This month started with a bang, or more precisely with a bang on my door telling me that I would be moving to a new apartment the next day. Often, in the midst of many other things, life meets us with these surprises and opportunities for growth. I won’t lie, I wasn’t thrilled with this news, but I have already learned a tremendous amount of valuable lessons in this experience so far and flexibility has been key.
Travis Hellstrom's Life List
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1. Set Out Yearly and Monthly Themes
11 entries1 person -
2. Make a Five Year Plan
46 people -
3. Learn Guitar
3,061 people -
4. Tell Lots of Jokes and Riddles
1 entry2 people -
5. Learn Massage from A Professional
1 person -
6. Manage My Time Better
2 entries1,429 people -
7. Stop Biting My Nails
1 cheer7,036 people -
8. Learn Graphic Design
1 entry194 people -
9. Make Awesome Business Cards
2 entries1 person -
10. Be an Outstanding Peace Corps Volunteer
2 cheers1 person -
11. Enjoy What I Am Doing No Matter What
1 entry2 people -
12. Help New Peace Corps Volunteers
2 entries . 1 cheer1 person -
13. Compile My Favorite Recipes
1 entry1 person -
14. Share Incredible Experiences With My Friends
1 person -
15. Take One Really Good Photo Every Month
1 person -
16. Learn to Become an Amazing Cook
1 cheer1 person -
17. Advance Humanity
2 entries2 people -
18. Eat More Vegetarian
4 people -
19. Write a Book
26,099 people -
20. Become a UN Volunteer
1 cheer8 people -
21. Go Skydiving
6,573 people -
22. Become More Unattached
1 entry1 person -
23. Help Improve Scouting in Mongolia
1 cheer1 person -
24. Ride a Horse Across The Mongolian Steppe
1 cheer1 person -
25. Buy Things That Support What I Believe
1 person -
26. Teach 50 People Intermediate English In The Hospital
2 people -
27. Meditate Regularly
721 people -
28. Meet with the Dalai Lama
3 cheers2 people -
29. Study Buddhism in Mongolia
1 person -
30. Meditate In a Buddhist Monastery
1 cheer1 person -
31. Visit Tibet
1 cheer344 people -
32. Help My Brother Learn To Drive
1 cheer1 person -
33. Get a Doctorate Degree
73 people -
34. Go Into Space
325 people -
35. Build a House
1 cheer1,231 people -
36. Get Married
18,604 people -
37. Become a Really Good Storyteller For My Kids
1 cheer1 person -
38. Reach Enlightenment
1 entry111 people -
39. Talk at TED
2 people -
40. Become a Fulbright Scholar
29 people -
41. Become a Peace Corps Volunteer Leader
1 cheer1 person -
42. Develop Peace Corps Merit Badges
1 person -
43. Visit America with Tunga
1 entry1 person
How I did it: Touch Everything Only Once Separate Everything Into Three Categories Love It and Need It (Keep It) Love It but Don't Need It (Give Away) Don't Love It (Give Away, Throw Away) Read how I did it…
How I did it: Asked for help from iPhone App developer Collaborated with SoftwareX on development Waited patiently and provided feedback Installed it on my iPod Touch this week! Read how I did it…
How I did it: I want to brag on my sister a little bit. Her weddingwas wonderful, she is wonderful and her new husband Chess is wonderful. I am so impressed by them both. They had such a relaxed wedding and everyone smiled so much that I think all of our faces were sore for days. The ceremony was very simple and very comfortable, definitely the kind of wedding that I look forward to having some time (a long time from now). She was thoughtful about t… Read how I did it…
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This month’s theme of commitment comes as I consider my strongest values and what I want to commit my life to. I plan on mirroring my statement of commitments after the Dalai Lama’s three commitments. It’s a nice way to keep things in perspective.
“To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.” – Buddha
I hope to visit America with Tunga this summer between my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer and (hopefully) my third year of service as a Peace Corps Volunteer Leader. It would be really nice to hike on the Appalachian Trail with Tunga and my mom I think, as well as visit with my other family members and friends. Peace Corps will provide me with a ticket home and 30 days vacation. Together Tunga and I can also hopefully get a visa for her without too much of a challenge. We are working on that now.


