A client of mine was turning 50 a couple years back, and she had a list of things she wanted to do before her birthday. It included various trips and hikes with her family, as well as things like go skydiving with her kids and a couple of other general “bucket list” items. I know she didn’t check all of them off her list, but I also know that it gave her something to look forward to and plan.
As the year approaching my 40th birthday got closer, I started thinking about a list of my own. My brother has been goading me about this birthday since I turned 35 (I’m the oldest) so it’s been percolating for a couple of years. Everything on this list I have wanted to do for quite some time but just haven’t gotten around to it. Now it feels like having a December deadline gives me motivation to finally get after it.
I don’t think anything on this list is out of reach, it will likely come down to having the money set aside to make it happen, and then doing it. I also don’t feel like my life will drastically change if I don’t cross something off, but my oldest child tendencies mean I really dislike not having my lists fully checked off.
As of today, I can cross off the trip with my brothers. We met up in San Francisco back in January. Technically one of my brothers lives there, but getting the three of us together in one place that isn’t my parent’s house is a win in my book. We ended up randomly seeing an REO Speedwagon concert, walking A LOT, and eating at Devil’s Teeth Baking Company every morning we were there. (If you know, you know, and if you don’t please visit if you find yourself in the Sunset District of San Francisco. You will NOT be disappointed)
I had a consultation appointment with a tattoo artist recently, and he is working on what I’m calling my family tattoo. While I do have several small tattoos, this one is a larger piece that both excites and scares me. I’m excited because every element has meaning to me, and based on the initial conversation my artist understands what I want to bring to life. I’m terrified because I don’t have any ink as big as what this one will ultimately be. I have several women in my life with beautiful pieces of artwork on their bodies, and it feels like a “club” I’ve never been cool enough to belong to. Such a bizarre way to feel about it, but we all have our quirks. I’ll likely ask the same artist about the script “something beautiful to say” piece once we know how long this first one is going to take. So much chair time…
I also chose my half-marathon, the “Rock It” Half Marathon in Castle Rock on the 4th of July. I figure I can wake up, run my 13.1, then chill for the rest of the day. I started training for it at the beginning of April and so far I’m doing alright. We’ll see how I feel once the mileage starts climbing and I have to slog through 8, 9, and 10 mile training runs. More to come on that.
My “Dry 39” started on New Year’s Day. Since my birthday is in the back half of December it still felt like a year to me. It hasn’t been hard to be honest, the only thing I’m a little sad about is not being able to have a cocktail at a wedding for two of my favorite humans this summer. But, they know and I’ll be able to “Cheers” it up with them at the end of the year. I’ve had several people ask me why I’m doing this and I think it warrants its own post in the near future.
Everything else is a work in progress, and I’ll update as it happens. I’m curious- has anyone else made a birthday bucket list? If so I’d love to know one thing you had on your list.
Talk soon!
SG