once a year.

Where do I begin? Poor neglected blog. My writing has wound itself in so many directions, and somehow this spot didn’t feel as necessary any more. I’ve allowed myself some single-minded focus, much needed I think, but here is the consequence. Saying yes to some things (whole-heartedly!) means saying no to others, inevitably.

Nearly a month ago now my birthday came. It was a simple day, which suits me. Jacob and I wandered around nearby Andersonville for most of the day. It was hot, so we ducked in and out of shops and drank iced coffee and shared a sandwich. We got dinner that night at Band of Bohemia where I tasted each and every beer. It was perfect as far as I can tell.

And now, without further ado, the birthday list. I wrote the first one in 2011, and I haven’t looked back since. I adore the chance to pause and think about the next year of my life, to look back on the one I’ve just finished and what I’ve accomplished. Last year, I attempted to live adventurously, and I think I did well. As always, I never mean to cross everything off, but to try my best and to live live live.

1. train for a marathon
2. go to Ireland for a week
3. take a summer road trip on/to the west coast (postponed for a year)
4. find some place to hang out with lady bicyclists
5. take an Alexander Technique class (lost interest in this, but I’m fine with that)
6. lift some weights and run some miles every week
7. eat enough protein
8. bake one pie each month (forgot! baked one, maybe two pies all year- will do better this year)
9. think about grad school (thought about and dismissed for the moment)
10. make something out of LCP
11. go apple picking
12. phase out all beauty and cleaning products that have toxic ingredients (getting closer!)
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 always be in control
19. get a dog (postponed, but not forever)
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 (very very close - close enough I say)
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

For this 32nd year, I’m aiming to challenge myself. I just heard someone recently talking about how anything worth having or doing in life involves some challenge, discomfort, pain. Embrace it, they said.

1. have an unplugged day each month
2. research tiny homes
3. get a tattoo
4. write every day
5. keep a recipe journal
6. create a map project
7. write more letters
8. be intentional about relationship building (of all kinds)
9. ride my bike to new places
10. go on a cross-country bike trip
11. get better at making healthy snacks
12. read voraciously
13. sew floor cushions for the living room
14. say yes to social situations
15. be more open & transparent
16. keep a writing ideas journal
17. buy only used or sustainably-made clothing
18. grow our net worth
19. ferment something
20. bike to Wisconsin
21. run another race (of any distance)
22. do things purely for joy
23. let others control their own lives
24. make new friends
25. try a group bike ride
26. analyze decisions less (esp. small ones)
27. eat more legumes
28. get good at push-ups
29. get a midnight meal at a diner
30. cook through Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking
31. re-read my old notebooks
32. run a marathon

Past years: 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016