Wrote the first three chapters. Hit some snags and got bogged down for a while… but I’m going back in!
LaurenRakissa's Life List
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1. Live in Italy
524 people -
2. Get a motorcycle
349 people -
3. Place in a dance competition
1 person -
4. Complete the Body for Life challenge.
25 people -
5. scuba dive
2,192 people -
6. Learn a martial art
1,448 people -
7. find some more female best friends
3 people -
8. hike the appalachian trail
1,649 people -
9. Learn Taiko drumming
1 cheer38 people -
10. Learn to play my doumbek
1 cheer2 people -
11. see the northern lights
2 cheers16,921 people -
12. Write a book
1 entry26,106 people -
13. Get a library card
93 people -
14. Be debt-free
136 people -
15. Ski a real mountain
1 person -
16. See the world
1,960 people -
17. Lose 15 pounds
1 entry3,174 people -
18. Climb Kilimanjaro
255 people -
19. Study dance with Romani (gypsies) in Istanbul
1 person -
20. Meditate more
586 people -
21. Meet the Dalai Lama
398 people -
22. Motorbike across Greece
1 person -
23. Go rock climbing
696 people -
24. See the Grand Canyon
876 people -
25. Hang Glide
675 people -
26. Learn Italian
5,737 people -
27. Learn Arabic
2,108 people -
28. overcome my aversion to phones
121 people
How I did it: I took my 14 year old son on this trip.I booked our flights through Lima to Cusco and found a cheap hostel on hostelworld.com. (We stayed at Samay Wasi and loved it, but if you're not used to cheap hostels you might want more of a hotel or bed and breakfast).I booked a trek through perutreks.com and highly recommend them. Because I didn't book early enough to get a spot on the Inca Trail, we did the 4 day Lares Trek instead. It was fantas… Read how I did it…
How I did it: I had tried a bunch of times, and every time I learned a little more about my addiction and my weaknesses. I finally quit almost 5 years ago, once and for all. A couple of years ago, my mom -- a heavy smoker -- went on oxygen and her life has permanently changed. She doesn't have the energy to walk across the room, she can only watch TV now, that's her whole life. I'm so glad that I quit! Read how I did it…
How I did it: In 1994 I started a tiny newsletter in my basement. It grew into a magazine, which I published for 8 years. When the local economy wouldn't support the magazine any more, I freelanced for a while. Now I have a dance/yoga studio. Read how I did it…
See all "How I Did It" stories...
Wow, I wrote that last post 3 years ago!
Now I’ve been to Cairo, saw dancers, studied. I’ve also opened a studio where I teach bellydance and yoga, and I perform regularly at a restaurant and at private parties, nursing homes, art shows and other events. I also produce an annual student show.
This has taken over my life, but I still love it!
Went with my daughter to Spain, France, and Italy. Get a good backpack and comfy shoes and learn at least a little of the language everywhere you’re going. (Hello, please, thank you, that one, how much).
Hostelworld.com was a great help in planning the trip, highly recommend them!


