Well it is my 30th birthday and I am proud to say that it was such a great one. From sun up to sun down it was a beautiful day, the only thing missing is that I was not with my guy or my Cincinnati friends. The pro, I was in Topanga, California with Terri, Jim and the monkey. I was able to wear capri's and sandals on my birthday. Yes, on December 9th I was able to frolic outside and enjoy life.
Birthdays are normally hard for me. I am always down with celebrating someone's big day but for me I never feel quite right. Besides being with Terri I think what made this a great birthday is because I felt great, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. I can not remember a time in which that was possible, I think for past birthdays I felt like life was passing me by. I did not feel as if I was my true self but on December 31, 2009 I prayed to God and I vowed that 2010 was going to be a good year. I was going to be my true self, resist the urge to hide and embrace all the wonders and beauty that God has given me.
My life started to change when I did the Free journey at Crossroads. In the journey I opened myself up and I had conversations with God. I felt heard and loved. I also had a life changing event when I met Caleb Michael. I met a man who was my compliment. I did not know such a man existed and now I am so happy. In addition I worked on my 30 by 30 list. I challenged myself to reengage in activities I loved and lost in my maturing in age and I also pushed myself to do things that I never thought I could do (i.e. run in a half marathon!!).
Today besides being my birthday is the day in which I realized that I am not perfect and that is fine. The world did not end. No one is judging me and I am cool with that. It has taken me such a long time to get to this point. I did not complete my 30by 30 list. I made strides but it is not complete. I do not feel like a failure but instead I feel like it is not over, I have so much more that I want to do that I will do.
I started this journey because my best friend Kara inspired me. I sat down in April 2010 and thought of 30 things that I liked and things that I used to LOVE but due to school, work and trying to have a life I let fall to the wayside. All of the activities accomplished has a blog posting, due to the high volume of things I did do, I did not include a link to every single one so I will give a brief synopsis of the accomplishments. Here is my walk down memory lane......
1. Be a vegetarian for one week: this is something that I still want to do. I feel that I did not give it the honest shake that it deserved. I tried for one day but realized that I did no research and I am not going to just eat cheese sandwiches and eggs for the entire time.
2. Train and participate in a 1/2 marathon: I completed this by doing the Cincinnati half on October 23rd. It was so amazing and I loved it. My journey was full of tears, sweat, doubt but also encouragement, love and motivation. Because of this I plan to try to run one every year. I finished in 2:53 and the best time ever for me. I am truly proud of myself and my supportive friends.
3. Go hiking: this was completed on May 29th in Hocking Hills, Ohio: Old Man’s Cave with Caleb Michael. I now am better prepared to engage in this activity. In the future I will not wear white and khaki and I will not get my hair done. lol
4. Go camping: in the traditional sense this did not happen, but since Terri's place was outdoorsy I cheat and kinda count it. But this is something that I am going to do, I want to go camping in the traditional sense, I think it would be fun.
5. Visit a different state: wow was this ever achieved. In 2011 I visited West Virginia with Kara and Heather in July, New Jersey with Danae in August, Virginia in November with Caleb, Wisconsin in November with Caleb and California in December with Terri.
6. Upgrade my wardrobe (10 new outfits): this was achieved in buying of lots of dresses and some pants.
7. Cook a new dish at least twice a month: I cooked so many different meals, I have not blogged about all of them but I will.
8. Learn a different language (Spanish/Sign language): I signed up for Mango online and after one chapter I stopped. I need to be a bit less ambiguous with this one for next year.
9. Take chances (don't let my anxiety take over!!): this is a continued work in progress but I would say that I am doing well with this one. I think that I am very verbal in expressing myself and even though I have some doubts I do take chances.
10. Drop at least 20 pounds: at time of this posting I am not sure but I think I did okay.
11. Save at least $500: I tried saving but it was not as much as I had planned. But considering that I was able to take some great trips I am thankful that I had the funds for that.
12. Pay off at least 3 credit cards: I paid off Staples & Lane Bryant. I want to count my Visa card but I ran it back up. So I count this as a success because in theory I did pay off 3.
13. Switch my license, my plates and my tags to Kentucky: did not happen. It costs so much and I spent a great deal of money this year already.
14. Start a blog and write weekly: I was doing well with this one until after Thanksgiving, but I do count it as a success.
15. Stock my wine bar: it is completely stocked with various flavors of wine
16. Finish decorating my house: not quite achieved but it is getting there.
17. Go to an away sports game: on a date with Caleb I went to soft ball game in Miami County, Ohio in which he was coaching for Special Olympics.
18. Read at least 8 new books: I read my books: Chelsea, Chelsea bang bang, Gods Behaving Badly, Greek Mythology, Helen of Troy, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Eat, Pray Love, The Portrait of Dorian Grey, Twilight
19. Have a total spa day (full body massage, mani, pedi and hair: I did not do this either. I got a nice hair style but I did not do the whole spa day.
20. Visit/take part in at least 3 cultural events: I went to the Butterfly show, Kara's music recital, the Cincy museum and also the Greek Festival
21. Take a tour of a winery: for dinner and drinks I went to Valley Vineyard
22. Take a road trip preferably to some place new: I went on so many Hocking Hills, Ohio, Nitro, West Virginia, Pentwater, Michigan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Lotus Grove, Virginia/
23. Finish my doctoral portfolio: this was completed in September and submitted in November 2010.
24. Buy my birthstone jewel either as a necklace, ring or bracelet: I brought Phillippe!!
25. Take an art class: completed on August 21st Leaf Sand Casting
26. Make something, be it a pillow or a quilt: I did not make anything like a pillow or quilt but for my art class I made something that would look great outdoors.
27. Watch the sunset on the beach: in Michigan for Michelle’s wedding.
28. Do one crazy thing: I took part in Mystery Hole in West Virginia. I was ill for a day :(
29. Take my grandma to lunch or dinner: did not do this.
30. Let people in my life know that I care about them: I did this via Facebook where each day a group of individuals were given a shout out!!
So that was my year. It was amazing and I loved every minute of it. I am ready to embrace my 30's and beyond. The era of my 20's is gone but not forgotten. I cherish all of the memories I have, good or bad because it made me who I am today. This is the beginning of .......
