30.
The big three-oh.
I can say, in all honesty, that I'm not dreading this milestone. I freaked out when I turned 27 (don't ask me why--it was just a scary number). Thirty? Not so much. Thirty is only really noteworthy to me because instead of starting my age with a two, I will have to use a three; this is fine by me, because half the time I can't remember how old I really am anyway. Am I 28? 29? Definitely 28, no 29. Seriously, sometimes I have to do the math, awkwardly counting on my fingers. It's a bit embarrassing.
Still, with such a milestone birthday approaching, I've been thinking back on what I thought 30 would be like. My younger self was pretty ambitious, and I'm nowhere near where I thought I'd be a few years ago, let alone over a decade ago. I'm not too disappointed: my twelve year-old self could never have known that being a ballerina was a dream that was over before it started (yet, I still wonder, is 30 too late to go en pointe?).
I've seen a few bloggers put together a 30 before 30 list--a sort of bucket list, if you will. Usually these lists are made years in advance, and include all manner of things big and small that a person wants to do before turning thirty. While thinking about what would be on my own list, I got a wild idea that, with less than a year to go, this would be a good idea.
Why?
Why not?
It seemed only fair that since I am starting a bit late, I get to pad the list a little bit. I do like to think that the things I've included on my list that I have already done or accomplished would have been on there had I started five years ago, so my conscience is clear.
Here's what I've come up with:
1.
I lived in Shanghai, China for a year, and I loved it. In fact, I would love to live abroad again someday.
2.
Thanks to our honeymoon, my husband and I have both been to Europe. There's so much more to see and do, and so many places that we want to visit, but consider this a big fat check off the bucket list.
3. Go to the Ballet or the Opera
I've been to see The Nutcracker a few times, but I would love to see another Ballet. I've never seen an Opera, but think it could be an interesting experience.
4. Read Jane Eyre
No self-respecting English Major admits to having never read Jane Eyre, but there you have it. I love Jane Austen; I've read Pride and Prejudice more times than I can count. I slogged through Pamela and Middlemarch. But I have never, ever been able to get into Jane Eyre. I've started this novel at least four or five times, and put it down every time. It's high time I read it.
5. Read Anna Karenina
Quite a few people that I know have at least one shelf on their bookcase that is full of books that make them look smart. I have one with a lot of "classics" (including Jane Eyre) and some very long, very thick books that I've never read but that make me look very well-read. Anna Karenina is one of those books.
6. Buy a house
I hope before the year is over to be a homeowner. There's nothing I want more than to choose my own paint colors and maybe take a gigantic sledgehammer to a wall that needs to come down. What? It looks like great fun on TV.
7.
Been there, ran that. Notice how I didn't add "do a marathon" to this list?
8. Listen to the entire Beatles Catalog
My parents weren't big Beatles fans, so while I know the popular Beatles songs, I'm a bit clueless about the rest of them. Time to get a Fab Four education.
9. Find my style
I follow Kendi Everyday, and I'm so jealous of this girl's style. I want to develop my own style and make an effort to look a little more put-together everyday.
10. Get a "big girl" wardrobe
As much as I love Old Navy, I really need to take more care in selecting and taking care of my wardrobe. This, of course, means having a wardrobe that's worth taking care of, which means investing in things that will last a long time.
11. Learn how to put on makeup well
Foundation, powder, highlighting--it all mystifies me. I'm definitely not saying that I want to put on a full face of makeup every day, but I would like to find a routine and know how to do my makeup well enough not to feel like a rube every time I set foot in Sephora.
12. Lose 30 pounds
I was going to call this one "get healthy", but I think in this case, a specific goal is not a bad idea. I hope to lose more, but I think 30 is a pretty good start.
13. Run a 5K
I've done a 5K (two, actually), but I want to actually run one, all the way through, without stopping.
14.
We moved to Seattle for no reason other than we wanted to be here, which is pretty awesome.
15. Make a new friend (outside of work)
I'm introverted, and it's hard for me to step out of my comfort zone and actually talk to people I don't know or to do activities that require more than superficial social interaction. Grown-ups should know how to make friends, and as I am a grown-up (most days), I will learn how to do this.
16.
Last year, Mr. Goodlaff and I took a yoga class for about 7 months and really enjoyed ourselves. It wasn't something I thought I would ever do or enjoy, but I'm glad I did it, and I really did like it.
17. Crochet a blanket
Mama Goodlaff has a blanket on her bed that was a wedding present. It's crocheted and has little chevron stripes on it, and I love the way I can poke my fingers through the holes. I want a blanket of my own, and I want to learn how to crochet better--two birds, one stone.
18. Read East of Eden
The book is supposed to be amazing, and I've always meant to read it. Now seems as good a time as any.
19. Learn to like tomatoes
I do like tomatoes, I just like them cooked. I want to learn to like fresh tomatoes.
20. Kayak the sound
I think kayaking would be really fun, and we have a few local areas where we could easily do this.
21. Fly a plane
The other day, I saw a Groupon for an introductory flight lesson. I've always wanted to fly a plane, and maybe someday, I will get a pilot's license.
22. Let my hair down
I always wear my hair up. It's thick, it's long, and it's a pain in the ass. Still, I'm going to try to wear it down at least once a week.
23. Hot air balloon
I may have to get up super early to make the flight, but I think riding in a hot air balloon would be the most majestic thing.
24. Ride the Ducks
There's this crazy tourist activity here in Seattle where you get to ride all around in an amphibious water/land craft. The boat cruises all around the city, then drives straight into Lake Union. Plus, you can buy a duck quack kazoo. There's no downside here.
25. Sew clothing for myself
I have sewn a few aprons and a pinafore for my niece, but I've never made clothes for myself. I'm pretty sure that's the next step in my sewing adventures.
26.
With Daddy Goodlaff being a mechanic, I had never had the experience of buying my own car. Last year, we bought two.
27. Floss daily
I hate flossing. I get a lecture every time I go to the dentist. Grown-ups floss on a daily basis, so it's time I do too.
28. Be a better friend
The friends that I have are long distance. I don't keep in touch with them as often as I should, and that makes me a little sad. I want to be better about keeping in touch so we don't grow any farther apart.
29. See a Roller Derby
All I know about roller derby is that girls on skates knock each other down. Maybe that's all there is to it, maybe not. Still, I think it'd be fun to see one.
30. Learn how to drive a stick shift
I honestly don't see how I'm going to be able to do this one. We don't have a car with a manual transmission sitting around, and it's unlikely that someone will hand me their keys and let me destroy their clutch. But it's always something I've wanted to learn, and the skill could come in handy one day.
What would your 30 before 30 be?
