This weekend, I celebrated my 29th birthday (which was also my golden birthday, since I turned 29 on the 29th).
The celebrations were delightful, but they also reminded me that I’m getting old…because I definitely opted for relaxing in lieu of half the plans that I’d made for the weekend, and I have no regrets about it.
I know, Danny Glover. I know.
Anyhow, while I may need to tone it down a little bit on the turning up, I absolutely refuse to take a backseat at life – and so I decided to make a list of 29 things I legitimately want to do this year, before I turn 30. Not because life ends at 30, but because I want to have even bigger horizons to reach for at that point.
- Visit two new countries I’ve never been to before.
- This better happen, I’ve already bought the ticket.
- This better happen, I’ve already bought the ticket.
- Take a cooking class.
- I’ve always wanted to go, but I’ve never managed to rationalize the expense.
- Work out again. For at least a solid 3-6 months routine if not longer.
- Nope, not a fun goal. But one that I need to make work.
- Attend a gala.
- Because I’m fancy, bitch.
- Because I’m fancy, bitch.
- Plant a tree.
- I took down four this year, it’s time I replace at least one of them.
- Do something that absolutely terrifies me.
- Shouldn’t be hard. I’m scared of a lot of stuff.
- Write a new book.
- I miss miss miss writing, but now that grad school is over, I have time to make it happen again.
- Learn how to do one fancy hairstyle really, really well.
- Not a ponytail, not just a straight blow-dry, but something special for when I need it.
- Not a ponytail, not just a straight blow-dry, but something special for when I need it.
- Make a pilgrimage to my heart-home.
- Columbia, Missouri – I’m coming for you, fam.
- Re-read Jasper Fforde’s books I love and read the new ones for the first time.
- Thursday Next is my homegirl, y’all. And I haven’t read his new stuff for YA, but I’m excited to see what else Fforde has dreamed up.
- While I’m at it, let’s do the same for Harry Potter.
- If Thursday’s my girl, then Harry’s my boy.
- If Thursday’s my girl, then Harry’s my boy.
- Buy a stranger’s dinner.
- It seems like a nice thing to do.
- Finally learn to use my sewing machine.
- …two years later.
- Complete a 30-day photo challenge.
- You’d think I’d already done this, but you’d be wrong.
- Go clubbing.
- It’s been a while for a reason, but I do enjoy dancing in spaces that are too crowded for people to realize how bad of a dancer I am.
- It’s been a while for a reason, but I do enjoy dancing in spaces that are too crowded for people to realize how bad of a dancer I am.
- Catch up with all the people with whom I never intended to lose touch.
- Not the people I phased/cut out, but the people who drifted. It’s time for a check-in.
- Find a new volunteering opportunity.
- Back at it with the more time thing. Plus, the need for something other than just my job that gives my life a little direction.
- Get a makeover, just for fun.
- Not because I need one, but because I think it would be entertaining.
- Have a legit 12-hour movie marathon – topic to be determined.
- Star Wars? Star Trek? Indiana Jones? 90s teen romcoms? Over-done indie movies of the early 2000s? So many options.
- Star Wars? Star Trek? Indiana Jones? 90s teen romcoms? Over-done indie movies of the early 2000s? So many options.
- Finish my “Girl Power” wall of inspiration (for now, I’m never really done with any of my creative projects).
- It’s well on its way and I love love love it, but I’ll need to complete some of the other items on my list before I can call it mostly complete.
- Write fan letters to the five people whose work I admire most.
- Authors, artists, anyone who inspires me.
- Spend a day completely by myself.
- This means no friends, family, or social media for 24 hours. Just me. Not sure how I’ll make this happen, but I will.
- Get another tattoo.
- There are several vying to be next, but we’ll have to see which occasion presents itself first.
- There are several vying to be next, but we’ll have to see which occasion presents itself first.
- Color something every. single. week.
- People know me well. I received many coloring books for presents during my 28th year, and I love them all. Plus, coloring is like a form of therapy for me, so I am super-into it.
- Throw a four-course dinner party that I cook myself.
- The cooking class should help with that.
- Mark one more off my list of the “World’s Most Beautiful Libraries.”
- I predict this will be the George Peabody Library in Baltimore – I’ve been to the New York Public Library, the Morgan Library in NYC, the Boston Public Library, and the Seattle Central Library.
- I predict this will be the George Peabody Library in Baltimore – I’ve been to the New York Public Library, the Morgan Library in NYC, the Boston Public Library, and the Seattle Central Library.
- Learn to meditate.
- This comes highly recommended from one of the three people I respect most in the world, so I should probably get on that.
- See at least one more live performance of *something.*
- Musical? Play? Concert? TV taping? All of the above?
- Write a “29” blog post every month.
- Last one is to get my ass back into blogging. Master’s degree ruined a lot of the fave parts of my life, but I’m reclaiming every part it tried to take – this blog included. So, each month I’m going to post about my “29 favorite/most important whatevers.” This list counts as the first one.
See? I’m already on my way.
“29 is mighty fine” – that was my motto back when I was 29. Enjoy your year ahead 🙂
Happy belated birthday! Seems like you’re going to have a great 29 🙂 I love the idea of spending 24 hours by myself. Let me block the calendar and let my Husband handle the kids alone! 🙂
Happy belated birthday! I just loved this post. Thanks for sharing.
http://www.thecrazylist.com
Cheers!