I turn 30 in just over nine months, and while I'm not especially concerned about the screeching pace of life or the stigmas that come with aging, I would like to set certain goals for myself. I've never been particularly adept at setting personal goals for myself. While I have completed both a bachelors degree and a J.D., I feel that both of these goals have been achieved through the guidance of each establishment. They provided the blanks, and I filled them in. What I'm not so good at is providing the blanks. Daily I think of things that I want to do or learn to do, but rarely do I go about completing or learning these tasks or skills.
In response to my general musings on the subject of self improvement, I have determined that I shall start a blog. Perhaps I'll even get brave and invite family and friends to view my blog. After all, the main goal of this project of goals is to achieve some sort of self improvement (or perceived self improvement) through the attainment of smaller individual goals. Blanks within blanks.
As with all journeys, I begin with one step, and the way I view it is that my first step should be to define the smaller goals. Initially, in a blitz of lightening, I thought that I might make a 30 before 30 kind of list for myself. A short reflection makes me wonder if I have 30 things that I'd like to do. Moreover, and more hindering, is my fear that I would not be able to complete all 30 things. All too predictably, and sensibly, I realize that not completing all 30 things would be just as much of a lesson as completing them. Regardless, I'm going to begin the list here and now. If I reach 30 things, then I'm done with my list. If I don't, then perhaps I'll add to the list later.
1. Unpack my sewing machine and make something already. I'm thinking pillows. Black and white striped ones.
2. Buy a bike. And ride it. Philadelphia is such a bike friendly place, and Septa is so unreliable. I can't do a 5th year in this city without a bike.
3. Furnish my apartment. Seriously, by the time I'm 30 I think I should own a kitchen table, right.
4. Bake a loaf of bread every week.
5. Make myself dinner once a week. I know this seems like a pathetic goal, but I work in a bar during dinner hours five days a week, and I get free food. When I'm not working, I have a tendency to just eat out.
6. Attend dance class at least once a week. I'm a dancer. I've never stopped being one; I just don't practice my art as much as I want.
7. Practice yoga once a week.
8. Make hand made Christmas gifts.
9. Maintain correspondence with friends.
10. Send a gift to someone just because.
11. Define my personal style. This is something I've always feared. I guess I've always feared that someone will misinterpret the message I'm trying to send with my outward appearance. I realize the frivolity and silliness of this, but be prepared to hear a lot about it.
12. Volunteer.
13. Read constantly.
14. Create a cleaning schedule and stick to it. I'm a pathetic mess.
15. Start (done!) and maintain (working on it) a blog.
I suppose this is it for now. Hopefully, I'll be back tomorrow with more!
