30 x 30

everyone’s got a list.  essentially the 30 things to do by the time you’re 30. i like the idea of this.  and if i’d thought of it a few years ago i would have done it.  i’m too close to 30 now to even think about getting 30 things done.  but i do have a list.

mine started out when i was getting my life in order.  that’s when realized that not only was i not getting any younger but instead i was rapidly aging.  it also helped that the book that changed my financial position in life, smart women finish rich (highly, highly recommend to anyone who’s ever been in debt or tends to live paycheck to paycheck… it’s phenomenal!) suggested putting your goals down on paper too.  while my list was not financially based, in order to do anything in life you kinda need money to do it.

i was going to make a list of “10 things to do in the next 10 years” but instead i just made a 10 year list.  just things to complete in 10 years period.  i was hesitant to define how many things it needed to be because i didn’t want to be locked in to a single number.  plus i wanted to be able to add goals to it as i pleased.  and i have.  right now my list is more than 10 things/goals.  and i’m happy to say that with 6 years left i’ve already crossed off a few things.  and i’m hoping to cross off another one soon.  of course there are some things on here that are personal and i will not share, but i am starting to struggle with my commitment to a few of the other items.

for example:

• play 18 holes under 100 - taking golf lessons was my first step toward meeting this goal.  it was moving along well until i kinda went on a couple of dates with my instructor.  once i told him it really wasn’t gonna work for us i kinda had to stop taking lessons.  i’m not down with the awkward moments.  and since i started my job last year i haven’t picked up a club.  in fact they’re way in the back of my closet.  i keep dropping guilt trips on M about not taking me.  afterall the reason i even became interested in golf was to spend more time with him when we were just friends. 
• learn to sail - i still really want to do this.  and even though all sailing classes are at least an hour away, there are a couple of places where you can complete a course in consecutive weekends.  my problem with this?  money.  the cost of a class is a little more than i’m paying for invisalign a month.  so it’s really just not going to happen right now.  but it does shoe promise for next year.  once i’m not making these monthly payments on my teeth anymore i should be able to reallocate that money.
• take piano lessons - again, money is a hindrance here.  does anyone know how Not Cheap piano lessons are?   i really haven’t put much effort into this one.   it’s really low on the list.  but i would love to know how to play something more than the java jive someday.  this is something i’d like to start my kids on early.  i think my desire to learn stems from having a piano growing up and listening to my mom play but never knowing how to do so myself.  and i was reluctant to learn whenever the offer was extended.  some things never change.
• see Paris - the city.  there are many places that i want to go and spend time more than paris, but i feel like actually seeing paris, even for 10 minutes, is an essential part of life.  i want to swing through paris on my way to the french riviera, that’s the plan.
• learn another language - i’m still working on this one.  i’ve been learning japanese since M and i started dating.  admittedly i’ve slacked on it this year, but i really want to get back on it.  and while i can say basic things i’m not crossing this off my list until i feel comfortable with the language.  i don’t know how to define that, i just think i’ll know it when i get there.  either that or i’ll cross it off just to feel accomplished one day : )

there’s a few more on the list that i have yet to accomplish.  and while time is only getting shorter, i’d still like to add more.  i’ve already crossed these ones off…

• visit Miss Chris - this is my west coast grandmother who i never get to see anymore.  the few times i’d seen her when i wrote this were when she’d come out to visit us.  i wanted to go see her.  i was on a business trip out there last year so i decided to fly my mom out with me.  we spent a few days visiting all the places we used to go to when we lived there and visiting miss chris too.  it was a great trip that i’m so glad i got to do.  i wouldn’t trade it for anything.
• buy a new car - when i put this one on i stil had my cabrio.  i loved the crap out of that car.  but at the time it was 10 years old and i’d paid it off and was just waiting for it to die.  there are still days when i miss that car, but i love my car now so much more!
• go horseback riding - on a couple of business trips out west i decided to get this crossed off.  my goal was to be able to ride without a guide and ride on a horse that knows how to do more than walk.

like i said before, there are also some personal goals on here that i will not share.  but i think i’ve done a good job with those also.

i don’t think i’ve put anything on my list that’s completely unrealistic.  they’re things that could be accomplished.  i just need to want them enough.  enough to save up the money anyway.  basically i need to put down the dress/shoes/handbag/whatever and think about these goals instead.  as you can tell i have a hard time doing that because i tend to think “i want this now.  and it’s only $15.  that’s notgonna break me.” but all of those $15 purchases add up, fast.  i’m already learning how hard it is while i’m (trying to)  not spending any money because of my invisalign.

am i one of the few people who sets goals like this?  are there things you think people should do/see/accomplish in their lifetime?  what kind of goals do you guys have?  i’m looking for more.

  

  

~ today i learned… orangutans warn people to stay out of their territory by belching ~