Don’t entirely remember this picture from our bday celebration.
It’s a bit unnerving to see the number 30 as the title of this post and looming ahead of me. But I remember being 26 and talking to my amazing co-worker, Kristina, when she was turning 30. She told me how excited and happy she was about life, her career, and dating. She told me that at that age, she knew what she wanted out of life and had a confidence to go after it that made things so much easier. But me, at that timid, mid-twenties age, I doubted what she told me and looked at my future with anxiety and fear.
But she was so right. And I leave 28 for 29 feeling the happiest and most secure of my life. This last year brought a lot of things that have done wonders for me. I got serious about kickboxing; I buckled down about school and finished my tech degree; I started listening to podcasts by Tara Brach about Buddhism. I went on adventures big and small. From riding horses through the New Mexican desert to stand-up paddle boarding in Maine to learning the Lindy Hop in Lincoln Center. I had an awesome year, and I see no reason why the next one won’t likewise be fantastic. I managed 10 last year, so here’s hoping I can expand that a bit.
THE STANDARDS
- Visit a new state 15 down, 35 to go.
- Visit a new country 12 down, 183 to go.
- Visit a new baseball stadium 7 down, 23 to go.
- Read “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion I have writerly friends who worship at the feet of Didion, yet I haven’t read a single book by her.
- Watch “The African Queen” I’ve added watching a classic movie to the standards.
- Make an Indian meal I order in Indian food quite a bit, and one of the new receptionists at work (who is Indian) likes to tease me that it’s a waste of money, and I could make it just as good at home. Challenge accepted.
- Eat a Ramen Burger There’s a place in NYC that serves a burger between two grilled ramen noodle loaves. I’m in.
- Visit One World Observatory
THE LEFTOVERS
- Take a Sailing Lesson
- Go Scuba Diving I WILL NOT GIVE UP ON THIS.
- Go to a Gun Range
- Do a Juice Cleanse
- Visit a Whiskey Distillery
- Go to a Live Taping
- Ride a Mechanical Bull
- Take a trapeze class
- Go to a Monster Truck Show
- Sing at Live Band Karaoke I went on a first date a couple of months ago to a live band, rock and roll karaoke. It was amazing, and I regret not getting up and doing it. No chemistry with the guy. But SO MUCH chemistry with Arlene’s Grocery. Proof that dating can be rewarding.
- Go Sky Diving
- Learn to Play the Ukulele
- Do a Knitting Donation Project
THE NEW CLASS
- Go Cross Country Skiing It sounds so New England to me.
- Compete in a Crossword Competition I am a nerd. I do the New York Times crossword every day and time myself. I think I’m ready to take my skills on the road.
- Take a Flamenco Dance lesson The fan! The little finger things! The stomping!
- Go Windsurfing When I was in Canada, I saw a couple of windsurfers on Georgian Bay. It looks terrifying and kind of cool.
- Get my aura photographed Sounds like bullshit, but I’m a sucker for these things.
- Go on a Ghost Tour I recently signed up for the New York Obscura Society, and they often have graveyard events.
- Go parasailing I can’t believe I’ve made it this far into my life without doing this!
- Run a 5K My boyfriend is deferring his NYC marathon eligibility to next year and wants me to train with him. But I don’t run. I hate running. I only run when I’m being chased. But he has convinced me that there are some fun 5Ks out there, and he seems to believe I am capable.
- Do an Escape the Room There are so many different kinds of these in New York. Ones with zombies. Ones for groups. Ones for couples. Basically they lock you in a room for an hour or two with a variety of puzzles that leads to the key to get out. I love puzzles! See #23 for proof.
Chrissy's Blog 
I have riden a mechanical bull, scuba dived, and gone on a ghost tour. I can attest to all of them! They are all worth doing. I would like to sky dive, also. Aunt Nancy
Maybe we should go sky diving together! You can talk my mom into it too!
Ok! I’ll try!
Ladies! I have a $150 off coupon for skydiving if you go to Pepperell, MA. I’ll never use it.
I love the list! You have a new follower!
Yay! I’m happy to have you as a reader