It’s been strangely difficult to write this post. Mainly, I had to get myself over a mental hurdle, which was accepting that I’ll be 22 at my next birthday. I had this moment last week, where I realized I was turning 21, not 20, and it seriously freaked me out. There are probably some folks older than me in the audience who are scoffing at me freaking out about being 21, and trust me, I get it. But to a 21-year-old who is rounding the bend on the third of four years of a University degree, with almost zero conception of what she wants to do once she’s graduated, who never had any real plan for her life past University: this time is really scary. Being this age is pretty scary. It’s exciting, and wide-open, and awesome, but it’s also scary.
But be that as it may, I keep pushing myself. I get bored, I try new things, I gain new hobbies. Even though sometimes I’m terrified, or overwhelmed with anxiety, or feeling really low, I keep trying. I set goals, and I push myself to achieve them. That much I know! So I did compile a list of fun goals for my 21st year, even though I have 2012 goals already. I tried to choose things that can be checked off, and that will enrich my life in new ways.
If anyone reading wants to offer advice, send along links, or make suggestions about how I can achieve any of these birthday goals, I’d be thrilled to hear them. And, as always, thank you for following along with my life here on my blog, it means more to me than you know. xo.
22 Before 22
- Grow out my nails and get a manicure
- Run a race
- Make cheese at home
- Stay in a hotel and order room service
- Get a food blog post accepted to Tastespotting
- Become a penpal
- Read one Jane Austen novel
- Start a book club
- Make sushi
- Sew a dress
- Get a pet fish
- Send someone a care package
- Create a podcast
- Take a self-imposed break from the Internet
- Do a juice detox
- Take a photography class or workshop
- Grow herbs and cherry tomatoes
- Climb a tree
- Travel somewhere new
- Make cinnamon buns
- Self-publish a cookbook
- Have a tarot reading done
