Friday, January 10, 2014

How well did I fly into forty?

With less than a week until my 41st birthday, I have been reflecting on how well I flew fabulously into forty. I have to say, I can’t rattle off the forty things I thought I’d do. Some days, it’s hard to think of more than two or three experiences we created in the spirit of being fabulous. Usually, there’s someone around who says, Jen… didn't you [insert fun experience] and begins to tell one of my stories. I earned a bit of a reputation as the Queen of Fun while I began creating and crossing things of my list. I rarely added an experience without pulling in a few close friends, a few of their friends, and even a few new friends. Creating this list, writing this list and crossing things off this list has truly changed not my life… but my lifestyle. There have surely been a few struggles with my new style of life, but overall it has been a shift of positivity.

Let’s see how I did on my fabulous flight into forty...
1.      Complete 40 blog posts.
This blog is electronic proof of this task etched in everafter. I have enjoyed writing more than I ever expected. I was never one to keep a journal or write in a diary. I was surprised how cathartic and enjoyable blogging is!
2.      Lose 40 pounds.
This simply did not happen. In fact, I may have gained 40 pounds since this list was started! I have realized that I am an emotional eater. I eat when I am happy, sad, angry, and on and on. I have a lot of work to do on this. I have a lot of bad habits to break. I have a lot of new patterns to form.
3.      Complete 40 Random Acts of Kindness.
Random acts of kindness are fantastic. We did things such as paying a toll for people behind us in line, putting together plates of yummies and handing them out randomly throughout our workplace, hellos and smiles to the next ten people we make eye contact with, and many, many more. This stuff is easy, it is fun, and it is a blessing to you and others. Do it. It’s the simplest thing on the list and maybe one of the fastest spreading.
4.      Have sex 40 days in a row.
Ugh. Not done. I certainly had a lot more sex because of this list, but not 40 days in a row. We’ve been together about 10 years now. We have kids and jobs and pets and stuff that gets in the way and forty days is a loooong time! I have to tell you folks, I love my husband and he loves me. But… there may not have been 40 days in a row that I liked him and he liked me. Marriage is work, it is compromise, it is joy, it is sorrow, it is bargaining, it is rewarding, it is sometimes keeping your distance to keep your sanity. Some days, sex is difficult from a distance.
5.      Take control of my spending and journal each penny spent, for at least 40 days.
Yeah, I did it. I spend way too much on coffee. I spend too much on shoes and clothes, even at the Goodwill store. I work hard for my money, and I spend it hard too. I did increase my retirement investments (uh, so I have more to spend when I stop working) and I did increase my general savings. I did create a concrete plan to be debt free (aside from the mortgage) that is a little over half complete. I did not however greatly adjust my fun money habits. I added an extra job to allow for more spending. J
6.      Share an event in NYC with my son; a play, a parade, a panhandler.
I shared a NYC whirlwind trip including the Statue of Liberty and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade experience with not only my son, but included my husband, daughter and a dear friend. Amazing experiences, fantastic fun, and good times.

