30 by 30
last Thursday was my 29th birthday. it stirred up a wealth of emotions and got me thinking about what used to think my life would look like at 30. when i was a kid (or heck, even a high schooler), 30 seemed so old. Of course I’d be married and have kids by 30. I don’t have a master’s degree, don’t own any property, have never been in love, don’t know exactly what I want to do with my life, etc. It’s been a hard reality to compare myself to friends who’ve hit the mark already.
Obviously, since that’s not the plan God has for me at the moment, I’ve stopped comparing. And I made a list of skills and experiences I want to live out during the last year of my 20s. And so it begins…
- Learn to snowboard
- Run a half marathon (update: i’m registered and I’m done!!)
- Learn how to make soufflé (done)
- Stick to my budget for 3 months straight
- Pay off credit cards completely (update: two down, one to go)
- Read 12 books (update: four down: Skinny Bitch, The Shack, Blue Like Jazz, The Non-Runner’s Guide to Running for Women, Humility: True Greatness)
- Write thank you notes for everything I want to thank people for (in progress)
- Read the Bible all the way through (waaaaay behind)
- Learn to sabre a bottle of champagne
- Crash a party
- Karaoke!
- Re-learn CPR
- Swim in the ocean (and not panic)
- Get a physical
- Learn to change a flat tire; oil
- Midnight trip to the beach; watch the sunrise
- Learn to sail (for reals) (Update: signed up for sailing lessons!)
- Climb a mountain (or really big hill). aka hike in the PNW (Update: Hoh Rainforest, Cape Flattery (which isn’t really a hike as much as a nature walk), etc.)
- Return to TCU for a football game (update: went back to TCU for a party, pre-football season)
- Drive the Pacific Coast Highway (Update: 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)
- Watch sunset at Cannon Beach (went to Cannon Beach, it was cloudy, so I have to go back)
- Wine taste in Napa (ticket booked: LABOR DAY WEEKEND, BABY)
- Blog One for Humanity
- No turning down invites to do things – just say YES! (YES! went and saw Dave Ramsey Live!, quit my job, got a new job, ran a 187 mile Ragnar Relay, Sounders game, fantasy football, etc)
- Find and watch the whales
- Learn to rock climb
- Get freelance design/photog business up and going. (in progress)
- Host a locally grown/made dinner party
- Attend/participate in 12 local festivals (8 down, 4 to go: Chocolate Festival in Ocean Shores, Tulipfest, Pridefest, Rock and Roll Marathon fest, Ragnar Finishline Party, St. Edwards Beerfest, Taste of Sonoma, Fremont Oktoberfest)
- Buy a killer little black dress
