At first I too wanted to say that 43T had not turned me into a better person, because I’m still just me. But then I thought, no, I’m still just me, but I’m not the me that I was before I started on 43T. Obviously not, because that’s more than a year ago. The question is, who would the me I am have been without 43 Things?
First some very concrete things. I started exercising regularly, and so I started losing weight, which I’m still doing. I started parking better.
Does this make me a better person? I think so. I’ll probably be healthier for longer, and less of an annoyance for other drivers. Would I have done this without 43T? Probably not, or not as thoroughly.
In the process of wanting to learn to sail I built a boat.
Then there was the whole NaNoWriMo thing. I would never have known about NaNoWriMo if it wasn’t for 43T. So I entered, and won! What’s more amazing, is that all my buddies from 43T won with me, some against amazing odds! So definitely because of 43T, I became a novelist.
I think the best thing about 43 Things that has made a change to my life is the clear indication that I can improve, and that I can do it myself. Change involves small amounts of effort, frequently applied. Doing this in the community of 43 Things makes it rewarding. One gets so much support, advice and encouragement, it really carries one over the finishing line. It’s also fun and very rewarding to help and support others achieve their Things.
