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[The Art of the Someday List: Redefining Goals with Grace]-[#396 - What’s on My Someday List]

The Lazy Genius Podcast · B2 · 2024-12-16

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📋 Summary

Embracing the 'Someday List' Philosophy

In episode 396 of The Lazy Genius Podcast, Kendra Adachi introduces a refreshing alternative to traditional goal-setting: the "someday list." For many, the concepts of "goals and dreams" are often "emotionally fraught," carrying heavy burdens of pressure, expectation, and the inevitability of disappointment. Adachi argues that the societal push to "hustle to make them come true" can be counterproductive, leading her to reframe these aspirations into a "someday list"—a collection of desires that feels "light and hopeful and human."

The Power of Semantic Re-framing

Adachi emphasizes that while this may seem like mere semantics, the shift in posture is vital. Unlike a traditional "bucket list," which she defines as "things to do before I kick the bucket"—a phrase she finds inherently pressured—the someday list is "open-handed." It allows an individual to hold various desires without being "beholden" to them. This approach grants permission to change one's mind, adjust priorities, or let items fall off the list entirely without feeling "undisciplined or flighty."

Reviewing and Evolving the List

Reflecting on her own 2023 list, Adachi demonstrates the fluidity of this practice. She successfully "went back to New York," "saw Jacob Collier in concert," and accomplished the personal goal of having her own "painting on display" in her home. However, she also demonstrates the grace of letting go. For instance, seeing Sarah Bareilles on Broadway moved from a "someday" aspiration to a "yeah, that'd be cool" sentiment, acknowledging that she is not going to "reorganize my life" for it. Similarly, she re-evaluates a long family road trip to national parks, admitting that because she is "terrified of driving mountain roads" and "exceedingly afraid of heights," the trip might be "so far into someday that it's no day."

Finding Inspiration in the Everyday

Adachi suggests that a someday list should not be a source of stress but a reflection of one's authentic interests. When struggling to populate a list, she advises "mining your existing life for ideas," noting that her own list tracks her genuine loves: "travel, doing things with people I care about, reading, baking, and music."

Her new additions reflect this intentionality:

  • A reading retreat: An opportunity to escape with friends who love literature.
  • A scenic train ride: A solution to the "road trip problem" that allows her family to see beautiful things "without much physical effort."
  • Individual trips with children: A way to be "wise and intentional" about bonding before her oldest son graduates high school.
  • Baking projects: A commitment to learning "new, complicated baking" like homemade croissants, inspired by her love for the Great British Baking Show.

Conclusion: Keep It Loose and Fun

Ultimately, Adachi reminds listeners that having a someday list is not a "requirement for being human." It is simply a tool to "expand your thinking beyond your regular life" into areas of personal enjoyment. By keeping the list "loose and fun," one can avoid the "tenderness around dreams" that often prevents people from simply being happy in the present. As she concludes, the practice is about engaging with "who we are, where we are, and what we might enjoy someday," ensuring that one's aspirations remain a source of joy rather than a checklist of obligations.

🎯Key Sentences

1
Both of those energies feel off for me.
2
I'm all in.
3
I think this is an idealized idea.
4
It's totally fine.
5
Hold it kindly and loosely.
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📝Key Phrases

1
not all [something] are created equal
2
a pain to clean
3
on the horizon
4
I'm all in
5
give someone a window into [something]
Expand All

📖 Transcript

This episode is sponsored by Wayfair.
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