The other day, I stopped for a moment and I worried that it was all passing me by. Life, money, love, time, inspiration. The whole lot of it. It seemed that the hero-father of my childhood had aged in a matter of moments, that my career had spanned on for years but got me nowhere, that my wedding day zipped by and I didn’t even get the chance to enjoy it.

I realised this in New York City of all places. I’d only just begun to understand what the New York minute was, because despite my thorough planning and aptitude for reading maps and hailing cabs, my time there felt like a minute and a half and my trip was over before I knew it.

In fact, I’d gotten so lost in the buzz of the city that I’d missed my flight back home, and had to fork out an extra $1600 that I didn’t have for premium-economy seats just to get back to Sydney in time for Christmas.

Almost two weeks later, I am sullen at the prospect that marriage, a mortgage and potential motherhood will decrease my chances at meeting the goals on my life to-do list.

Things like seeing Prague, learning French (it used to be German) and taking Ballet for Adult Beginners. And more basic everyday things, like trying a particular Italian restaurant in Paddington, having High Tea at the QVB in Sydney, jetting down to Melbourne on a whim, watching Indiana Jones or climbing the Harbour Bridge on a Sunday morning with my dad.

I don’t mean to sound like a drama queen (which I admit, I often am), but there are already many things that I have achieved. Some were trivial (but costly, like my dream Burberry Trench Coat and Chanel Bag) and others were milestones (like going to Sydney Uni, taking a trip to London, and finishing my Masters degree by the time I was 21) but in order to nurture my creative self, I need to be on a constant excitement roller coaster, finding joy and experience in the most mundane moments of life.

My new husband (we’ve been married six weeks) jokes that I juggle a little too much. Where others carry too much on their plate, he says, I carry plates on a tray. Many plates to be precise:

o   I’m a full-time employee,

o   a part-time postgraduate student who never makes her thesis deadlines (I’m considering dropping out of university, but it just might kill my mother),

o   a home-owner (with a mortgage, although small, that seems larger than life)

o   an aspiring novelist,

o   a freelance journalist who rarely pitches stories,

o   a blogger who rarely blogs (why I’ve just started this column, I will never know)

o   and a new wife, long-time sister and constant friend.

But out of sheer stupidity and child-like optimism, my list keeps on growing. If this is the last year I get to travel, buy, try, enjoy, eat, drink and dance before my hopeless writing, defeating mortgage, or starved-of-attention family life gets the better of me, then I better make the most of it.

And with a full-time job and very little left-over money after the essentials, it’s going to be hard. Which only makes it all the more interesting for you if you join me on my journey and continue reading this column. To congratulate my success or shake your head at my failure.

Then again, with the unpredictability of life, who knows? Maybe I will see Prague, maybe I’ll just eat at a new Paddington place. Perhaps I’ll High Tea at the QVB or at the Ritz in London. I might sell my novel, or get expelled from university.

All I know is that come 2012, things could be a hell of a lot different. So I am going to start making the most of right now by making my long list a hell of a lot shorter.

And in the process, I might shortlist things for you too. Books to read, beauty products to try, shoes to lust after, shows to watch, destinations to dream about.

But I’d still like to know, for my very own inspiration, what is on your shortlist? And what do you think should be on mine?*

*Do you have something to add to Sarah’s 2011 shortlist? Email your suggestion to sarah@sarahayoub.com – every experience will be considered!