Something you should know about me is that I love a good list. My entire notes app is lists, from monthly goals to fitness tracking to the books I’ve read that year. With that in mind, it shouldn’t surprise you that the idea of a “30 Before 30” appealed to me.
The last time I attempted a similar challenge was when I made a 101 in 1001, list. However, my start date on that list was January 2020, so I was almost immediately set back from a number of things I wanted to do. Fingers crossed this one goes better.
When I was brainstorming ideas for the 30, most of what I found online was really generic and/or things that I’d already done. I’m grateful I’ve lived a very full 28 years of life already but I still wanted a challenge for the 30 Before 30. I made this list without looking back at my 101 in 1001 but when comparing the two, I found that they had a lot in common. There were a couple of goals I’ve completed once that I wanted to do again, like running a half marathon, volunteering, trying a new workout, and having a dinner party, and some that I still haven’t completed but that have remained on my mind for almost five years, like donating platelets, seeing a women’s sports game, and going to a comedy show.
Regardless of how much you complete when you make a list like this, I think part of the art is in having the courage to make it at all. It gives you a chance to consider long term goals, opportunities you want to take advantage of, and once you’ve written it, looking back on it serves as a great reminder of how far you’ve come. When I wrote my 101, I hadn’t listened to an audiobook yet, had never been skiing, needed encouragement to try new foods both at home and at restaurants, had never been to a ballet and had a lot of places locally and abroad that I wanted to see. I’ve probably listened to 25 audiobooks at this point, can say I’ve skied although I don’t know how soon I’ll be doing it again, am such a more adventurous eater, a member of the NYC Ballet and have finally visited the West Coast, taken really fun girls trips, and so much more. Things that seemed so daunting or at least worthy of adding to a list five years ago are now things I can say I’ve done. Some have even become integral parts of my daily life. I’m so proud of all I was able to accomplish in the past four years and look forward to checking off as much of this list as I can before January 19, 2025.
Without further ado, here’s what I landed on. If you decide to make your own I’d love to see your list!
- Self-finish a needlepoint project
- Sell a product I created
- Go to run club
- Run a 10:00 mile
- Host a dinner party
- See a new Broadway show
- See a new artist in concert
- Hike at a national park
- See a comedy show
- Volunteer
- Attend a women’s sports game/match
- Go on a bike ride
- Donate platelets
- Spend a Shabbat offline
- Gift a sentimental/homemade gift
- See a movie alone
- Bake and decorate a cake
- Travel somewhere new
- Take family photos with Max
- Read a classic by a Russian author
- Run the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon
- Take a new workout class
- Re-read Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
- Celebrate Max’s 30th in a big way
- Visit Karley in Los Angeles
- Get settled in a place that is truly Max and I’s
- Make a donation every month of 2025
- Take a photograph I’m really proud of
- See a new ballet
- Declutter once a month
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