A bucket list of things to learn to do
July 14, 2018 11:08 AM Subscribe
I want to make a list of things to learn/do. Specifically, skills to learn, with a clear concrete goal/win condition, awesome if that win condition is an actual concrete thing.
Examples of the kind of things I mean:
1. Knit a sock (knitting, sock patterns)
2. Write a song (music theory and poetry and musical notation and..)
3. Invent a recipe (some basic food principles and general cooking knowledge)
4. Write a play (story structure, play notation?)
5. Choreograph a dance (...uh, don't know what I'd need to learn)
6. Whittle a spoon
Also sort of qualifies:
1. learn a language
2. run a 5k
Not the kind of things I mean:
-Visit a place
-Learn to love myself or other abstract lesson
-Read a book/watch a play/experience an experience
SUPER EXTRA BONUS POINTS for directing me to resources to learn the thing in question. In my previous question kevinbelt directed me to a site that teaches music theory which was the most immediate inspiration for this question, although couch to 5k and monika zagrobelna's tutorials have made me realize how much I want more of this kind of thing in my life.
Examples of the kind of things I mean:
1. Knit a sock (knitting, sock patterns)
2. Write a song (music theory and poetry and musical notation and..)
3. Invent a recipe (some basic food principles and general cooking knowledge)
4. Write a play (story structure, play notation?)
5. Choreograph a dance (...uh, don't know what I'd need to learn)
6. Whittle a spoon
Also sort of qualifies:
1. learn a language
2. run a 5k
Not the kind of things I mean:
-Visit a place
-Learn to love myself or other abstract lesson
-Read a book/watch a play/experience an experience
SUPER EXTRA BONUS POINTS for directing me to resources to learn the thing in question. In my previous question kevinbelt directed me to a site that teaches music theory which was the most immediate inspiration for this question, although couch to 5k and monika zagrobelna's tutorials have made me realize how much I want more of this kind of thing in my life.
Best answer: How about learning to make that bucket for your list (Origami), or a bucket hat? Or learn to mix and form concrete, make at least one concrete brick and at least one stepping stone.
If you don't have tools or space to work in you may be able to find a community work place or something else like a Makerspace.
posted by X4ster at 11:55 AM on July 14, 2018
If you don't have tools or space to work in you may be able to find a community work place or something else like a Makerspace.
posted by X4ster at 11:55 AM on July 14, 2018
Best answer: Private pilot’s license. Bonus points for IFR, complex, multiengine, etc!
posted by Alterscape at 1:32 PM on July 14, 2018
posted by Alterscape at 1:32 PM on July 14, 2018
Best answer: Learn how to build an inkle loom, and then weave something on it.
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:46 PM on July 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:46 PM on July 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
Design a conlang, with the goal of a complete alphabet and a translation like the tower of Babel text.
To choreograph a dance, you need to learn dance steps, standard moves, and dance patterns for a style of dance. Many folk dance styles (square dance, country dance, etc.) have what's basically verses and choruses. So: Pick a style; learn how to dance it; choose your favorite parts; make new dance that includes only those, or mostly only those. Theoretically, you don't need to learn steps to choreograph some dances, but they do help you know what does and doesn't fit with various moves. (I've done Irish ceilidh dance and designed some.)
Make a memory quilt.
Build a miniature house, possibly a re-creation of a childhood house, or one from a favorite movie or tv show.
Make your own video game.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:30 PM on July 14, 2018
To choreograph a dance, you need to learn dance steps, standard moves, and dance patterns for a style of dance. Many folk dance styles (square dance, country dance, etc.) have what's basically verses and choruses. So: Pick a style; learn how to dance it; choose your favorite parts; make new dance that includes only those, or mostly only those. Theoretically, you don't need to learn steps to choreograph some dances, but they do help you know what does and doesn't fit with various moves. (I've done Irish ceilidh dance and designed some.)
Make a memory quilt.
Build a miniature house, possibly a re-creation of a childhood house, or one from a favorite movie or tv show.
Make your own video game.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:30 PM on July 14, 2018
Best answer: Learn embroidery. Sublime Stitching has tutorials for beginners and awesome and surprising contemporary patterns. You can embroider a pillowcase, dishtowels, napkins. Endless possibilities.
posted by FencingGal at 6:04 PM on July 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 6:04 PM on July 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
If you have any interest in writing poetry, Stephen Fry’s book The Ode Less Travelled will walk you through many different forms, which seems more in keeping with your question than writing free verse.
posted by FencingGal at 6:15 PM on July 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 6:15 PM on July 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'm glad I could help! Some ideas:
-driving a stickshift.
-manual exposure photography.
-basic web programming.
posted by kevinbelt at 6:41 PM on July 14, 2018
-driving a stickshift.
-manual exposure photography.
