For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end./ Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you./And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Actually, that's not true. I love planning gifts and parties and fun things for others. But when it comes to my own birthday? The more low key the better.
I've always been like this. I think it's because when I was growing up, the first day of school fell on my birthday more often than not. That was exciting when I was in elementary school - it made me feel special - but by the time I was in middle school, it didn't seem all that cool anymore.
I don't think I've had a birthday party since I was maybe 12 years old. And that's more than alright with me.
Yesterday I turned 24. I had the day off work and to mark the day, I slept in, read my bible (I've started a new reading plan. I'll likely write about it later. It's basically awesome) cleaned the bathroom and took a nap.
Later in the evening, Jeff and I went out for dinner with Matt and Joanne then we went downtown to visit with some other friends. I got to talk to many of my favourite people (my grandfather, my best friends who don't live in Fredericton, Jeff's parents in Moncton) and because I have Tuesday off, too, I got to sleep in this morning.
It was low-key and quiet, relaxed and, for the most part, commitment free. It was exactly what I needed- especially since there are a lot of things I'd like to do in the year before I hit 25 - which brings me to the point of this post.
Around the second week of August, I started thinking about what sort of things I'd like to accomplish or do in the coming months. As a rule, I try to keep goal lists short - I find when the list gets too long, it's easy to get overwhelmed and give up.
To avoid that, I debated doing the whole 30 before 30 thing, but I know how that would work out - I'd fill the list with goals that would be challenge (although not impossible) to achieve...and then forget about it until I turn 29. I wanted to take the intention of the exercise - coming up with some goals that will require some work to achieve - and shrink it into a tighter timeline.
So this is...24 while 24. Hopefully this approach will mean some of these items end up crossed off before I reach a quarter century.
Travel somewhere new
and by new, I mean outside New Brunswick. Preferably outside Canada, although there are still some areas I have not been too that I wouldn't mind visiting.
Pay back debt
I took out some money to buy my car. I'd like to have a chunk of that paid back by Sept. 2, 2014.
Adopt another cat
Find a local church
This might be difficult, since I'm going back to working weekends as of this weekend...
Find a ministry to be involved in.
I have some ideas...
Rebuild my emergency fund
I don't care all that much about money. I really don't (otherwise I would have been losing my mind over the last few months as I watched my savings dwindle). But I would like to have a little money in case of an emergency.
Try a new physical activity.
I do a lot of different things - dance, cycling, yoga, etc. - but I've been in a pattern of doing the same things over and over again. Time to vary it up.
Do some serious decorating/design work at the apartment.
Buy a new camera
LONG overdue and one of the few material goals on this list. I've had my current camera for almost four years and it's in pretty rough shape. We're at the point where the batteries won't stay in and the flash has a piece of tape over it...
Sponsor another child
Likely through Compassion and likely from Burkina Faso, like Ivette. But who knows, really?
Get another tattoo
I know what I want and where. Just need to find the money/time to do it.
Become a better blogger
Give really great gifts to people I love
Read one book every month
Develop a recipe binder
I've seen some really cool ideas for how to do this and I think it might encourage me to start meal planning again instead of just making it up all the time.
Volunteer.
Paint the desk in the living room.
Like the camera thing, this is LONG overdue. I've had that desk since...um, Grade 10? It's in pretty bad shape.
Give smart
This means doing research about causes I give my money to and making sure my "helping" isn't making things worse somewhere.
Have another photoshoot with Jeff
The first one was super fun! I generally HATE being in front of a camera but I like having some photos of the two of us.
Visit home at least once, at a time that isn't Christmas.
Build more core/upper body strength through yoga
I've started focusing on this in my practice lately, finally letting my ego go and admitting there are postures I have been doing wrong for years. I've been taking steps to correct this under the instruction of some really lovely teachers and I hope that with consistent practice, I'll build enough strength to take my practice even farther.
Become a morning person
Other than finding a way to actually go to a church when I work every Sunday, this might be the most challenging thing on this list. I LOVE sleep and I never get enough of it.
Be more intentional
Vague, but sometimes I feel like I'm just...going through the motions, you know? Doing things for the sake of doing things. I want to spend more time thinking about why and doing things that get me where I want to be. Wherever that is...
Which leads me to....
Seek guidance from God re: the future and what I'm going to do with my life.
It's going to be a busy year, but I have high hopes it'll be a good one.
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