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The Syllabus for the Next 18 Months

I decided at some point in the last week that I wanted to make a checklist of 30 things to do before I turned 30.

 Creating a list of 30 things is harder than I imagined it would be.

 But, to quote Julie Andrews (which I suppose is actually quoting Rodgers & Hammerstein), "let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start."

 There's nothing magical about turning thirty. I imagine that on July 2, 2015, when I wake up, my eyes will still be blue, my fingers will still number ten, my instant desire will be to go back to sleep. That said, it is one of those watershed points in life. The idea of approaching thirty is both reassuring and daunting.

 At least I'm theoretically past the point of having a quarter-life crisis.

 What I want to do is be able to look back at my 20s and tell my future kids about all the adventures their parents had before they were thirty. Creating this list isn't going to create those adventures. We've already had some pretty spectacular ones (marriage itself is an adventure). I can't help but wonder, though, if setting some goals for myself won't help give way to some adventures. If nothing else, the purpose of this blog- this list- is to make me more proactive and better document my life. I don't take enough pictures and I've never been good at journaling. I want some record of my life so when I'm old I have those memories in pictures and words.

 So give me ideas! If you can think of something that follows the Rules leave a comment.

 I'll be updating this (#21) with the progress I've made. It should be fun!

Comments

  1. AprilFebruary 1, 2014 at 1:32 PM

    Suggestion: Take a photo with as many members of your family as possible. Maximum of two family members at once in any given picture. Then print them all. It doesn't matter if you keep them in a box under your bed or do something fancy with them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AprilFebruary 1, 2014 at 1:33 PM

    I guess you can make up your own rules and specifics. ;-) Photos of family are something I cherish and media changes so fast.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ClaireFebruary 1, 2014 at 1:34 PM

    I think that's a great idea! I am so bad at actually taking pictures of people in general and of then doing something with the pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AprilFebruary 1, 2014 at 1:53 PM

    I have so many ideas! Ride a tandem bicycle. Write a letter to your 60 year old self, documenting who you are today and who you want to be. Spend an entire afternoon doing nothing but staring at the clouds and talking with your husband. Do something that's small but that intimidates you. See the world from a different perspective, like a hot air balloon or the corner suite of an executive office. Write a poem, story, or letter and send it to be published even if its just a local newspaper. Cook and eat something you've never tried before. Ask someone to teach you their talent.

    ReplyDelete
  5. JavieraFebruary 1, 2014 at 1:57 PM

    Ok.. I was reading the rules and I stoped in the Antartica trip. If you want to go before the 30's, let me know, I have some friends in Punta Arenas, Chile ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. JavieraFebruary 1, 2014 at 1:59 PM

    And I insist... there is nothing that can make you happier, healthier and in contact with nature than hiking... wherever you want

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ClaireFebruary 1, 2014 at 7:24 PM

      Hiking a mountain is definitely on the fairly good possibility list- I just haven't figured out where yet and if it's going to count. Jack's parents spend the summer in Colorado and we do some hiking there, although I think this year I want to try a longer hike.

      Delete

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