing in Paris and I had way too many fashion influences). However, Vogue is always Vogue and a person never says no to Vogue: how could I?
But I have written a few articles for other magazines, newspapers and blogs. Have a look HERE
5. Get a tattoo
Getting a tattoo is one of those things that has been on the list for a long time and that sooner or later will happen. I really want to have one but I keep trying to find something very amazing to write/ draw. Not to mention the fear of I have about suffering during the process (seriously). Anyway! Eventually, I will accomplish this one. : D
6. Visit Dubai
When I saw this photo I was like: Dubai? With so many places in the world, Dubai? I think the skyscrapers and the rich dudes made a little bit my mind hahaha. I am very curious about Dubai, it might not be my priority destiny but YES I am curious about it.
7. Be a mom
I was already thinking too much about being a mother. This maternal love has been around for a long time (I have always admitted it) but I have also said that before being a mom: there are way too many things that I want to do. Let’s say it is in the head but far from being processed.
8. See you again, Feel you again
(Friends, do not pay attention to the mistakes, age brings us kgs but also wisdom).
at the time I posted this picture, I remember I was “crazy” about a Frenchman who did not care much about me. Let’s say I did not see the young man again but in 5 years living in Paris, I saw and enjoy many others.
So I can mark this as done, right?
DONE
9. Visit Brazil
DONEEE
I smiled when I saw this and I thought, “Back then, I was not silly at all.” I spent more than 2 months in Brazil in 2016 and although it is not my favorite country, I have a lot of affection for Brazil. It was where everything started, it was where I volunteered, it was where I connected with a lot of my family, it was where I open myself to the world without fear.
- 1st month in Salvador
- All you need to know about Salvador
- 4 days in Chapada Diamantina
- My volunteering experience
10. Get your life for one day
Ohhh Serena from Gossip Girl. I spent so many hours watching this series. So many of the episodes were useless and repetitive but I watched them all. I loved Serena, Serena’s style and Serena’s way of being. A life like hers is hard to get but I keep dreaming about it. While alive, we should always dream about what we want. So, a day in Manhattan’s Upper East Side has not yet happened but I’m 26. In 5 – 10 years, life can change SO MUCH.
11. Learn how to play piano
This is one of those who hurts me all the time because I really want to learn how to play but I have not committed myself to take regular classes yet. Let’s see what the next year is bringing me, maybe I will finally find the time to learn how to play piano. Who knows?
12. Feel good everyday
This is hard. It is hard to feel good everyday but honestly, I am in a wonderful process of change and I can now see very positive “improvements” in my life. After several years of ups and downs; of many trips and a year in Australia where I felt depressed and completely lost most of the time, I am finally finding myself again and being the happy Daniela that most people know.
So, this is quite DONEEEE
13. Visit Sydney
I said: visit, do not live Haha. This is also more than done. Little did I know that one day I would live and have the pleasure of seeing the Opera House frequently. Life has so many surprise for each one of us.
DONE
14. Graduate
DONEE. The day I presented my thesis, I left the room with the biggest smile on my face: DONE. I AM FREE. The feeling of receiving my graduation diploma was AMAZING. Who has lived this?
15. Fall in Love
Love is a bit of a trap and I know what I am talking about as I feel in love for someone in 2016 just before my trip to Latin America. Those butterflies in the stomach, the weird/happy smile with every message … YES, I lived it all. : D
Love is what rules this world and I hope more wonderful men will come to my way (if possible men who will not make me suffer too much).
DONE
16. Step on Sahara
DONEEEE friends. YEA. I was in the Sahara desert in 2017 on my 2 weeks visit to Morocco. I even slept one night in the desert.
17. Dance for you
Hmm, I have danced many times for boys but never for anyone who I thought he would become husband. So, this does not count. I continue my hunting and improving my sexy moves.
18. Kiss you in public places
I have done it but not to THAT SPECIAL. And since I can not find a photo kissing someone in public, it means it is not done. haha
19. Write a book
I write texts, articles, thoughts BUT a book: that is a damn job. But let’s say the thing is more or less in process (at least in my mind). However, this does not count either. ;(
20. Move to New York
Friends: this one continues here. Deep in the heart, deep in the soul of traveler and dreamer. New York is a frenetic city that even though I have been there only once, I loved it. I spent 10 days there to celebrate my first work contract and my birthday (22 years).
When I left the city I said to myself that I would not be able to live my whole life there but living a couple of years would make me the happiest woman in the world. We will see what happens. We will see. God, can you give a little push? The little girl will be very thankful.
FINAL SCORE: 8/20
YOU know that I am quite impressed and happy with the result. But let’s try to raise this a little bit more.
What about? Are there dreams? Share with me …
Beijinho,
Daniela