30 Before 30

Hello. It has been awhile. It’s time to get back to this. Back to keeping a digital record of my art and maybe even a little bit of my life :) So here we go!

Today I have traveled around the sun 29 times! Recently I had a conversation with my mom and she warned me about “the nines”. The end of a decade, she said, can make you feel restless. She advised me to take this year as a time of reflection. So as my first act of reflection I have created a list of 30 things I would like to accomplish before my 30th birthday.

This was an interesting exercise for me. In my 29 trips around the sun I have done some pretty amazing things! Travel Europe, touch the Mediterranean sea, road trip across the United States, get married, have a baby, and now I get the amazing opportunity to live in Japan.

So without further ado here is my 30 things I would like to accomplish before I turn 30:

1. Donate Blood

When I was pregnant I found out I am O- which means I am a universal donor. I have a slight fear of blood so I have never donated before. It’s time for me to get over it and start donating.

2. Complete a 365 Art Project

After our son was born I started a 3x5 card mini art project. I would like to do that again but continue for 365 days.

3. Complete a Coloring Book Cover to Cover

I am very good at starting things but not always good at finishing them. I have all of the Harry Potter Coloring Books and I would like to complete at least 1.

4. Learn a Poem by Heart

I cannot remember the last time I had to memorize something for the fun of it. I am challenging myself to find a poem that inspires me and to memorize it. Bonus points if I recite it at a public event.

5. Learn Japanese

I live in Japan. I will live here for a total of 4 years. If I can live in a foreign country for 4 years and not learn that language, even if only conversationally, then I have failed myself. I need to make this a priority.

6. Run Half Marathon #3 in 2016

I ran my first half in 2014, and my second in 2015. I would like to make this a little tradition to do every year. I signed up to run my 3rd a couple of weeks ago. Now time to train and race on November 6th!

7. Climb Mt Fuji

Mount Fuji is only a short plane ride away. I think this will be one of the hardest to complete. Mount Fuji is only open for climbing a few months of the year and our son is too young to climb, and the timing could conflict with some of my other goals. But goals and meant to be big, so if I can figure it out I will!

8. Unplug for a week

Technology is amazing. I have found I am on it way more then I would like to be. A nice detox will be good for my mind.