By Elmira Aliyeva in goals —

Impossible list

Impossible list
Photo by Nitish Meena / Unsplash

Bucket lists are popular; almost everyone has one: either defined in the form of a written to-do list with an obvious deadline or in the form of a cloud of someday dreams. The Impossible List is something different.

The first time I encountered an Impossible List was in Thomas Frank's video. The purpose of such a list is to evolve, start with the small goals, build up, and continuously track the progress instead of setting them aside as elusive dreams that would happen in the future.

I‘ve kept and updated this list in my Evernote notebook since around 2017, and although it's quite personal, I decided to post it here, to keep myself accountable and maybe inspire others to start something similar.

So here it goes:

Current focus (3 goals)

  1. get at least grade 7 in all sections of TCF Canada
  2. get a professional certification
  3. master's degree

Last 5 completed goals

  1. went to a Hozier concert in Madrid in July, 2024 (a birthday present from my best friend!)
  2. got B2 level in Test de connaissance du français Canada in March, 2024
  3. completed my tedious painting by numbers project in February, 2024
  4. visited Wrocław with my family and friends in December, 2023
  5. moved from Kazakhstan to Poland for work in October, 2022

Travel

  1. Poland
    1. Tatry
    2. Wygnanowice, Dom nad źródłami
    3. Mazury
    4. Wrocław - December, 2023
    5. Poznań
  2. Turkey
    1. hot-air balloons in Cappadocia
    2. Istanbul - April, 2022
  3. South Korea with my sister
  4. Australia
    1. take a photo with a koala
    2. dive at the Great Barrier Reef
  5. Japan
  6. Ireland
  7. USA
    1. Grand Canyon
    2. Broadway musical in New York (Hamilton or Chicago)
    3. Chicago
  8. Portugal
  9. go on a week-long cruise
  10. see a blue whale
  11. see the northern lights in Iceland
  12. visit Old Trafford, Manchester, UK
  13. see an active volcano

Concerts

  1. Hozier - July, 2024
  2. Metallica
  3. AnnenMayKantereit
  4. Lady Gaga
  5. The Black Keys
  6. Dawid Podsiadło - December, 2017
    1. Dawid Podsiadło stadium concert
  7. Harry Styles
  8. Stromae
  9. Eurovision

Skills/experiences

  1. get driving license
  2. learn sign language
  3. tandem skydiving
      1. solo skydiving
  4. learn to play guitar - learned to play basic chords and sing along
      1. master playing guitar
  5. scuba diving
  6. get an individual photoshoot
  7. attend a pottery workshop
  8. attend a calligraphy workshop
  9. get a professional stylist consultation and wardrobe update
  10. get a consultation of color stylist
  11. learn foreign languages (at least B2 level)
    1. French - March, 2024
      1. get at least grade 7 in all sections of TCF Canada
    2. German
  12. fly first class
  13. complete the painting by numbers - February, 2024
  14. try on different colored contact lenses

Health/Fitness

  1. try martial arts
  2. learn figure skating
  3. learn to make splits
  4. enjoy running
  5. ride a bike confidently
  6. learn to snowboard
  7. learn to surf
  8. learn to swim - August, 2021
    1. learn outdoor swimming
  9. maintain healthy weight
  10. fix my eyesight

Career development

  1. professional certifications
    1. CISA
    1. SAP certification
  2. master's degree
  3. volunteer locally/social activism work
  4. own a house
  5. speak at an industry conference or event
  6. build a family contingency fund
  7. work abroad - October, 2022
    1. get work experience in the US

I will update this page to reflect any changes in goals and priorities every six months. Last update is from August, 2024.