7.      Photograph and frame a series that has meaning from this experience.
I just realized this and actually missed this one! I took a lot of pictures and have a few framed, but no collage sort of thing has been done. I must add this to my to do list and frame it up!
8.      New INK!
I got not one, but two new pieces of ink this year. I added a pretty big thigh piece that is funky, colorful, and unique that reminds me to “create joy.” I also added a mother-son symbol to honor that relationship. That makes four tattoos for me. I had an amazing nursing skills lab group that honored me with a gift card and mentioned it could be used for another tattoo to forever remember them. I have one in the planning stages… and a gift card in my wallet. 
9.      Go horseback riding.
I missed this one! I will have to look into this and work on completing it.
10.  Do something in the sky; para-sail, skydive, hot air balloon.
didn't complete this task either. I had two plans begin and was not able to carry them out. I must go back to the planning board on this one too.
11.  Inspire one other person to embrace their life moment with positivity.
This has been one of the most impactful lessons of this list. I have had so many people start their own list, plan their own adventure, or join in one of my adventures! It is amazing to see a positive impact you have on another person. Whether your impact carries on throughout a lifetime or it is just for a moment, recognize the blessing you are to others when you simply share positivity.
12.  Meditate more, rage less.
I am not the person who can simply be mindful in my own meditation. I am easily distracted, difficult to calm, and willing to let my mind wander. It takes a focal point for me to truly relax and be one with my soul. I have embraced art in my life as a meditative focus. I have learned the power of doodling for relaxation, with intention, and simply to free my mind. I have a stack of canvases and acrylics to dabble with. I have a box of pens, pencils, and sharpies to doodle. Art is powerful. Art is good for my soul.
13.  Music, music, music. Feed my soul with music everyday.
Music calms the savage beast… and makes many a moment better for me. I have a desktop speaker at work, a speaker in the kitchen and another in my bedroom, and auxillary cord in my car. My phone and ipod are packed with music apps and song files of my favorites. I plug in and can change my mood in a minute. I rediscovered a few of my favorites and came across a few new ones. Sing and dance, guaranteed mood improver.
14.  Find out what my gifts are, and use at least a few of them.
Indeed I did. I also realized a few of what I am not gifted with. Maybe I’ll blog about it someday.
15.  Listen to and take my own advice and allow the eternal optimist image to flow inside and out.
This is a constant battle, but I have surely learned a few lessons and created a few good habits.
16.  Try 40 new recipes.
I did it! Some were successes, others were epic fails. My opinion was not always that of the other members of my household. I remembered that despite how much I love tofu, I hate cooking it. I finally made a batch of biscuits that were golden brown and not black on the bottom. I really love my crockpot.
17.  Pose for pin up style pictures with our classics, at least 40 poses.
Man! This was a great idea, but another I never got completed!
18.  Memorize 40 verses of scripture.
I am not sure I memorized 40 verses, but I sure did read my Bible a lot more than usual. I prepared a few lessons for the youth at church, I placed a devotional on my desk and read it at least a few times per week, I started a group class at church. I certainly put some of the Good Stuff in my mind this year… here’s hoping it helped my mind run a little better.
19.  Volunteer somewhere new for at least 40 hours.
I am not sure if I made forty hours, but I did volunteer for a few different things. I could always use a little more volunteerism.
20.  Dance in a mud puddle, with company.
This idea was one of the best. I completed Mud Warrior with a team of amazing people. We made memories that will never be forgotten.
21.  Experience a sunset in a place where I have never been.
I love the sunset. I certainly paid a lot more attention to the sun falling upon the horizon. I was able to experience it from an airplane over a few different states, falling into the Atlantic Ocean in at a few different latitudes, in the Bahamas, over the Arizona desert, into the mountains from my own woodsy view, and from a variety of places in the arms of the man I love. There is no more favorite time for me then when the sun falls in the sky and the ones I love surround me… and we take a moment to just enjoy the movement of the sun.
22.  Climb a lighthouse.
I saw a few lighthouses, but none with a set of stairs we were allowed to climb. Another task to complete.
23.  Send 40 handwritten notes by mail.
In this electronic age, handwritten notes are a treasure. It takes a special thought and intention to write one and send it. It is a special feeling to receive one. It’s easy, send one today.
24.  Purchase $40 worth of scratch off lottery tickets.
I did and I think I would consider it a loss. I blogged about it, but just continued to turn in my winners until I won big or won no more… guess which came first?
25.  Have professional family photos taken.
This was fun! My husband and our two kids, and two of my nephews posed and posed. Must do again.
26.  Reduce my own carbon footprint.
We made an effort. We made a difference.
27.  A polar plunge.
This was amazing and another favorite. The Four Frosted Flakes. I blogged about this too.
28.  Make contact with, make time for, and make memories with friends; old and new.
Friendships are priceless. I have gained a few, lost one or two, and created a slew of new ones. Make time for friends, they are good for the soul.
29.  Make a gallon of wine from honey or fruit.
Oh no! Another one I missed. I can say I did get my hands and lips on a few good pints that someone else made though!!!
30.  Experience a girls weekend!
Done! Need to do more often!
31.  Participate in a local festival I have not experienced.
I actually experienced several fantastic local festivals. Seeking and paying attention to events has certainly been a bonus of this list.
32.  Do nothing.
I have enjoyed a lot more of down time, do nothing time, idle time. I love the activity and adventures, but the idle time is equally as enjoyable- and important.
33.  Unfriend 40 people who really aren’t my friends on facebook.
YES! I probably should do it again every so often.
34.  Be the wife that makes my husband smile.
I have done this more some times and less others. Surprisingly, much of the list has taken me away from my husband as I have experienced people, places, and things that may not interest him or work into his schedule. It has made me realize that scheduling time with him, with and without our kids is as important as me time.
35.  Ride a mechanical bull. Done! Epic fail, but so much fun!

The rest was left blank, but here are some honorable activities that were thought of after the list…
36.  Master Bedroom Redo
37.  The Color Run
38.  The Ridiculous Obstacle Course Race
39.  FunNiteArt
40.  Gus the Great Dane

Thanks for reading through to the end of the list.
Perhaps this will be the beginning of another list and… another season of blog posts.


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