1-2 Step (give or take a few)

Ok, so I have to be honest here. I'm blatantly stealing this idea from another blog. I just thought I'd get that out there in case some of you were labouring under the delusion that this thought was from my own brain.

Now that my awkward disclaimer is out of the way, I'm making a list, and checking it twice (if you don't have that Christmas song in your head right now, you're a stronger person than me).

I'm turning 30 in a few (8) months and I'm going to make a list of 15 things I want to accomplish before I turn 30.

Why?

Because I like lists
Because I feel I should accomplish something concrete before the big 3-0
Because I want to.

So there.

Sorry. A brief moment of petulance. I'm over it.

Here's the list! I'm also taking suggestions.

If you've always wanted to live vicariously through me, here's your opportunity!

You make a suggestion, and I'll add it to the list. Really. I will.

(small disclaimer: I won't add anything illegal, immoral, harmful or anything that's likely to get me smacked around by karma).

Everything else is fair game and I'll endeavor to accomplish it. I'm a people pleaser, that's what I do.

So here's my list as it stands now. I plan on updating Stephopolis when I start and/or finish something on the list, and I'll keep referring back to this particular posting so I can strike through things I've completed. God I love strike through. It's so validating.

1. Start and finish a full writing project.  (This could be a novel, novella, short story, poem collection, etc. Submit aforementioned writing project to a publisher.  It doesn't matter if I get any bites, what matters is the submission.  But, you know, I wouldn't say no to a publishing deal either.)
2. Start and finish my PLAR portfolio for my degree
3. Run on a regular basis and complete at least one 5k race with a respectable finish time
4. Find a viable yoga studio and attend class regularly
5. Make good use of the time I have with my IABC mentor
6. Attend more IABC events and networking sessions
7. Learn to crochet.  Properly. 
8. Learn to cook. Properly. (This means mastering more than three recipes in the kitchen)
9. Make a decent dent in both my book list and this, more classic, book list .(There is a reason that I received a Amazon gift card when I departed my last job.)
10. Write, write, write, write.  Just write.  (This might seem similar to the first item on my list, but I'm talking about getting into the habit of forming the words.)
11. Take more pictures and capture more memories.
12. Learn how to meditate and harness negative thoughts before they get out of control.
13. Actually use the swimming pool in my complex.  Drag Adam along.
14. Finalize second tattoo idea and get it done.
15. Stop biting my nails.  For realsies. 

I stopped at 15 just in case this becomes wildly interactive and I receive 3284 suggestions.  I didn't want to start with an uncontrollable list.

I like being able to see these in a list.  Having them all organized and numerically ordered gives everything a sense of purpose

(Don't tell my dad I used the words "organized" and "numerically ordered".  He'll become insufferable)