I turned 34 by today, which means I will turn 35 in a year from now. I'm too old for celebrations; reflecting is my thing now. And, there is a little melancholy. Hmm, not quite. I'm not sad about any time lost, I am not desperate for any changes. This is actually more like quiet determination and constructive dissatisfaction.
Being the list maker that I am, of course I am going to write a list as the first step to doing something. My last milestone was my 30th birthday which I remember as a trip to the black hole. Sigh! Back then, I didn't write a list and, if I did it might have included things like getting married, changing jobs, moving to San Francisco city, sky diving. This time, I did write a list - 35 things I want to do before I turn 35. This time, my wishes are humbler - hiking Half Dome is not on the list, going on a hike with my 6 month old is on the list. Sky diving is not on the list, getting on a plane for a couple of vacations is on the list. You get the idea.
How did i arrive at this list? First, throughout the day, I put down whatever random idea occurred in my head. I had more than 35. Then, I reviewed the list and removed some which were too easy or would definitely get done or which were really duplicate. What's in the list is now aspirational but not too aspirational to be unachievable. Some of these are things I've wanted to do for a while but just never prioritized enough. Some are things I like doing but have not done for a while. All are things that I can skip doing and still be more than just fine. However, doing them is just going to make me a little happier and will be well worth it.
So drumroll..........., here's the list:
Being the list maker that I am, of course I am going to write a list as the first step to doing something. My last milestone was my 30th birthday which I remember as a trip to the black hole. Sigh! Back then, I didn't write a list and, if I did it might have included things like getting married, changing jobs, moving to San Francisco city, sky diving. This time, I did write a list - 35 things I want to do before I turn 35. This time, my wishes are humbler - hiking Half Dome is not on the list, going on a hike with my 6 month old is on the list. Sky diving is not on the list, getting on a plane for a couple of vacations is on the list. You get the idea.
How did i arrive at this list? First, throughout the day, I put down whatever random idea occurred in my head. I had more than 35. Then, I reviewed the list and removed some which were too easy or would definitely get done or which were really duplicate. What's in the list is now aspirational but not too aspirational to be unachievable. Some of these are things I've wanted to do for a while but just never prioritized enough. Some are things I like doing but have not done for a while. All are things that I can skip doing and still be more than just fine. However, doing them is just going to make me a little happier and will be well worth it.
So drumroll..........., here's the list:
- Play spy alley
- Get our backyard remodeled
- Volunteer for something
Buy a piece of jewelry I'm very proud of- Go on an exotic vacation
- Read a novel/fiction
- Host 2017 Super Bowl party
- Visit India
- Wear lingerie to bed
- Listen to a new album
- Buy a gift for my husband
Celebrate my son's first birthday- Go on a hike
- Do a craft project
- Give an interview
- Visit some place in bay area that I have never been to
- Prepare my resume
Donate to a charity- Make baked pasta
- Organize our documents
Get a root canal- Enroll my son into day care
- Rent a vacation home for a weekend
- Bake something savory
- Get a facial
- Build an Amazon Echo skill
- Finish reading 2 technical books
- Wear a dress to office
- Create an emergency kit
Invest in the stock market- Get a good profile pic for work
- Create a photobook
- Make something from my America’s Test Kitchen book
- Write a birthday letter for my son
- Write a blog about these 35 things
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