Last Sunday I turned 31 years old.
My 30th year of life was nothing short of epic. I got a new job, bought a house, went on a few fabulous trips & generally loved life. But 31 seemed daunting to me – like I’m actually an adult now.
Inspired by my friend Spencer Spellman (you know him as The Traveling Philosopher) who is engaging in his own 30 at 30 project, I’ve decided to challenge myself in 31 ways this year. Some things on this list are deeply personal, some are fun, some are things I’ve always wanted to do & just never seem to have the time. You can follow along on Twitter & Instagram using the hash tag #31for31.
1. Do something I’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t for whatever reason
2. Begin to learn a new language
3. Take a class to learn a new skill or hobby
4. Do something that scares me
5. Figure out (& max out) my 401k
6. Ride my bike 50 miles
7. Make lasagna & tomato sauce from scratch
8. Learn how to make three (easy) signature dishes
9. Travel to NYC & never leave Brooklyn
10. Lose 15 lbs
11. Camp, just for one night, in a tent.
12. Complete another photo 365 project (keep an eye on Instagram – I’ll be using the #365for31 hash tag!)
13. Bring on one new client who signs a contract (this is a goal related to my “real world job” in PR)
14. Master Photoshop & Lightroom
15. Volunteer – at least quarterly
16. Travel unplugged in a new city (inspired by this piece)
17. Visit a place I love (other than NYC)
18. Splurge on something for myself
19. “Finish” one room in our house
20. Read at least five pages of something (a book, a magazine) before going to bed
21. Complete an entire NY Times crossword puzzle (my grandmother was a crossword queen!)
22. Bake pumpkin bread & send it to friends & family “just because”
23. Write when I’m feeling creative & don’t beat myself up when I’m not
24. Embrace & reform my relationship with my inlaws
25. Don’t force myself to do things I don’t enjoy (running, reading on an e-reader…)
26. Embrace social media platforms I love & forget about the ones I don’t
27. Start watching Downton Abbey (because everyone says I would love it!)
28. Love my husband the best I can
29. Go for a long hike on the trail in Great Falls Park
30. Make a plan to be debt free (well, except for the mortgage!)
31. Say “I love you” more
Did I leave anything off my list? Any ideas on how to tackle any of the projects on my list?
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