A year ago, I posted this blog entry and created a list of 23 things to do before I turned twenty four. The list remained in the back of my mind all year as I spent a blissful summer in Grand Haven, packed up and moved to Cleveland, OH in the fall, finished my first semester of grad school in the winter and prioritized social life, internship, weekend trips and school (in that order) during the spring. Completing the whole list was my goal, but I didn't complete them all. Some I chose not to do- like #2 and #7 and others I just didn't get around to- like #7, #14 and #17. I documented my accomplishments along the way:
1. do something I said I've always
wanted to do Began a gratitude journal!
2. fill out 5: Where Will
You Be Five Years from Today?
3. worship God every Sunday thanks
to Hope College Chapel CDs.
4. paint something for someone
else Kevin’s Christmas present!
5. do something I said I would
never do Went to a country music concert.
6. run a 5k: I did train to run a 5k Turkey Trot, but when I saw snow on the forecast the morning of the run, I opted out. I DO work out two or three days a week and belong to a gym. That counts for something right?
7. write an "About Me"
section for my blog/twitter/intragram
8. take a yoga class
9. go skiing Steamboat,
CO, Glen Arbor and Cadillac, MI!
10. throw a party Does my own birthday party count?
11. go wine
tasting
12. print off, organize, and store
college papers/documents I transferred everything onto a hard drive.
13. visit Colorado Four
times, I’m a lucky girl.
14. go on a picnic
15. develop a budget and
live by it
16. organize a weekend get
together with friends Torch Lake Weekend.
17. take a cooking class
18. do (at least) three monthly
photo challenges And a video challenge.
19. learn something new Golf!
20. visit Kaitlin & Perry
more than once Twice!
21. paint something for myself
22. send Kat a care
package
23. write hand written
letters and send snail mail Putting two in the mail today!
Twenty-four feels good. The anticipation and excitement that comes along with being another year older feels good. Reflecting on this sense of groundedness I acquired over the past year and noticing how much I've grown into my own skin feels good. Yesterday was full of so much love my heart practically burst. And that feels really, really good.
Now, more than ever, these words ring true for me:"I feel more and more like
myself with each passing year, for better and for worse, and you’ll find that
too. Every year, you will trade a little of your perfect skin and your ability
to look great without exercising for wisdom and peace and groundedness, and
every year the trade will be worth it. I promise."
