I’m Making a Plan to Make a Plan

For the past few days, I’ve been thinking of making one of those “30 before 30” lists. It seems like everyone has them, at least they seem to because I’ve been scouring the internet for other people’s lists* and ideas. For the record, I’ve been making lists like this since I was, I don’t know, seven? That’s right; I was making bucket lists before anyone had heard of a bucket list. Remember when I said I have a lot of notebooks? Well, besides house plans they are pretty much filled with lists and goals.

   

That being said, some earlier lists included things like “swim with dolphins” or “ride in a hot air balloon” which will not be included on my new list. Not because I’ve done them but because those aren’t things I actually care about. I mean, I wouldn’t say no to those options but I’m not going out of my way to making it a life goal. So my rule number one is only put things on the list that I really care about, not just because it sounds cool.

Rule Number Two is not to put something on my list that I couldn’t actually do. Like, I would love to trek Machu Picchu but I’m probably saving that one for my 40 before 40 list, because travel costs money and we have other uses for money at present. (There are a couple of travel items on the list so far but much less expensive than say “Backpack through Europe”.) I’m also trying to keep the list specific. I’ve seen goals on Pinterest like “Be genuinely happy”. (As opposed to what, being deceptively happy?) It’s just too broad. Having good relationships and doing good in the world are what make me happy, and I can’t put “Have good relationships” and “do good in the world” on my list, because when would I check them off? Plan a surprise for someone or donate money to a good cause are more specific and foster those other lifelong goals much better.

I’m also (Rule Number 3) not going to put a lot of crafty things on my list (sew a dress, crochet a scarf, make a scrapbook, buy something old and repaint it, etc.) At 26, I’ve finally accepted the fact that I am not a crafty person. I will buy the supplies for whatever awesome DIY thing I want to try and they will sit there, untouched, for months. It’s a huge waste of money for me to keep doing this. As much as I wish I was a crafty gal I’m just not. If you want a knitted blanket talk to Zach, I’m doing good just to have a garden going and I wouldn’t say a garden is a “craft”. (There are a couple of “crafty” things on the list but I think I can manage it. I tend to be crafty only when it comes to hand making a gift for someone, then I usually scrape by with a decent product.)

**I forgot to put this in the original post but in addition to no crafty things, I'm also not doing any athletic things like P90X or running a K of any kind. That's not how I roll.**

This list is not work related. Trust me, if when I get a teaching job again I have a whole other set of goals related to that. This list is just for fun.

So I’m finalizing it and I’ll post again when it’s complete. If you have any ideas that you would put on YOUR 30 before 30 list (or 20 before 20 or whatever) let me know. You know me, I love lists :)

*Sidenote: Try Pinteresting “Bucket List”. It seems that most people want to ride a horse, see the Eiffel Tower, and swim in every ocean (many of them naked, skinny dipping is a big goal too), and everyone wants to travel everywhere. A few want to send a letter by owl and see a mermaid, which would be amazing but highly improbable, and many goals seem to have been inspired by Nicolas Sparks movies (kiss in the rain, put a message in a bottle, lay in the road in the middle of the night). Some want things to happen to them, like receive an edible arrangement and others want to own a ‘67 Chevy Impala, of which I am sure there is a limited number. I find it fascinating.