birthday like this.

I meant to come back here last Friday to post this list, but the day/weekend got swept away into a last-minute trip and the craziness of life. My birthday came and went. Here I am now, trying my best, year after year, six years counting.

Last year, I decided to live valiantly (whatever that means), and it looked like this:

1. run my 3rd half marathon AND/OR a marathon
2. make a biking friend in Chicago
3. finish writing two essays and submit one (one essay completed)
4. build a freelance business
5. make homemade Christmas gifts
6. GET MARRIED
7. commit to meal planning & stick to the eating out budget (eek)
8. read 30 books
9. sew one piece of clothing (the fabric is sitting on my table right now)
10. practice meditation
11. assume the best in people (sometimes)
12. purchase five high-quality pieces of clothing (one down)
13. actively worry less (trying)
14. stick with YNAB for a full year
15. keep criticism to myself
16. join a book club and/or writer’s group
17. plan a month-long trip next summer
18. learn new things
19. help Jake’s family tap the maple trees
20. knit a new winter hat
21. go on a roadtrip
22. practice chit-chatting strangers
23. canning! to include: tomatoes, salsa, jam & apples (for now)
24. finish two courses towards a Nonprofit Management Certificate
25. stick to the ‘no phone in bed’ rule (sort of)
26. say what I think (or write it)
27. make a nature journal
28. make yogurt
29. find a place to volunteer
30. be confident (also, trying)

This year, I'm living adventurously in whatever sense it applies. It was one of my wedding vows, so you better believe I mean it. This year, I'll...

1. train for a marathon
2. go to Ireland for a week
3. take a summer road trip on/to the west coast
4. find some place to hang out with lady bicyclists
5. take an Alexander Technique class
6. lift some weights and run some miles every week
7. eat enough protein
8. bake one pie each month
9. think about grad school
10. make something out of LCP (that's a mystery to you! it's ok--you'll know soon enough)
11. go apple picking
12. phase out all beauty and cleaning products that have toxic ingredients
13. start volunteering again
14. take an adventurous art class at Lillstreet
15. take myself on an Artist Date every week
16. read more fiction
17. be confident
18. stop trying to be in control
19. get a dog (whaaaaaaaaaat?!)
20. plan a trip to a continent I’ve never been to
21. plan a solo weekend trip
22. double our emergency savings
23. make homemade holiday gifts
24. stick to the eating out budget
25. try out watercolor painting
26. allow for small luxuries (without guilt)
27. be intentional with my time and money
28. meditate
29. learn Spanish
30. get a short(er) haircut
31. host a nacho party

Some repeats here and there, some intentions, some small goals, some crazy/big goals. Just everything you need to keep living a life.

Years past: 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015