Category Archives: 30 Before 30

5 Blogs That Will Change Your Life

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Alright, I realize that maybe it’s a bit hyperbolic to tell you that these blogs (or the books from last week) will change your life. But they sure as hell changed mine, and that’s really all I have to go on here, so onward.

The 30 Before 30 Project

This blog isn’t active anymore, but you can still read all the posts from Celine’s 30 Before 30 Project. Her project is what inspired me to do my 30 Before 30 project, and in her case, she actually made everything on her list happen! Totally inspiring, plus just a lot of fun to read.

Project 333

If you guys haven’t heard all of my Project 333 ranting and raving yet, here’s a little background. I am a true believer. I know it sounds crazy, but it will change your life. Cleaning out my closet inspired me to clean out a whole lot of other stuff in my life, too.

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Starting The Impossible List

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About a year before I turned 30, I freaked out a little. I was about to be 30 and there were things in my life I’d just never done that seemed really, really important. So I started my 30 Before 30 list, inspired by Celine. Overall, I think it went well. For that year, I felt powerful– like I was finally taking my life into my own hands and getting things done. But it was a bucket list. There was a deadline, and the list did not evolve. (Well, it did. I got rid of stuff. But that wasn’t really in the spirit of the whole 30 Before 30 thing, since I ended up not doing all 30 things.)

Joel Runyon, The Blog of Impossible Things

I’m 30 now, and I don’t want to do a bucket list anymore. I want to do the impossible list. Joel Runyon is, if not the inventor of the impossible list, at least the most vocal proponent of it. He says the impossible list is not a bucket list.

A bucket list is static, the impossible list evolves… A bucket list gets smaller, the impossible list gets bigger… A bucket list is focused what you do before you die, the impossible list is focused on how you live… A bucket list revoles around you, the impossible list is focused on others… A bucket list is focused on the event, the impossible list is focused on the journey… A bucket list has accomplishments, the impossible list has meaning… A bucket list is made up of someday dreams, the impossible list requires action today… A bucket list expires, the impossible list aspires.

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30 Before 30: The Recap

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First, I must tell you, my 30th birthday was the best birthday a girl could ever ask for. Pictures here are the only ones that I can find from our celebration (thanks Jamie!), but rest assured, the night was mucho exciting and included my bestest buddy ever who flew from Portland to surprise me (!!!), wine, karaoke, some of the awesomest people on the planet, and a creepy county judge who totally macked on one of our party. In short, it was amazing.

But, having turned 30, it’s time to recap for you my 30 Before 30 endeavors.

Completed stuff (11 things– not bad!):

1. Learn to play an instrument.
4. Be in a musical.
6. See the cherry blossoms in DC.
7. Take an art class.
8. Grow my own tomatoes.
9. Sing karaoke (in public). (I still gotta write the post– I will, though, promise.)
10. Cancel satellite TV.
19. Go to a roller derby match.
24. Buy an eReader.
25. Go vegetarian for one month.
27. Say “yes” to something I normally wouldn’t.

Stuff that I’ll still be doing eventually (14 things):

3. Read Lord of the Rings. (I got distracted and read other stuff! Oops!)
5. Host a party for friends I haven’t seen in a long time. (Maybe this summer?)
11. Take a pilgrimage to my hometown, Redlands, CA.
12. Learn to do a loud two-fingered whistle.
13. Find my 5 healthy go-to recipes.
15. Edit my wedding video.
18. Stay up all night in Vegas.
20. Write a movie script. (Sooooo close on this one! We’re nearly done!)
22. Learn all the words to a song… in French.
23. Learn to two-step.
26. Re-read and re-apply 7 Habits. (Almost done with this one, too!)
28. See the New England fall colors.
29. Go to Romantic Times convention.
30. Learn the Thriller dance.

Stuff I can’t figure out why the heck I put on my list (5 things):

2. Make an article of clothing. (I know I’m not crafty. Why would I make myself attempt this?)
14. Finish my web technologies degree.
16. Finish a full cycle of P90X. (I am convinced that normal human beings are not meant to do this.)
17. Go kayaking. (Meh.)
21. Run barefoot. (I’m mostly giving this one up because I like pedicures.)

All in all, the 30 Before 30 experience has been one that I enjoyed very much, and I did a lot of things I wouldn’t have done without that little extra push. In my post-30-Before-30 life, I may rejoin 43things to keep the attitude going, and I’ll definitely still be following the doings of my fellow bucket-listers.

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