365 till 30

So the day is upon me. I am officially 29 years old. What this means to me, other than the joy of presents and cake, is that I am 365 days away from 30. Holy SHIT, how did that happen? Wasn’t I just a wide-eyed 23-year-old traipsing around West Hollywood causing trouble? 30…I just keep saying the number to myself in the hopes I will get used to the way it rolls off my tongue.

Being that I am 365 days away from 30 I have been obsessed with where I amsupposed to be by 30 and what I should have accomplished by 30. What things to cross of my bucket list by 30. The problem is thinking these thoughts, has led me to compare myself to every other human being ages 29-31. Strongest focus on females living in L.A., aged 29.

You see I choose to follow the creative path in my career and life. This path has led me to many great highs and many other moments which have left me wondering…hmmm maybe a stable 9-5 job wouldn’t be SO bad.

I have to say I am a very happy and fulfilled lady despite not having a stable 9-5 job, a mortgage or a baby. Although, I am sure when all of those things are mine one day I will be the asshole in the corner saying “I have never been happier”.

I have decided I need to shake things up a bit. Get out of my head. Forget about my regrets and stop thinking about the phrases “should have” and “everybody else”. I also plan to cross off a few goals on my bucket list and most importantly have some fun.

So, I have come up with a list to accomplish in 365 days. I will of course document it all through pictures and videos…for your enjoyment. Because, there will be no crying over 30 in this house.

GO CAMPING

Thank God, Brian has

1. Camped before

2. Has camping gear

3. Is handy with navigation

4. Likes camping

5. Seems like he could get us out of a sticky situation involving unexpected intruders i.e. spiders, bears, angry deer and angry rodents

*I have no way of knowing if number 5 is true but if I don’t believe it to be true then this goal will never be accomplished.

*Not to mention if numbers 1-4 weren’t true, I would probably die trying to accomplish this goal and never see 30. I would be one of those horror stories like that family who survived off of cheese whiz for a month.

LEARN FRENCH

 I have always wanted to speak French fluently. I have had many opportunities to accomplish this goal. The first being my private school education grades 7-12. From those years I walked away with some killer French slang but beyond that not much. The second being the 3 summers I spent visiting my grandparents in the South of France. From those years I walked away with a killer French boyfriend named Jean Marc.

Since those two avenues didn’t pan out…I have chosen to pay for classes during my 29^th year on earth.

PUBLISH MY WRITING

Let me clarify something here. I mean publish my writing in places other than my blog. I’m feeling very hopeful about this goal. But, if Marie Claire and Cosmodoesn’t come knocking by day 327, I will have to resort to other measures. Measures that may involve me asking my fellow blogger friends to publish my writings.

LEARN TO TANGO

What a seriously sexy dance to watch! A dance that I am quite sure I will look seriously deranged doing. Thankfully, I can laugh at myself and thankfully I will be enlisting someone to film these classes so you can laugh “with” me as they say.

Mark my words…I will Tango. Oh and when I do I will dance the tango scene from Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

DRIVE ACROSS THE USA

 This has ALWAYS been on my bucket list. Some people think this sounds just plain horrible but I think it sounds like heaven. Just you (and hopefully an adventurous co-captain) on the open road…stopping wherever we please…getting lost…getting found…seeing New Orleans…staying in funny motels…barns…Iowa…exploring…photographing…drinking beer with an old man in a dusty bar in Texas. Do you see where I am going with this?

GET A FRENCH BULLDOG

It’s time. It really is. I have waited long enough. He even already has a name…Frank. Or Franc when I’m in a French mood.

CONTRIBUTE TO MY FAVORITE SITES

Each of these sites inspires me to continue creating content that makes us view ourselves as a global community. I would be beyond thrilled to contribute to them.

http://explore.org/ –  “Never Stop Learning”

http://www.takepart.com/ –  “Inspiration to Action”

http://www.good.is/ – “For People who give a damn”

TASSAJARA

Spend one week at Tassajara, which is a Buddhist Zen center near San Francisco. There I plan to complete a work program and spend my time working in silence. Yes, not talking…to anyone. If accepted I can stay there free of charge in exchange for working at the center. I read the list of possible work duties to my mother, which included

Carpentry

Repairs

Plumbing,

Electrical

Gardening

Painting,

Cooking

Cabin preparation

and general maintenance work for the  community.

To which she said…”I don’t hear anything that you can do?”

LEARN HOW TO COOK

This cooking “thing” falls under the same category as this speaking French fluently “thing”. I have had many opportunities to learn. But, still the kitchen gives me panic attacks despite my love of eating. So out of pure necessity I will accomplish this goal. Because, I have learned you can’t save money like “real adults” do if you buy your dinner from Whole Foods every night.

I will start with something very simple…like scrambled eggs. Maybe by the end of this year I will throw a lavish dinner party cooked by MOI.  Like how I brought the French full circle?

VOLUNTEER

After reading my list of goals for the last 365 days of my 20’s I thought, “These are rather self-indulgent, huh?”  So, lastly I will volunteer consistently for a cause that is near and dear to me.