Today is my 28th birthday! It’s really hitting me this year that I am staring down the barrel of 30, and while that doesn’t really frighten me, I’ve decided there are a few things I’d like to accomplish before I hit the big 3-0.
Thirty things, actually. I compiled this list of thirty things using the following criteria: a) they all had to be something I’ve never done and b) they had to be easily quantifiable. (For example, first I put “get better at photography” and then switched to “take a photography class”)
This isn’t really about New Year’s Resolutions, although I usually make some. I think that losing Whitman this year made me realize, more fully, how fragile life is. I want to live more intentionally, and this list is a manifestation of that.
Some of them are fun, and some are sort of silly. Some of them are hard, and some are really hard.
Here they are, in no particular order, my list of 30 things to accomplish by age 30:
1. Skydive.
2. Run a 5K.
3. Run a 10K.
4. Run a 1/2 Marathon.
5. Get my private pilot’s license.
6. Visit London.
7. Finish writing a novel (that I started 6 years ago).
8. Ride in a hot air balloon.
9. Visit NYC.
10. See a musical on Broadway.
12. Get my nose pierced.
13. Take a photography class. 1/14/12
14. Go back to New Orleans and stay at the same hotel we honeymooned in.
15. Have another baby.
16. Go whitewater rafting.
17. Learn to knit.
18. Ride in a helicopter.
19. Donate blood.
20. Take a cooking class.
21. See the Northern Lights.
22. Swim with dolphins.
23. Go zip lining.
24. Learn how to play poker.
25. Camp on the beach.
26. Use my wedding china.
27. Be in a television show audience.
28. Read 10 books from the New York Times Top 100 Novels list (ones I’ve never read)
30. Dye my hair red.
Even if a milestone birthday isn’t on your horizon, what would be on your list?
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{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s a great list Em! I just have one goal- debt-free by 30. I have four years. Should be attainable, but it won’t be easy!
That’s an admirable goal! And it IS tough. Been there!
happy birthday, Emily! I love the goals you’ve listed. a few of them are on my own bucket list, like run a 5k, visit London, donate blood. I have a problem with needles, though, so I will have to really work on screwing up the courage for the last!
I’m not a need fan either, which is why I have never donated and I’m 28!
Happy Birthday, Emily! Love this list! Once you hit the 5K, the 10K won’t seem as daunting. And once you hit the 10K, the half-marathon comes easily! You’ll knock those out in one season! I have a similar list to yours, with slightly fewer months with which to achieve 30 by 30! As far as your #7 item goes, I would LOVE to read that!
Thanks Mary! The novel is actually probably one of the harder things! Who knows if I’ll ever get it published, but it would feel great just to finish it!
we have a few things in common, pilot’s wife! i learned to knit this summer, my hair is red, and i kicked the old neighbors’ butts in poker a few months ago.
Happy Birthday to YOU! May 2012 and 28 be a season of blessing and beauty for you and yours. xoxo
Well, we certainly do! Too bad you don’t live closer or you could teach me to play poker! (and knit!)
Happy Birthday, sweet girl! Some really great ambitions. I hope you make it to London while I still live here – I’d love to go for coffee!
How fun would that be?! I hope you’re still there too.
Happy birthday emily! Looks like a fun and challenging list! I’m looking forward to updates on accomplishing them
I’ll definitely be updating! Thanks Catherine.
that is an impressive list! good stuff. Seeing that I turned 30 three years ago maybe I should just stick with things I want to do this year. One of my goals for the year is to run a 5k. Not just walk it or run-walk but actually run the whole thing. Another is to make it through second semester of RN school. My last one is to be more frugal.
34 things by 34?
Those all sound like great goals!
Happy Birthday! I love this list. I’m hoping you will be sharing with us as each one is accomplished. I have wanted a tattoo since I was about 16 years old. I currently have a friend (who’s an amazing artist) designing one for me. I’m a little bit scared, but mostly exciting. I think it’s fun to push ourselves to do things like this
I absolutely plan to share as I work on/accomplish each thing.
I’d love to see your tattoo if you take the plunge!
Happy Birthday, Emily. I enjoyed reading your 30 by 30 list. I’m turning 28 this summer, so you’ve inspired me to think about my 30, ummm. I love the dye hair red one
I hope you have such a special birthday today, thinking of ya.
Thank you Laura! I want to hear your list if you make one.
Happy birthday, Emily! I hope 28 is a great year.
Thank you, I’m hoping it’s much kinder than 27!
I LOVE THIS !
I have got to make a list for me.
You need a list for the side of your blog as you check these off, or have where your readers (ME) can sponsor one of your list items ! I hope you keep blogging about the list. SO FUN ! I also could have sworn you already had your nose pierced.
Love ya friend and miss you lots !
Renda.. YES make a list! And I want to see it.
I don’t think I’ll post it on the sidebar, but I created a category: 30by30 so I’ll be updating that as I go. What do you mean, sponsor an item? I’m confused…
And nope, I’ve just talked about piercing my nose a lot. Time to bite the bullet.
Miss you too!
I can help you with a few of those things especially dying you hair red:-)
I just may take you up on that Betty!
Happy birthday to you!! My 28th birthday is this year as well and I think I need to make a list of 30 before 30. I would have to think a lot about what I would want on that list!! Hope you cross everything off your list in the next two years!!
I know… it’s kind of a lot, even for two years! But I’m going to try. I’d love to see your list if you make one!
#15 is definitely on (the top of) my list too! I’ll especially be praying for you in that area, Emily. Right now all I can think of is, thank goodness our awesome God is in control
!!
I’ll be praying for you too Miranda!
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