When I turned 30, I developed a list of 40 things I wanted to do before I turned 40. How did I do??
TRAVEL (2/5)
1. Scuba dive in the ocean
Success in 2019-2020!
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| Coiba area, Panama |
2. Stand in Red Square in Moscow
Sigh...
3. Travel to Turkey
Sigh again...
4. Visit the Taj Mahal
Putting this on the 50 before 50.
5. Tour the Dana-Thomas House in Springfield, IL
Done in 2017!
FOOD (5/5)
6. Eat at every taco joint on this list / drinks at Aviary
This one started out as a taco joint list, which I abandoned because I didn't feel like it was a good representation of tacos in Chicago. Instead, I pivoted to getting drinks at the Aviary, which we did in 2017 and also 2021!
7. Make chiboust
Completed in 2020!
8. Eat at Calumet Fisheries
Completed in 2020!
9. Eat at every Chicago restaurant on this list
Highly enjoyed this exploration of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives restaurants in Chicago, which we completed in 2020.
10. Visit Al Bawadi Grill and The Halal Guys
Also highly enjoyable, completed in 2018.
HOBBIES (6/6)
11. Read War and Peace
Completed in 2017, on my long commutes to and from Northwestern. Highly recommend this as an audiobook.
12. Crochet or knit a sweater I actually like and wear
Done in 2017, and several times since.
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| Louisiana Sweater in Cascade 128 Superwash (Cranberry) |
13. Practice flute and perform someplace publicly
An unqualified success - not only did I play at the talent show at Northwestern several times, but also at my grandma's church AND joined a flute choir in Chicago.
14. Finish the Time-Life World War II series
Completed in 2021 - some volumes were more enjoyable than others, but I highly recommend this exercise for WWII buffs.
15. Participate again in NaNoWriMo
Completed in 2017.
16. Yarn bomb an object in the city
Originally this item was to complete a wine cork tray, which I decided I didn't want and changed this instead to yarn bombing an object in Chicago, which I completed in 2019. And many, many times after.
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| Star Sphere, my favorite yarn bomb ever |
HEALTH (4/5)
17. Complete an Olympic distance triathlon
Completed in 2017!
18. Complete a half marathon (at 10 minute mile pace)
Completed in 2017, although not at a 10-minute pace. Oof. I was dreaming.
19. Complete a 5k in under 30 minutes
Completed in 2018.
20. Develop a meditation habit (at least 15 min. / day)
I definitely developed a meditation habit, but I do not do it daily or for 15 minutes. Still struggling with how to fit this important piece into my life.
21. Get back to Salzburg weight range
Got down near the 160s pre- and post-pandemic, then sub-160 finally just before moving to Maine.
CHICAGO SIGHTS (5/5)
22. See a Bears game, Bulls game, and Blackhawks game
Saw a 'Hawks game in 2017 and a Bulls game in 2018, both of which were really enjoyable. Hockey in particular was really beautiful. I decided not to see a Bears game for ethical reasons, as I feel football is morally indefensible.
23. Visit historic Pullman neighborhood
Complete in 2018!
24. Kayak in the Chicago River
Complete in 2019, was super fun.
25. Take another Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise
Completed in 2019.
26. Tour new yarn shops of Chicago, like Knit 1 LLC, Nina, and Sister-Arts Studio
Completed at various times (Knit 1 2019, Nina 2017, Sister Arts 2018) but was highly enjoyable.
CHARITABLE (4/5)
27. Remain annual fund donor at alma mater institutions (Illinois State and DePaul Law), as well as employer (Northwestern University)
Done, and have since added employers Saint Mary's College and Colby College.
28. Complete a blanket for charity
Originally this was to give $100 to a busker in Chicago, but I pivoted to completing a blanket for charity, which I completed in 2019 and have done several times.
29. Serve on a charity's board
Completed several times over beginning in 2017 with the Palatine Library Foundation, and also Chicago Council on Planned Giving. Looking for something to join in Maine.
30. Earn a volunteer award somewhere
Received the She Shines award from Girls, Inc. in 2021 for my volunteer work in Chicago on behalf of women and girls.
31. Do one race via Team in Training
Did not do, added to 50 before 50. I don't want to do a marathon, and I think I could do another half, but there haven't been any to do in the last few years.
PROFESSIONAL (4/4)
32. Speak at a development conference or symposium
Completed in 2019 (CASE V) and repeated in 2021 (CCPG).
33. Author an article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy
Changed this to participating in a staff mentor program, which I did in 2017. The Chronicle didn't seem like the right spot for the things I want to write about, and I did get another article published in Planned Giving Today in 2020.
34. Speak at DePaul Law about nontraditional legal careers
Completed in 2017 and 2018 - they keep having me back as a philanthropy lawyer person.
35. Figure out my next career step
I wrote this when I was at Northwestern wondering where I wanted go to - into politics? Into frontline fundraising? I made my move at Saint Mary's in 2018 and discovered I love planned giving director work at colleges.
MISCELLANEOUS (3/5)
36. Start a diary in 2017 and keep it every day afterward
Nope.
37. Watch Fail-Safe and Dr. Strangelove back to back
Completed in 2018!
38. Watch Seven Samurai and eat sushi
Completed in 2017, highly enjoyable.
39. Get another tattoo to expand one of my existing ones
Did not do.
40. At least once per month, see a member of my family
Did this every month since I moved to Maine, and now I make sure to call or video chat with someone every month. I've also corresponded by mail.
* * *
So that's 33 out of 40 items complete - not too bad! I'm working on my 50 before 50 list, which includes a lot of travel I missed, and a lot of exploration in the northeast, since that's where I'll spend a few years before I'm 50, at least.
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