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Turning thirty and revisiting the {30x30} list.

Today I turn thirty.

A little less than a year ago, I had a minor freakout that it was approaching and I wasn’t ready. I hadn’t yet figured out my life. I was living in a city I didn’t appreciate working way too many hours at a job I didn’t love. I wasn’t married (not even remotely close), and didn’t have what some of my 30+ year old friends did (I didn’t own a home, I don’t have a master’s degree, etc.). Part of me wanted to go back to Texas, get away from all the things that weren’t happening here in Seattle, and start anew…again. 

After many a conversation with people older and smarter than me, I realized that perhaps the reason stuff wasn’t happening is because I wasn’t living my life in such a way to make stuff happen. Sometimes you have to take life by the horns and just make shit happen, ya know? Obviously I probably couldn’t earn a master’s, buy a home or find a husband in a year, but I started thinking about what I could do.

So I made a list of 30 things I’d talked about wanting to do for awhile and I decided to start figuring out how to actually make them happen. Some things I’d done before (TCU football games, karaoke, etc.), some I’ve always thought sounded cool but never thought I could accomplish (half marathon - say what?, sabre a bottle of champagne - is it even really possible? - yes, yes it is.).

Over the last 11 months, I’ve made progress on my list, but it’s by no means finished, and that’s okay. Working my way through the list made me realize that it’s not about checking things off, it’s about living life in an edge-of-your-seat kind of way. Moreso than what I’ve done on my list, I’m most excited about all the stuff that came out of nowhere. I’ve been absolutely blown away by the last year. A few highlights that I never saw coming:

• I found my dream job.
• I ran in a Ragnar Relay (187 miles, baby) because with the right pair of shoes, some amazing friends and a van full of  supplies, is there reason enough not to? 
• I started (and then stopped) online dating again. :)
• I fired a number of weapons and made some really great new friends.
• I got to hire and create a team.
• I painted myself green and went to a stranger’s party for halloween.
• I went to Tokyo (and survived my first earthquake), New York City and London all in the first 6 months of my dream job, vacayed in Mexico with the fam, made 2 trips to Texas, wine tasted in Napa and am headed to ATL for Christmas. All contributed significantly to my newly established airline elite status.

The above alone makes for a very action packed and fulfilling year. Add it to what I checked off my 30x30 and I’m heading into this new season full of some amazing experiences and eagerly anticipating what’s to come. I’ll keep working on the list too, but if you’re interested, here’s an update on where things stand today:  

1. Learn to snowboard
2. Run a half marathon (update: i’m registered and I’m done!!)
3. Learn how to make soufflé (done)
4. Stick to my budget for 3 months straight (done)
5. Pay off credit cards completely (done, still owe dad some $, but no more credit cards)
6. Read 12 books (read 9 out of 12: Skinny Bitch, The Shack, Blue Like Jazz, The Non-Runner’s Guide to Running for Women, Humility: True Greatness, Decision Points, The Dukan Diet, A Million Miles in A Thousand Years, Money)
7. Write thank you notes for everything I want to thank people for (pretty much)
8. Read the Bible all the way through (waaaaay behind)
9. Learn to sabre a bottle of champagne
10. Crash a party (done. crashed the JCPR Christmas Lunch after party when I was in London.)
11. Karaoke! (done, more than a couple times)
12. Re-learn CPR (forgot to get dad to recertify me when I was in Texas)
13. Swim in the ocean (and not panic) (done)
14. Get a physical
15. Learn to change a flat tire; oil (flat tire - done; oil - not so much)
16. Midnight trip to the beach; watch the sunrise (watched the sunrise, no midnight trips to the beach just yet)
17. Learn to sail (for reals) (I’m well on my way…i know what a beam reach is and i know when the wind is pushing or pulling the boat through the water. and i’m pretty good manning the sheets and the helm.)
18. Climb a mountain (or really big hill). aka hike in the PNW (Done a couple - could do more: Hoh Rainforest, Cape Flattery (which isn’t really a hike as much as a nature walk), etc.)
19. Return to TCU for a football game (went back to TCU for a party, pre-football season)
20. Drive the Pacific Coast Highway (It’s been brought to my attention that Hwy 101 in the PNW is technically part of the Pacific Coast Highway, so I’m halfway there. I want to drive it with the windows down in California though. That’s still TBD)
21. Watch sunset at Cannon Beach (went to Cannon Beach, it was cloudy, so I have to go back)
22. Wine taste in Napa (ticket booked, and done and have a stocked wine rack to prove it)
23. Blog One for Humanity
24. No turning down invites to do things – just say YES! (done)
25. Find and watch the whales (done)
26. Learn to rock climb
27. Get freelance design/photog business up and going. (in progress)
28. Host a locally grown/made dinner party
29. Attend/participate in 12 local festivals (i hit 9: Chocolate Festival in Ocean Shores, Tulipfest, Pridefest, Rock and Roll Marathon fest, Ragnar Finishline Party, St. Edwards Beerfest, Taste of Sonoma, Fremont Oktoberfest, Tokyo Game Show)
30. Buy a killer little black dress

More to come.