shifting, and ever closer to thirty

Nearly a year and a half ago, I established some small life goals for myself.  In recent months, I found myself re-visiting these, and there are a number of things that have shifted and have a bit more meaning to me now, and others that don't make sense for me any more.

So, because it's my list and because I can, I edited my Thirty before 30 goals. 

Take a gander, as I've also highlighted my accomplishments thus far as well.

Self Improvement
Physical

• Run four times a week at least 3 months (nearly hit this last August-October!)
• Run two 10k races (1/2 complete - #1: December 2012, Angkor Wat)
• Return to mid-college weight and maintain for at least 2 years (non-consecutively is ok)
• Eat no overly-processed foods for at least one month (we'll be doing this in June- we're going to eat nothing by Khmer food for the final month before we go home!)

Mental/Spiritual

• Learn meditation techniques and meditate once a week for at least 4 months

Financial

• Create and stick to a monthly budget wherein I save at least 10% of my current salary each month so that I can pay for travel and items that I want. Maintain at least 2 years.

Things I Love
Baking

• Research and perfect ~50 recipes, including: (I've been researching! I can't wait to perfect come this fall!)
• 15 cookies recipes; 15 cake/cupcake recipes; 8 pie recipes; 15 "other"/bar/special recipes
• Take culinary classes on the following:
• Pastries; Cake decorating; Sauces & Soups; Undecided other
• Seek out ways to and begin to offer/sell my baked goods to family, friends and community

Blogging / Capturing Life

• Comment on 3 blogs a day for at least 3 months
• NEW GOAL: Keep a record [jot down one line a day, one photo a day for a year and keep record of the lovely little things in life on my blog.]

Reading

• Read at least 4 books a month for at least one year (Complete: 2012)
• At least 1 of the 4 must be nonfiction

Writing

• Outline and begin to draft novel
• NEW GOAL: Craft ten short stories

Knitting/Cross-stitching

• Actually finish a scarf for Chris. Maybe, MAYBE, attempt a blanket.
• OR
• NEW GOAL: Craft 5 cross stitch samplers well

NEW GOAL AND TOPIC: Cooking (aka, something I WANT to love)

• Research and prepare one recipe a week for a year.

Relationships  
Marriage

• Develop and honor a once a week date night and maintain for at least six months
• Do something kind/loving for Chris twice a week for at least six months
• Prepare mentally, physically and financially to have a child

 Family and Friends

• Write one email or call one person a week for at least one year
• Send a "just because" card or homemade item to a family or friend once a month for at least eighteen months

Career

• Take necessary credits/classes to renew teaching certificate
• Secure a job that excites/fulfills my passions, but also allows me to balance my work and life (so on my way with this.. I hope slash think!)

Begin date: November 1, 2011

End date: October 30, 2015

thirty things to accomplish

i've made it pretty clear that i love setting goals.  big goals, small goals, medium goals. currently, in my moleskin calendar book, i set weekly goals of the personal and professional persuasion.  it helps keep me on track in a country where time is not always...money, as in america.

and in my infinite amounts of time, i was inspired by my friend megan and created my own thirty before thirty goal list.

i have four years remaining before i turn thirty, therefore, i've set some very long term goals and goals that require a longer-than-usual time (like eighteen months or more.)  i've also tried to divide the goals into ones i can accomplish and focus on here in cambodia, and those i'll have to work on once i return to the united states.  i like this because it allows me to really build up all those things i promised myself i would- like staying in better touch with friends, reading more, and actually saving money.

i tried to divide the goals into areas of my life that are important to me, and create manageable, but work-required goals, you know?

Self Improvement

Physical

• Run four times a week at least 3 months
• Run two 10k races
• Return to mid-college weight and maintain for at least 2 years (this is about 5-7 pounds less than what I weighed at my wedding)
• Eat no overly-processed foods for at least one month

Mental/Spiritual

• Learn meditation techniques and meditate once a week for at least 4 months

Financial

• Create and stick to a monthly budget wherein I save at least 10% of my current salary each month so that I can pay for travel and items that I want. Maintain at least 3 years.

Continual Learning

• Buy a DSLR and take a class/ read books so that I can take 10 pictures that I'm proud of.
• Enroll in class/find tutor to learn to play cello so that I can play at least 10 songs well (5 of which are easy, 5 medium-hard.)
• Buy a sewing machine and take classes so that I can create 5 gifts for others.
• Enroll in business class(es) so that I can learn basics for running my own small business.

Travel and Language

• Return to Italy, especially Rome and Florence
• Visit at least 5 new countries
• Score at least Advanced Mid on Close of Service LPI in Khmer
• Find way to continue to use Khmer in U.S.A.
• Buy Rosetta Stone so that I can return to level of proficiency in Italian

Things I Love

Baking

• Research and perfect ~50 recipes, including:
• 15 cookies recipes
• 15 cake/cupcake recipes
• 8 pie recipes
• 15 "other"/bar/special recipes
• Take culinary classes on the following:
• Pastries
• Cake decorating
• Sauces & Soups
• Undecided other
• Seek out ways to and begin to offer/sell my baked goods to family, friends and community

Blogging

• Comment on 3 blogs a day for at least 3 months

Reading

• Read at least 4 books a month for at least one year
• At least 1 of the 4 must be nonfiction

Writing

• Craft ten short stories
• Outline and begin to draft novel

Knitting

• Actually finish a scarf for Chris. Maybe, MAYBE, attempt a blanket.

Relationships

Marriage

• Develop and honor a once a week date night and maintain for at least six months
• Do something kind/loving for Chris twice a week for at least six months
• Prepare mentally, physically and financially to have a child

Family and Friends

• Write one email or call one person a week for at least eighteen months
• Send a "just because" card or homemade item to a family or friend once a month for at least eighteen months

Career

• Take necessary credits/classes to renew teaching certificate
• Secure a job that excites/fulfills my passions, but also allows me to balance my work and life

the items in green are those i am going to work on/accomplish while in cambodia.  

i'm pretty excited about this list- it took me a good while to put it together!  i'll definitely be posting about items as i accomplish them- and inevitably running into challenges as i try.

what items do you think will be most difficult or rewarding? what goals do you have for the next five years?