The last time I wrote I told myself I had to do better. I have been horrible at keeping up with my writing and as a result am writing a blog post that is way overdue. In just a few short days I will be entering my last year of my 20s. Holy effin cow where has the time gone? As some folks dread getting older, I look forward to it. I always said I look forward to 30 and 50 and then i'll stay at 50 until the end ;) But alas, i'm not there yet.
The week leading up to my birthday is always super reflective for me. Sometimes I wish I had the opportunity to travel to some undisclosed location and just be. Alone. By myself. To reflect and think and set my intentions for the upcoming new year. Since I don't have that opportunity, I have to find the time to squeeze it in when I can and to hopefully not get too caught up in my thoughts to the point where I disconnect from what i'm doing in that moment. We are constantly evolving and constantly learning and I can make a whole list of lessons that were presented in the year. But I won't. Not because i'm selfish but because i'm still learning how to apply these lessons in my life. I re-read the blog that I wrote just before my birthday last year of the things that I hoped for in the new year. I wish I can say I stayed true to that list, but I can't and i'm fine with that. I know in time the things I hope for will present themselves as consistent aspects of my life. Until then, I will accept where I am and allow myself to be in a space where I can receive all the things that the universe has to offer me.
In the last week I decided to take inventory of these past 28 years. Doing this exercise allowed me to see all the things that I have accomplished placing me in a space where I can appreciate. We are often so caught up in the next best thing that we forget all the good things that have happened. All the good things we have done. All the goals we have achieved. I decided to take this inventory to put me in a space of appreciation of me. Something that I pride myself on and also realize is a great flaw is that I put others before myself. I can't help it. I truly believe I was created this way and I totally accept it. But as a result I have lost sight of the things that I have accomplished and I have lost sight of the things that have made me me. In addition, it has led me down a path where I felt the need to do more more more instead of doing what felt right in the moment. As 28 comes to a close I feel confident in knowing that I have done a better job of creating the balance needed to operate in a capacity that allows me to do what is essential to my core-which is serving others- while remaining focused on my own needs for personal satisfaction. As they say "self love is the best love" so i'm going to close out 28 celebrating me!
Without further ado...my 29 accomplishments before 29
1. Complete 3 half marathons (yes, thick girls can run)
2. Graduate from college...while working full-time
3. Completing my Masters degree
4. Traveling to 4 of 7 continents (if airports count it would be 5)
5. Travel to my #1 of my top 5 places to go...Kenya
6. Travel to my #2 of my top 5 places to go...India
7. Travel to my #3 of my top 5 places to go...Puerto Rico
8. Live in a foreign country...alone
9. Learn to speak a foreign language...muli bwanji?
10. Fall in love
11. Own pets
12. Live in cities other than my hometown
13. Visit a winery...or two...or three..
14. Participate in a book club
15. Quit a job that wasn't fulfilling/making me happy/etc.
16. Mentor youth
17. Participate in community service continuously
18. Develop a strong professional/personal network
19. Live inside my means
20. Buy a new car...by myself
21. Swim in 3 of the 4 oceans
22. Hitchhike...and survive
23. Maintain a vegetarian diet..for more than 3 months
24. Make a commitment and maintain a commitment to health and mental well being
25. Develop and implement youth programs globally
26. Manage other people
27. Travel to an island
28. Live alone
29. Take risks with jobs, love, and life
I guess the real reason why I wrote this is because we often overlook the small things waiting for the next big thing to happen. We often forget to celebrate the small accomplishments. We often forget to celebrate all the experiences that have made us into the people we are.
And an added bonus my 30 before 30!
1. Skydive (happening on my 29th bday!)
2. Watch the sunset over the ocean
3. Watch the sunrise over the ocean
4. Stargaze at the National Mall
5. Jazz in the park
6. Attend an outdoor movie
7. Go to a drive-in
8. Go to a gun range
9. Attend a cultural event
10. Learn/take Spanish classes
11. Drive with no destination in mind and eat at a local restaurant
12. Picnic somewhere new
13. Go fruit picking
14. Try out acupuncture
15. Paddle boat on the Potomac
16. Go to all the memorials (esp. the Jefferson)
17. Buy coffee/lunch/dinner/etc.. for a random stranger
18. Go to the Library of Congress
19. Go up the Washington Monument
20. Go to Nashville (haven't been since I left in 2008)
21. Go camping somewhere new
22. Go to Boston (to visit my other PC pal/sister wife)
23. Visit New York as a tourist
24. Eat a meal in Queens, Bronx, and Long Island (the boroughs I haven't been)
25. Hangout on Coney Island
26. Visit Sugarloaf Mtn. (in MD)
27. Go to the Baltimore Aquarium
28. Eat Vietnamese food
29. Go to Luray Cavern
30. Go to Greece (the other motherland!)
Update:
Changing out some of the above list to align more with where my head is now..
