What is the 'Challenge List'?

Hi I’m Mel! I’m an adventurist that is constantly seeking out new experiences with my Challenge List of 400 unique experiences. 

My little brother describes my Challenge List as a list where all I have ever wanted to do comes true. I would almost say that he is right, they are experiences that I have always said that I wanted to do. I decided to stop making excuses and that I needed to go out and do what I have always dreamed about achieving. 

Once I started writing the list I couldn’t stop, I realised that there were so many things that I was holding back on and making excuses that I didn’t have the time to complete them or couldn’t spare any money for them. Once I started crossing them off it became a passion to get more ticked off, I have loved every moment of each experience and the unique challenges that they all brought.

All are challenging in their own way, some are easier than others. Which includes making a gingerbread house, having a water fight, making a snow angel, planting a tree or getting an “Elf on the Shelf”. On the other hand, some are more time consuming – like folding 1000 origami cranes, reading all of the Harry Potter books or solving a Rubik’s Cube. Then there are the all-out challenges, such as walking 50,000 steps in 24 hours, setting a Guinness World Record or reading the Game of Thrones book series. Discover more about what a Challenge List is by checking out my full list of Challenges here.

Young Endeavour - Open Letter

‘Dear future self,

I am currently on the last night of the Young Endeavour voyage. Before I go any further I have been asked to mention two names:

  • Ty Danh – saved multiple people he didn’t know and unfortunately never seen again. A true hero!
  • Robert Hewitt – Spent 72 hours at sea and defied all odds when they found him alive.

This voyage I applied for with only one thing on my mind which was to tick another thing off my list. The voyage soon turned into a lot more than that. It started with meeting people from all different walks of life from all over Australia that were up for the challenge just as much as myself. I never knew what to expect from my time on board but I could never have guessed that all of this has happened in 10 days. So far we have snorkelled, been whale watching, driving at the helm, learnt about sailing and navigation, climbing aloft, going on the bowsprit, climbing to the highest peak in the Whitsundays after a one hour 30 minutes hike, seeing goannas, dolphins turtles  and sharks, collecting sea shells, going to Whitehaven beach, hearing the stories about other people, daily quotes from Captain Kenny and Dion, the role plays that the staff put on for us to help us get a better understanding of sailing, and the amazing dedicated staffies that have been there to challenge us and encourage us, surviving Command Day and having amazing food!

I would like to think that with every experience I have been able to learn something. From this voyage I have learnt about the value of new friendships and connecting with new people, continue to keep challenging myself everyday with new and wonderful ways, some new leadership qualities and step up when no one else wants to step up, making the most of life and finding things that can take my breath away, appreciating even the little things in life. 

Some things that I have a new found appreciation for include; getting dressed and not still be damp, not having to put a harness on to start the morning, having more space than just knee room in the toilet, not having broken sleep to go on watch, sleeping on the third top bunk, or constantly not being able to walk in a straight line. Even though these are usually things that I would take for granted in my own day to day life, I now have a new appreciation for people that have to go through these on a regular basis.

Some of the things that I would like to take away from this voyage, include; 

  • Find time for myself
  • Continue to challenge myself everyday in a new way
  • Look at the lighter side of life :)
  • Stand up for myself whilst in leadership positions
  • Find a new passion to fall in love with…
  • Continue to work towards Duke of Edinburgh and BP award
  • Self-confidence

From Mel xx

P.S. Hopefully I am close to finishing the list by now…’