About

As a 30-something with work and family responsibilities, life has a way of settling into a routine that’s at odds with fun and adventure.  Yet looking back, some of my fondest memories are around getting into one antic or another with a bunch of friends.  Well, I believe things can only be brought about in life with true commitment.  So, I hereby commit myself to a year of adventures.  I invite you to join me, in person or in spirit.

• January – Crash a Bar Mitzvah
• February – Talk in Shakespearean English for a week (except during work)
• March – Set up shop as a career coach at a bar
• April – Jiffy Lube Challenge – Work there for a day, do an oil change from beginning to end
• May – Walk from Boston to Northampton, MA(~100 miles), bring no money and no food (can forage or panhandle)
• June – DIY Boat – Float on the Charles River in a boat I built
• July – Eating Challenge – Some friends in Sweden are preparing a box of something, what, I knowest not
• August – Cacophony– Ask people to pay me to stop singing (yes I’m that bad) at a street corner.  The money goes to charity
• September – Write a book
• October – Enter a freestyle rap competition (I’m terrified as I’m typing this)
• November – The Moth – Enter “The Moth” and tell a true story on stage
• December – Standup Comedy (again, terrified)

Thanks to my generous friends, I’ve been able to raise $1,290 for ashoka.org by pledging to do these dares.  Oh, add to that $50 for the American Cancer Society from the August dare.  Also, $75 from people I met on the road while doing the 100 mile walk in May. They gave generously, unprompted.  While stuck in the rain near Spencer, MA, I had struck up a conversation with a tough looking biker covered in tattoos. He stuffed a twenty dollar bill in my hand and wouldn’t take no for an answer, even though he was unemployed.  He told me to use it for emergency and donate it to my charity if I didn’t need it. Almost made me cry.

If you have thoughts or suggestions, you can find me at ann.caredares@gmail.com.  I look forward to hearing from you!