My 30 by 30: 30 Things to Accomplish Before I Turn 30

Published by Laya under 30 by 30, Projects on September 9, 2008

Last Thursday, I said that I’d be putting together a list of 30 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 30 - 30 by 30.  I’m a day late (good old life: gets in the way just when it’s supposed to), but after a good amount of thought I’ve put together my list.

I’ve also added a counter to my sidebar - I have 425 days (just over 46 weeks) until I turn 30.  I also added one for 40, but that list is going to take a whole lot more thought.

Also, I reserve the right to modify this list as I progress, within reason. I don’t want to be lazy about this, but at the same time I know that things happen and you never know how life is going to turn out.  So if there is a reason I absolutely cannot accomplish something on this list, I’ll change it to something else.

So, without further ado: 30 Things I Want to Accomplish Before I Turn 30!

Art, Music, Theater, Literature

1. Read 30 books.
2. Go to 20 plays or other theater events.
3. Go to 20 concerts.
4. Go to the opera at least once.
5. Write 10 poems.
6. Read at least 2 of those poems at an open mic.
7. Learn to play a new instrument.
8. “Win” NaNoWriMo.
9. Make one piece of original jewelry.
10. Post in my blog for 30 days straight.
11. Create a photoblog.

Leisure

12. Take a *real* vacation.
13. Go skydiving.

Home, Food

14. Create my command center.
15. Eat 20 dishes that I’ve never had.
16. Cook with 20 new foods.
17. Clean out all of my junk once and for all.
18. Donate anything I don’t need to the Baltimore Free Store.
19. Buy a split box spring.
20. Buy a new mattress.
21. Go to 10 new restaurants (including Bicycle!).
22. Cook all of my meals for 30 days straight.

Life, Money

23. Quit my current job.
24. Start working for myself - as a freelancer, or as my own microbusiness.
25. Save one month’s pay as an emergency fund.
26. Volunteer somewhere at least 20 times.

Health

27. Lose 15 pounds.
28. Take the 100 push up challenge.
29. Get my tooth fixed.
30. Exercise for 30 days straight.

A few thoughts about the list:

Art, Music, Theater, Literature:

• 30 books in 46 weeks is not too much of a stretch for me, but I will need to be mindful of my goal and not slack off.  Also, I’ll try as much as possible read outside of my comfort zone - nonfiction, history, memoirs, humor, maybe a space odyssey or two.
• I always say I’m going to this or that concert or play or other cultural event, but I never make good.  Setting these goals about events is an attempt to continue the momentum I’ve got going with my “30 in 30″ project.  Three are already scheduled - I’ve got tickets to see three shows @ the Hippodrome during their season (woot!): Cats, A Chorus Line, and Spring Awakening (I may have a little thing for musicals…:D).
• I’ve attempted NaNo twice but never won.  I start a fiction writing course next Monday, so I plan on using some of what I learn there to put together my characters and outline during October.

Leisure

• I’ve never been on vacation without my parents, that I planned for myself and paid for myself.  I’ve never been on a vacation alone - I might do that as well.
• I’ve wanted to go skydiving for as long as I can remember.  Most people I know think I’m crazy to want to do it, lol.

Life, Money

• My job isn’t bad.  The people are tres cool.  I could probably continue to coast here for a very long time, but then I wouldn’t be doing any of the things I feel like I could be doing with my life.  Plus, working in a corporate environment, and for the company that I work for, drains my soul just a little bit every day.  Get me outta here!

So there you have it.  Wish me luck!

Peanut Gallery Question: Are there things that you want to accomplish by a certain time in your life?