When my parents moved home, they cleared out some of my old boxes I had left in the storage cellar. Boxes that contained items from my childhood, including some of my personal journals from my teenage years.

One journal contained a page listing what teenage me in the mid-to-late nineties thought was ideal life goals (or material objects that I felt were important to obtain at the time)

My teenage life goal list – Date achieved if applicable:

• Purchase a rock-climbing harness (figure-eight & screw gate carabiner) 1999-10-20
• Purchase a scuba diving wetsuit (fins & booties) 2009-10-30
• Purchase a Digital amplifier/receiver (AC-3) 2002-11-27
• Purchase 3 speakers (Centre & Rear) 2008-10-01
• Have my own space (renting or purchased an apartment) 2002-10-31
• Design a living space to my ‘standards’. 2010-04-01
• Have a large bookshelf with an array of books. 2002-11-05
• Go on a skydiving course. 2012-01-10 (Bungee Jump first) 2011-04-25
• Get a tattoo. 1999-03-06
• Go on an advanced scuba diving course. 2002-10-10
• Buy a fancy car (BMW, Audi, Volvo, Jaguar, Merc, etc) 2006-04-14
• Go on an advanced driving course. 2000-06-06
• Purchase a rock-climbing rope. 2007-03-01
• Have nice clothing for all occasions (Formal suits, smart shoes) 2007-01-01
• Purchase a motorbike.
• Own a horse or still be horseback riding.
• Travelled overseas. 2001-06-01 – 2002-10-31 and many times since
• Have a wife 2016-06-11 or long-term girlfriend. 2004-05-05
• Accomplished things to be proud of (donating blood) 2009-01-23
• Run the Comrades ultra marathon.
• Completed studies. 2005-11-30
• Have a career I am happy with and settled in – 2005-11-01 & 2007-12-01
• Have prospects of a family
• Learnt how to play a musical instrument.
• Own a mobile phone. 2000-11-19
• Own a computer. 2000-06-25
• Have some creature comforts (living comfortably) 2007-03-01

These two items were listed separately:

• Have a few close/good friends.
• Have my share of problems to deal with

These were added on the back of the original list at some point:

• Have some money (Wealth) 2020-01-01
• Have a nice car sound system. 2003-10-20
• Learnt how to speak another language.
• Have a large compact Disc (CD) collection. 2008-01-01
• Did my best to reach my dreams.

Some of the items in the list highlight the era in which they were created – in 1999 owning a mobile phone was a much bigger deal than what it is in 2024. The same goes for owning CD’s (I still have them, but I’m not sure when last I listened to music from one, I’m actually not sure if you can easily get new players for them anymore – like VHS and DVD’s I guess).

One item raises an eyebrow… “Run the Comrades ultra marathon.”

I highlighted in my journey to becoming a runner post that I have never really been a runner, even in school sports I was never a long distance runner. Listing the world’s largest and oldest ultra marathon as a goal nearly 30 years before I even became a runner is surprising.

I guess you are never too old to try and achieve your childhood goals.