I wrote this post for my Loudest Sound blog on my birthday a year ago, but never posted it. Not sure why, I think I just wanted my posts on that blog to basically be about music and not so much about me or my personal life. Now that I have two blogs going, I feel better about posting this and think it's time to revisit some of these goals and see what I can cross off the list and think of some things to add for this year. I turned 35 this week, much to my chagrin, and even though it was a tough pill to swallow of me not being where I'd like to be or where I'd hoped to be at this point in my life, it is time to move on from the negative feelings and focus on the good that is to come. I was fortunate enough to mark off a few things over the last year, so let's see where the next year takes me!
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Today marks 34 years since I joined this crazy world. I’ve always made such a big deal about my birthday and usually drive my friends and family crazy with a countdown and constant reminders, but this year I was actually pretty quiet on the subject prompting some of those close to me to ask if I was feeling well. Perhaps it’s because I’m getting older but in all honesty, I was just preoccupied with other things, mainly music and a certain trip I have coming up in a few weeks. Don’t get me wrong, I still thought about the day itself, but it was in more of a “reflecting” manner than a “hey, time to party” manner.
Thirty-three was not a bad year overall. I certainly accomplished one major thing which was to find a new job and I did that, but I’m still hungry for more. And when I look back at my life and everything I’ve said I would have liked to have accomplished by this point, I’m nowhere close. I would have to say that probably the best thing that happened to me this year was that I fell in love with music and writing all over again. Not that I ever stopped loving either, but that intense passion had started to wane over the last couple of years and I needed something to kick start my heart back in gear.
So, I decided to create this list of “34 Things I want to do While I’m 34” to sort of help me get more inspired to get to further points in my life. I believe that 33 was a great catalyst to get me here and now I’m ready for the next step. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I would tell the 17 year old me half a lifetime ago now, and the common theme I seem to keep coming back to is, “To live your life, no regrets, going after each dream and each moment.” Hopefully in a year, I’ll look back at this list and there will be many awesome things that I experienced and accomplished all while learning more about myself along the way. Life is a journey and when you get stuck in a rut or don’t know which path to follow, it’s always a good idea to take a step back and dig deep within your soul to find out what it is that truly makes you tick. For me it’s music and writing and so the journey begins to take that love even further.
34 Things I Want to do While I'm 34
1) Host a party (this might be more successful once I move back into Houston)
2) Read MTV book and find 3 other books to read (Hey, I did read a couple of books, just not that MTV book. )
3) Start Photography again (Now that I have that new camera, I need some help!)
4) Gain more exposure for this blog (And my Loudest Sound blog)
5) Get a press pass to one concert
6) Complete an art project
7) Take a road trip to a new place
8) Visit& Hike Enchanted Rock
9) Write more and submit items for publishing
10) Visit Houston’s art museums
11) Visit California
12) Meet my Black Rebel Motorcycle Club friends in real life ( Still have a few more so not marking it off just yet)
13) Meetand interview Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (still hoping for that interview)
14) Get my passport (Yes Liane, I know. Soon. )
15) Pay off some of my debt
16) Expand my record collection
17) Unclutter my life/apartment
18) Go to Colorado to visit family
19) Take a kickboxing class (Thanks to Kristen for inspiring this one even more now)
20) Take a dance class ( I did go to 1 ballet class, but I think I should continue)
21) Learn how to sew
22) Learn to cook better
23) Take the dogs to the beach (I don't count that 5K in Galveston, so we'll try again. Road trip to Cali, maybe?)
24) Save money to take a real vacation (Keeping this one because I still have yet to leave the country. See #14)
25) Visit New Orleans
26) Take a writing class or 2
27) Maintain a healthy and active lifestyle
28) Take piano lessons
29) Start ice skating again
30) Get a promotion at work
31) See Mazzy Star live (Sigh. I added this right after they announced the album last year, but there were no TX dates. Still hoping though.)
32) Write 2 short stories
33) Go to the observatory to see the stars (Hehe, I kind of did that in California.)
34) Learn to speak better Spanish
So what else should I add to the list? Hmmm...I realize some of these are slightly cheesy and maybe not what I want to do a year later so open to ideas. I'll update the list soon!
So what else should I add to the list? Hmmm...I realize some of these are slightly cheesy and maybe not what I want to do a year later so open to ideas. I'll update the list soon!
