Year-Long Lists

Hello Friends,

Each year around her birthday, Monica makes a list of things to do before her next birthday. The number of things to do is determined by her new current age. I picked up this habit last year, but instead of my birthday, I use the start of the new school year which always feels like our New Year. I have found that it helps focus me I what I really want to accomplish. Some things change throughout the year and I remain flexible to the whims of life. As I turned 30 in June, this is my current list:

30 Things Before Fall of 31^st Year

1. Create a t-shirt design
2. Create family postcard #2
3. Try paddle boarding
4. Visit petroglyphs or another MN destination
5. Go on a trip
6. Learn a song on something I can sing with
7. Learn a song on the harmonica
8. Create a backpack plan
9. Submit filet crochet, papercut, or seed art to the State Fair
10. Update artist website
11. Fill a bare book
12. Try a new art medium
13. Do something with memorabilia bucket
14. Create or attend an illustration class and create 6 print-ready pages
15. Go dancing or throw a dance party 6 times
16. Draw 6 people, well
17. Read books, stories, or essays
18. Go climbing and/or swimming
19. Create surprises for Monica
20. Eat at 6 new restaurants and/or food trucks
21. Try 6 new recipes
22. Watch 6 new foreign films
23. Scan photographs to fill album 12 times
24. Practice steps
25. Do one nice thing for myself each month
26. Conduct second graphic novel book club
27. Complete Spanish levels 1 and 2 on computer
28. Floss twice each week
29. Stretch and exercise twice each week
30. Continue blog (starting with this post)

Much love,

Nicole