But let's back up.
Five years ago, I was panicking. I was turning 25. I was so old. I wrote this post about all the things I thought I was going to do before I was 25. Things like getting my Master's degree, travelling, gardening. Later I wrote this post, trying to pacify myself about the many wonderful things I had accomplished (note: it includes eating an entire Fat Burger. Obviously my early life was a success).
Shortly after I turned 25, I had this idea. Since I was still reeling from this feeling that my life was getting away from me and I was wholly unaccomplished by 25, I realized I definitely didn't want to be feeling this way again in five years, knocking on that terrifying door of turning 30. Surely I could complete some big, life-changing accomplishments in five years--after all, I was young, (relatively) in shape, married to the coolest guy I knew, and adventuring was just part of our everyday life. The inkling of an idea was conceived: a list of 30 things I would do before turning 30.
Except then an actual baby was conceived--and things REALLY got away from me. This 30 Before 30 List remained an abstract idea. However, 30 still seemed pretty far away. Only really old people were 30. And I wasn't old yet. Until all of a sudden I was. Pregnancy #2 aged me quickly. At 29, two kids--a potty training toddler with all the energy (and meltdown potential) of a nuclear power plant and a nursing newborn with the appetite of a teenager--took all of my energy, patience, and time. And more. By the end of most days, I was empty. Being a mom--a very, very, tired mom--was slowly consuming me.
In some ways, I felt like I had regressed from where I had been at 25. I was no longer coaching volleyball teams (championship or otherwise), no longer directing plays, no longer working in a writing career. (But for the record, I'm still married to the coolest guy I know.) But it was becoming clear that our life was no longer conducive to accomplishing 30 wild, crazy, life-changing adventures before I turned 30.
So...a new list was born. A list of 30 daily, manageable things to accomplish before I turn 30. Some are things I've never done (cooking fish, Serengeti Water Park). Some are things I've done before but rarely/never make time for anymore (snowball fights, root beer floats, playing tennis). Some are acts of service (treats to public servants/mail carrier, pay for stranger's coffee); some are to be intentional with my family (video game with Brett, merry-go-round with Jack, family photos). Many are related to food.
All are things that will be done before I'm 30.
One thing each day for the next 30 days.
30 Before 30 starts tomorrow. So follow along for my newest little adventure...or at least for a good laugh when I break my arm trying to land a front handspring.
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| The famous list, in no particular order |
