30 by 30 (a recap a year and a half late)

Hi friends,

I must confess…I often forget I have this these days. But I have been reminded and when I went in to check on the status of things, I found my 30 by 30 list (I’ve moved the list to this post from the page). This was a list of things I created when I turned 25 (to replace my 25 by 25 list) of things I wanted to accomplish by the time I turned 30.

When I made this list, I purposefully tried to add a number of stretch goals or things I wasn’t sure I would be able to do (along with some things I knew very well that I was going to be doing). I wanted to inspire myself but also hold things loosely as I wouldn’t know what would happen in the next five years. I also very specifically never include things I have NO control over on this list (ex. getting married).

But here’s the thing…

I turned 25 in 2019.

While I put in a valiant effort for the first year, you could say that I was not set up for success on this list given the pandemic & lockdowns, the death of my grandmother in 2022, and my ongoing battle with depression. As you might imagine, this combination of things meant that I did not accomplish ANY of my fitness goals, nor did I travel to California (I am, however, going there this summer!).

I also didn’t blog regularly, apologies.

However, I did get through a surprising number of items on this list!

1. Get a tattoo

2. Pierce second holes in ears

3. Go on a road trip

4. Develop a repeatable, healthy morning routine

5. Learn how to make macarons

6. Do 1 pull up (or more!)

7. Push ups from toes

8. Participate in a crossfit competition

9. Learn New Testament Greek

10. Visit my sister in California

11. Learn how to bake at least one type of bread

12. Blog once every 1-2 months

13. Read 150 books in one year

14. Memorize Mark

15. Actively save money each month

16. Learn how to make better coffee

17. Move towards a low/no waste home

18. Develop sustainable healthy eating habits

19. Write a Bible study

20. Deadlift 3 plates (315#)

21. Tell more people my story/live more honestly & transparently

22. Make & give away 5 journals (|||||)

23. Go on a wine tasting tour

24. Get a half sleeve tattoo

25. Make career moves/learn a new marketable skill

26. Read more books to develop my faith & understanding of the world

27. Create the habit of intercessory prayer & gratitude lists each night

28. Choose generosity over selfishness

29. Take another class at McMaster Div

30. Buy books I like

I’m writing this post as I am 31. It’s been a pretty wild 6 years. When I think about who I was when I was writing this list, I didn’t know that I would do so many things I am incredibly proud of that shaped who I am today. It’s hard to quantify some of the things on my list (bad goal setting) but it’s equally hard to quantify the things that made me more compassionate, more aware, and more courageous.

When I look ahead to 35 or even 40, I don’t think I’ll be making a list that long of things I hope to accomplish. The main goal of writing these lists was that I didn’t want to waste my young years of my life. I wanted to wake up and feel like I had lived.

I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). (John 10:10b)

I’m not sure if I know what an abundant life is, but I think I’m starting to see it as one that is a bit different than maybe even I thought. Perhaps that will be a later post, but, I do think that abundant life looks slow. It looks full of the things & people we love. It has good rhythms. It is not busy. It has time and space for kingdom work. It is sustainable. It is an outpouring of knowing that we are loved first.

The rest…I’ll figure it out.

Do you like to set goals? Do you find it helpful or unhelpful to picture where you want to be in the next 5 years?