Welcome,
2018! This is the year our youngest son becomes an adult, our oldest son is no longer
a teenager, and I turn f-i-f-t-y. The Big 5-0. I remember when my dad turned
50. Big party, black balloons, and an over the hill cake. It used to seem so
old. Half a century old.
I don’t feel
that way about 50 anymore. No anxiety or depression about that number here. I’m actually looking forward to turning 50 and will celebrate it throughout 2018
with a My Year of 50 list. The list began with things I’ve wanted to do for a
long time like go to the Lilac Festival, read more, and get a tattoo. I added
things I do but would like to do better such as eating more fruits and
vegetables and exercising more often. Items I need to or should do this year
like get a colonoscopy (ugh) were added, but to get to number 50, I used Google
(found some great ideas too).
I’m sharing
this list with family and friends for a couple of reasons. The first is that I
hope others will join me in completing some of the items on the list. After
all, life is more fun when shared with others. The second reason is accountability.
If I kept it to myself it would be very easy to not follow through (like all
the years I said I’d go to the Lilac Festival and did not). If you’re
interested in participating in a number below, please message me. It’s going to
be a great year!
My Year
of 50
- Attend hockey game at new arena with Elliott for his 18th birthday
- Complete a total of 50k in race/runs
- Contribute at least 600 miles to my Run 2018 team
- Eat fewer carbohydrates and less sugar
- Eat more fruits and veggies
- Exercise at least five days a week
- Explore the Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
- Get a colonoscopy
- Get a facial
- Get a tattoo
- Get highlights
- Get rid of outdated clothes
- Go on a picnic
- Go to a concert at a venue I’ve never been
- Go to a movie in the middle of the day during the week
- Go to the Lilac Festival on Mackinac Island
- Grow a hanging tomato plant
- Hike on Grand Island, Munising
- Learn more about my family history
- Learn some new Finnish and/or Italian words
- Listen to new music
- Make mint tea from the plants in our garden
- Monthly coffee/drink date with a girlfriend
- Pay for a stranger’s meal
- Post once a week on Instagram/Facebook
- Read a classic novel
- Read Brown Girl Dreaming
- Read Still Alice
- Read the Girl in the Spider’s Web
- Reconnect with an old friend
- Renew my teaching certificate
- Send/leave an inspirational note/compliment to someone each week
- Spend an entire day watching movies/tv (at home)
- Start a gratitude journal and place an entry every week
- Stay in bed until 11 am, at least once
- Stay on Isle Royale
- Study love as described in the Bible
- Take a new family photo
- Take a yoga or Pilates class
- Take an Ancestry DNA test
- Try a new food every month
- Try a new restaurant that is out of my comfort zone
- Update the photos in the picture frames around the house
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen (or similar place)
- Watch a 25 cent movie at the State Theatre
- Watch a movie at the TC Film Festival
- Watch at least 10 sunsets
- Watch Still Alice and compare to book
- Write down one positive thing about myself each week
- Write in my blog every month (This post counts for January!)
