What I Learned This Year

Well, everyone. The day has come and passed. I have turned twenty this week and kissed my teenage years goodbye. I'm in no rush to be 21 because I'm sure this year will fly by far faster than I want it to without me wishing it away. 

I have learned a lot about myself this year and the people that I surround myself with. I have also learned a lot about who I want to be. By focusing on my energy and trying to keep my energy positive, I have found one of the keys to happiness. When someone apologizes, I forgive. If someone acts wrongly towards me or is unnecessarily negative, I force out even more positive energy to counteract their negative energy. It is working, too. 

You are the energy that you bring. 

Now for what you have all been waiting for: my list of 40 things to complete before I turned 20.

I did not complete them all. This was a complete learning process and I learned what is important to me and a lot about myself from several of these goals..even if the lesson was learned by not completing them. 

Here is the list of my goals with a photo or short summary. Click the link to the full post if you'd like to read more about a specific goal!

40 Things to Do Before I Turned 20:

1. Go on a mother-daughter weekend trip.

My mother and I have spent more time this summer going wherever our hearts desire than ever before. This photo was from the "Amish Mall." We did not go on one whole weekend away. We did, however, spend several days shopping, exploring, giggling, eating, yard sailing and did I mention giggling? I love her so much. 

2. Get a bicycle.

Alec got me one for my birthday this year! A brand new one. Soon enough I'll be riding away into the sunset on it..for now my butt is still adjusting to the pain of the bike seat.

3. Get a mother-daughter tattoo.

This did not happen. She chickened out. I have a new tattoo in queue, though.

4. Get down to my goal weight.

I have been eating healthy and am working on loving the skin I'm in instead of trying to change myself to be a certain number. This is a huge challenge, but I'm getting there. I am happy about how I feel about myself when I look in the mirror, regardless of the number on the scale.

5. Go kayaking.

Did not happen. Had the opportunity, but ended up doing something else that night instead. Oh well, I've been kayaking before and might get to it next summer.

6. Go on a motorcycle trip with Alec.

We rode around quite a bit on his bike before we sold it this summer. Although I didn't see us selling it so soon, It was for the better. 

7. Get up to 100 followers on my blog.

Well Feedburner says I average 79 viewers, I have 59 followers on Bloglovin' and 119 "likes" on facebook. What does matter is that I have a few people who actually enjoy my blog and that is all I can ask for. 

8. Get a pug dog.

Not going to happen until I graduate college. Which I knew..so I'm curious as to why this is even on my goal list.

9. Volunteer at a hospital.

 I made this goal as an attempt to get closer to working with people in need. I ended up getting a job as a resident aide at a senior living facility and spend my working hours taking care of people who need it. So in the big scheme of the goal, I completed it without being in a hospital.

10. Go to Niagara Falls.

11. Get my passport.

I have the paperwork all filled out and have not managed to get it turned into the post office yet. These things are expensive!

12. Learn to knit.

I knit this dish cloth and haven't knit since. At least I can say I did it..once. I think I'll stick to crochet.

13. Play piano again.

I did play piano and I think I'll keep working on this goal when I actually have a piano and time to practice every day.

14. Go swimming at night.

I did this, very briefly, in a swimming pool. It was freezing. I got right back out.

15. Catch a big fish.

 I did go fishing a few times this year. Did I catch a "big" fish? Nope. Did I have fun? Yup!

16. Grow 3 house plants.

I am now the proud owner of more than three houseplants. And they all are alive!

17. Leave a note for a stranger.

Message in a bottle, baby!

18. Leave a post secret in a post secret book.

I have been wanting to finish this little goal for years! I just love post secret.

19. Read 20 books.

I have been reading my heart out and loving it. I have even read more than 20 books this year! 

20. Embroider something.

I have been working on this embroidery. It isn't finished but I love it just the same. This photo was taken when I first started it.

21. Make baklava.

Didn't even try to finish this one.

22. Ride on the Canandaigua Lady.

We did do this! It was beautiful and made for a peaceful date. The weather was perfect for it, too.

23. Go on a picnic.

24. Hike to the top of a waterfall. 

Someone fell off the waterfall we were going to hike up (which we had both been up before) so we decided to pass on this one.

25. Get an apartment.

Welcome to our humble abode.

26. Start a scrapbook.

I don't think I have photos of it, but I started a scrapbook that is now so full that I need to buy another one!

27. Learn basic Portuguese.

Oi! I am doing this! My cousin and I are learning phrases together and my Aunt got me a Portuguese book for my Birthday! Bom dia! 

28. Grow all my nails out.

I grew my nails longer this year than ever before. I just trimmed them up for nursing school, though. Starting Monday I'm not allowed to have nail polish or long nails!

29. Pet a cow.

I loved getting this one checked off my list. Click the link to watch the overly excited video of me petting the cow.

30. Run a 5k.

Read this post to see why I despise running!

31. Sew something for my car.

For some reason I don't have a photo of this, but I made seat belt covers for my car last summer.

32. Do a guest post.

I wrote a post on how to make coasters, and another one on eating well with a college budget.

33. Do a split.

Nope, sorry. My body still refuses to do that.

34. Perfect a hard yoga pose.

I wouldn't call this pose "perfect", but it was challenging! I will be taking yoga classes again next month and I couldn't be happier. 

35. Bring baked goods to my neighbors.

36. Write a short story.

I have been working on this. It is fun to get back to creative writing.

37. Learn to cut hair.

Alec still won't let me cut his hair. Sean lets me mess with his, though. He says he can always wear a hat!

38. Do a 1950's inspired photo shoot.

This didn't happen. All my photographer friends are busy. 

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39. Sell a recipe book.

I didn't sell one, yet. You are welcome to buy one, though!

40. Have a candle lit dinner with Alec. 

Check. Check out this recipe we had for dinner that night.

I learned that I can't do it all.

 I now take my time to focus on what I want to do instead of what I forced onto my to-do list. 

This year I am keeping it simple: I want to get closer to God and keep up with living on my own, being a full time nursing student and working part time.

That seems like a lot in itself, right?

What are your goals?