Oh no, not another list

Who doesn’t love a good list – especially a top 10, 25, or 100?

It seems they’re everywhere today. Did you know there’s even a list of lists of lists?

We’re going to give the writer’s of David Letterman’s Late Night show credit for popularizing these lists and making them such a ubiquitous part of our culture. Since their first list debuted in September 1985 on the Late Show – “The Top Ten Things That Almost Rhyme With Peas” – you can find a ranked list for nearly anything, at any time, from any number of sources.

If you haven’t seen a “top list” of some kind today, you just haven’t picked-up a paper, magazine, looked at TV, or spent more than five minutes on Facebook or the net.

But not surprisingly, the sheer volume of these comedic, serious, and all-too- often-ridiculous lists from dubious sources, has served to lessen their appeal.

Did you skip right past the last one you saw? Thought so.

But every so often you come across a gem. That’s what we thought anyway when we saw the Wall Street Journal’s Lists Issue – 101 Things to Do Before You Die (At Age 101).

Here’s a sampler:

2. Run for local office. If it’s not a good fit, you can always derail yourself with a public scandal.
12. Every town has an outdated law. Break one.
25. Do something you’re petrified of doing.
37. Make friends on Facebook with someone with your name.
69. Stop by your lonely seeming neighbor’s place and say “hello.”
76. Accept there is nothing you can do about traffic.
90. Go see what all the fuss is about.
98. Outwit a bully.

What we really liked about this WSJ list – in addition to its fun factor – are all the great ties and touches to every level of Fit-To-Retire’s readiness roadmap: self-identity, social, personal relationships, health & nutrition, and financial.

You can take the Fit-To-Retire readiness assessment today to see what we mean – then start your own list!

And which was our “number one” of their 101?

55. Make lists of things being done by people 20 years younger and 20 years older than you. Pick three from each and give them a shot.