F: Bucket List (beta)

I made a sad realization today.

To preface, I have a wonderful life.  Great friends, awesome family, loving fiancé, good job, shelter, food, clean water, etc. etc.

There is no ‘but’ coming.  Only an addendum.

A certain movie quote keeps playing over and over in my head – Grandma Molly’s comment from This Is 40: 

“One day you’re going to blink, and you’re going to be ninety … I’m telling you, I’m warning you.  Don’t blink.  Don’t blink!”

Fun Fact:  This is Judd Apatow's real-life grandmother.

On 8/21/13, I blinked.  And woke up a year later wondering what in the world happened during the 365 days my eyes were closed.  That was my sad realization.

Next Wednesday I’ll be celebrating twenty four years of life.  These past 52 weeks whizzed by way faster than I wanted.  What did I do this last year?!  My poor memory can’t be solely to blame for the lack of a substantial answer.  Here is what I do remember:

• Broke up with my boyfriend
• Tried out a dating website
• Got engaged to aforementioned boyfriend
• Took family vacations to Colorado and Florida
• Got a cat
• Moved units
• Started teaching yoga classes
• Drove to Stillwater for a KU basketball game on a work night

While it appears to contradict my claim, that list is embarrassingly short when you consider the number of days in a year.  And other than the third, fifth and eighth bullets, none are extremely memorable or unique.  What did I fill my 8,765.8 hours of being twenty-three with?  Television, movies, internet, working, eating, sleeping…lame lame LAME.

(To be fair, I was fortunate to spend many of those hours with friends.  While we may not have spent our time doing the most exciting activities, good company will always be worthwhile.)

A good friend of mine recently turned twenty-five and likes to brag how his 24^th year was his best ever.  But not only does he make the claim – he has proof.  He set out to make it great, and it was.  It was an inspiration.  You only get to be twenty-four once.  When I look back over the year on August 21, 2014, what do I want in my memory bank? 

Introducing my “Before I’m 25” bucket list:

□     Skydive
□        Take a weekend getaway (x5)
□        Spend a weekend in the mountains (see above)
□        Be able to have a simple conversation in Punjabi
□        Organize “Engineering Night” for Hillcrest youth
□        Plan a party for 200+ people
□        Get married (see above)
□        Go on a winery tour
□        Read a book (x5)
□        Go to a midnight showing on a work night
□        Go camping
□        Go on a float trip
□        Do something related to my major

□        Build something useful
□        Learn how to change my oil and fix a flat tire
□        Go to the zoo
□        Run in another 5K
□        Complete the first year of an MBA
□        Strengthen my knees
□        Grow a plant from seed to fruition
□        …to be continued…

Please encourage me to finish it.  Twenty-four should be a pretty awesome year if I check off all the boxes.

Not if.  When.

Closing thought of F:  If you could only choose one, which tradition or rule from your childhood would you pass on to your kids - regardless of how much you hated it at the time?

1. As a rule, I'm thoroughly intimidated by people
2. Basketball >> football
3. Want to retain employees? Offer a 9/80 schedule
4. America's unfortunate complaint culture
5. People vs. Society
6. The death of vocabulary
7. Doing nothing during free time vs. Doing nothing during work
8. Who likes self-righteous people, other than themselves?
9. One Direction? Pshhhhhhhhh. Ain't got nuthin' on 90's boy bands
10. The Self-Conscious Mind of Danielle
11. God I love being graduated