-basic web programming.
posted by kevinbelt at 6:41 PM on July 14, 2018
Best answer: learn a few useful knots:
bowline
alpine butterfly
clove hitch
any number of friction hitches that might be useful for you.
posted by Ferreous at 7:07 PM on July 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
bowline
alpine butterfly
clove hitch
any number of friction hitches that might be useful for you.
posted by Ferreous at 7:07 PM on July 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Here are some of mine:
Learn how to change a tire. (substitute any more complex car maintenance task if this is old hat for you).
Keep a beehive alive through a winter (still working on this).
Make a baby quilt
Complete the couch to 5K running program
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 7:55 PM on July 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Learn how to change a tire. (substitute any more complex car maintenance task if this is old hat for you).
Keep a beehive alive through a winter (still working on this).
Make a baby quilt
Complete the couch to 5K running program
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 7:55 PM on July 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
I am working on earning the Adult Archery Program pins. Skill: archery. Goal: improve my shooting. Concrete thing: pins I get to show off.
You would learn this skill etc by going to your local archery range and signing up for archery lessons. I recommend taking some 101-level classes before signing up for the JOAD / AAP sessions.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:16 PM on July 15, 2018
You would learn this skill etc by going to your local archery range and signing up for archery lessons. I recommend taking some 101-level classes before signing up for the JOAD / AAP sessions.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:16 PM on July 15, 2018
Best answer: I am making the chair shown on page 11 of this booklet. Skill: lashing. Goal: know how to lash simple furniture. Concrete thingy: chair. Place to learn: self-taught from the Internet or books or Girl Scouts or whatever.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:20 PM on July 15, 2018
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:20 PM on July 15, 2018
Learn how to make fire in the out of doors!
posted by crankyrogalsky at 7:54 PM on July 15, 2018
posted by crankyrogalsky at 7:54 PM on July 15, 2018
Best answer: In regards to knitting socks, Winwick Mum has an excellent sockalong guide that shows you how to knit a sock either on DPNs, Magic Loop or a short circular.
posted by halcyonday at 2:31 AM on July 16, 2018
posted by halcyonday at 2:31 AM on July 16, 2018
YES this is such a good question! I often struggle with wanting to learn how to do more things, but not just wanting to noodle around aimlessly without a specific goal in mind. I am very task-oriented, haha.
If there is a specific art and/or craft you've had an interest in that's not too time/money/labor intensive (resin art, jewelry making, crocheting, making bath bombs, building a tiny herb garden, etc.) one possibility could be to take the Handmade Pledge for any/all gift giving occasions (especially holidays) and center your projects around giftable things for your friends and family. This is a great way to keep your skill building project-based!
Learning to do something kind of fiddly like brewing beer or wine could be a good goal-oriented project as well. Plus, you get beer or wine if you succeed! Or if that is too much specialized equipment, homemade kombucha or pickled foods have a lower barrier for entry.
If you have any interest in martial arts, having a series of different "belts" to work towards does seem extrinsically motivational. Really anything with different levels, I suppose. I think organizations like Toastmasters does certificates if you wanted to work on improving your public speaking in a concrete and measurable way.
For learning a language, even though that one is kind of amorphous, maybe you can create a kind of arbitrary goal like "have casual conversation with a taxi driver or shopkeeper in X language" if you have plans to travel there?
posted by helloimjennsco at 11:04 AM on July 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
If there is a specific art and/or craft you've had an interest in that's not too time/money/labor intensive (resin art, jewelry making, crocheting, making bath bombs, building a tiny herb garden, etc.) one possibility could be to take the Handmade Pledge for any/all gift giving occasions (especially holidays) and center your projects around giftable things for your friends and family. This is a great way to keep your skill building project-based!
Learning to do something kind of fiddly like brewing beer or wine could be a good goal-oriented project as well. Plus, you get beer or wine if you succeed! Or if that is too much specialized equipment, homemade kombucha or pickled foods have a lower barrier for entry.
If you have any interest in martial arts, having a series of different "belts" to work towards does seem extrinsically motivational. Really anything with different levels, I suppose. I think organizations like Toastmasters does certificates if you wanted to work on improving your public speaking in a concrete and measurable way.
For learning a language, even though that one is kind of amorphous, maybe you can create a kind of arbitrary goal like "have casual conversation with a taxi driver or shopkeeper in X language" if you have plans to travel there?
posted by helloimjennsco at 11:04 AM on July 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
Learn to sail. Victory condition: successfully sail a small boat by yourself around an island.
posted by craven_morhead at 12:22 PM on July 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by craven_morhead at 12:22 PM on July 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
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make a sloper and learn to draft perfect sewing patters from this basic pattern.
I already learned to fence [so I think it is an awesome sport goal!] and now I'd like to learn to ref which can also help in fencing more strategically.
posted by chapps at 11:38 AM on July 14, 2018 [3 favorites]