#10 will become begin learning a new language (still in progress...spanish, french, or arabic?)
#23 and 24 and 25 will become 23.
#24 will become take myself on a personal date monthly (so far so good!)
#25 will become blog more consistently (a must happen!)
#30 will become travel internationally
*some of these things I have done before but want to re-do them because they bring me joy :) *
And I guess my request to my friends is...if you're down for helping check off one or more of my 30 before 30s let me know!
Until next time be well and celebrate you!
xoxo
The week leading up to my birthday is always super reflective for me. Sometimes I wish I had the opportunity to travel to some undisclosed location and just be. Alone. By myself. To reflect and think and set my intentions for the upcoming new year. Since I don't have that opportunity, I have to find the time to squeeze it in when I can and to hopefully not get too caught up in my thoughts to the point where I disconnect from what i'm doing in that moment. We are constantly evolving and constantly learning and I can make a whole list of lessons that were presented in the year. But I won't. Not because i'm selfish but because i'm still learning how to apply these lessons in my life. I re-read the blog that I wrote just before my birthday last year of the things that I hoped for in the new year. I wish I can say I stayed true to that list, but I can't and i'm fine with that. I know in time the things I hope for will present themselves as consistent aspects of my life. Until then, I will accept where I am and allow myself to be in a space where I can receive all the things that the universe has to offer me.
In the last week I decided to take inventory of these past 28 years. Doing this exercise allowed me to see all the things that I have accomplished placing me in a space where I can appreciate. We are often so caught up in the next best thing that we forget all the good things that have happened. All the good things we have done. All the goals we have achieved. I decided to take this inventory to put me in a space of appreciation of me. Something that I pride myself on and also realize is a great flaw is that I put others before myself. I can't help it. I truly believe I was created this way and I totally accept it. But as a result I have lost sight of the things that I have accomplished and I have lost sight of the things that have made me me. In addition, it has led me down a path where I felt the need to do more more more instead of doing what felt right in the moment. As 28 comes to a close I feel confident in knowing that I have done a better job of creating the balance needed to operate in a capacity that allows me to do what is essential to my core-which is serving others- while remaining focused on my own needs for personal satisfaction. As they say "self love is the best love" so i'm going to close out 28 celebrating me!
Without further ado...my 29 accomplishments before 29
1. Complete 3 half marathons (yes, thick girls can run)
2. Graduate from college...while working full-time
3. Completing my Masters degree
4. Traveling to 4 of 7 continents (if airports count it would be 5)
5. Travel to my #1 of my top 5 places to go...Kenya
6. Travel to my #2 of my top 5 places to go...India
7. Travel to my #3 of my top 5 places to go...Puerto Rico
8. Live in a foreign country...alone
9. Learn to speak a foreign language...muli bwanji?
10. Fall in love
11. Own pets
12. Live in cities other than my hometown
13. Visit a winery...or two...or three..
14. Participate in a book club
15. Quit a job that wasn't fulfilling/making me happy/etc.
16. Mentor youth
17. Participate in community service continuously
18. Develop a strong professional/personal network
19. Live inside my means
20. Buy a new car...by myself
21. Swim in 3 of the 4 oceans
22. Hitchhike...and survive
23. Maintain a vegetarian diet..for more than 3 months
24. Make a commitment and maintain a commitment to health and mental well being
25. Develop and implement youth programs globally
26. Manage other people
27. Travel to an island
28. Live alone
29. Take risks with jobs, love, and life
I guess the real reason why I wrote this is because we often overlook the small things waiting for the next big thing to happen. We often forget to celebrate the small accomplishments. We often forget to celebrate all the experiences that have made us into the people we are.
And an added bonus my 30 before 30!
2. Watch the sunset over the ocean
3. Watch the sunrise over the ocean
4. Stargaze at the National Mall
7. Go to a drive-in
10. Learn/take Spanish classes
11. Drive with no destination in mind and eat at a local restaurant
18. Go to the Library of Congress
20. Go to Nashville (haven't been since I left in 2008)
21. Go camping somewhere new
26. Visit Sugarloaf Mtn. (in MD)
29. Go to Luray Cavern
30. Go to Greece (the other motherland!)
Update:
Changing out some of the above list to align more with where my head is now..
#10 will become begin learning a new language (still in progress...spanish, french, or arabic?)
#23 and 24 and 25 will become 23.
#25 will become blog more consistently (a must happen!)
*some of these things I have done before but want to re-do them because they bring me joy :) *
And I guess my request to my friends is...if you're down for helping check off one or more of my 30 before 30s let me know!
Until next time be well and celebrate you!
xoxo
