38 Before 39

Sis and I at my first official art show opening -

a manifested experience that graced my 38th year for which I am oh so grateful

Tomorrow I will be 38 and frankly, up until last week I've been having a bit of a rough time with it. It's pretty damn close to 40 and it's prompting me to ask myself some pretty intense questions.

Life's Big Questions aside, I thought I'd have a little fun with a birthday list of 38 things I'd like to do before I turn 39 (that's twice I type 29 instead of 39, tell me that doesn't mean something!).

Here goes:

1. take voice lessons
2. hike a new-to-me trail
3. sit by the ocean
4. take a plane somewhere
5. create an e-book
6. lose 10 pounds
7. create and give art workshops centered around intuitive art-making and creative play
8. write and submit an article (or a query) to a magazine - hopefully get it published
9. find the user manual for Matilda, my trusty point & shoot, and learn how to use her manual settings
10. host a painting or tea party
11. see a Cirque du Soleil performance
12. take a solo trip - it doesn't have to be far
13. try a new recipe
14. clean out my filing cabinet
15. paint on a big canvas again - at least 30x30, maybe even bigger
16. take an art workshop, or two
17. show my artwork in a local venue
18. find a pair of stylish, dressy, warm winter boots
19. find or create an occasion to wear the party dress my sister gave me for my birthday (I feel so beautiful when I'm wearing it!)
20. find a pair of party shoes to wear with my party dress
21. do my morning pages at least five days a week, every week
22. host a few dinners, potlucks or game nights with D.
23. see live music performances, maybe a few Bluesfest concerts
24. go to a movie theatre
25. visit the National Gallery of Canada (here in Ottawa, no excuse!)
26. go to NYC
27. make peach preserves
28. visit my parents and family in New Brunswick
29. hike a second new-to-me trail
30. send cards and notes via snail mail - target one a month
31. print photos from our wedding to fill our wedding photo box
32. print favourite photos from last year (trip to Gaspé, '70s housewarming party, art vernissage) and create a souvenir album I can flip through
33. throw a belated birthday party
34. go dancing
35. put $5000 aside in Savings
36. do something with my series of Mandala line art created in 2005-2006
37. get my hair and makeup done professionally
38. continue posting here at least twice a week, even if it's just a photo or a quote

Wow! I didn't think I'd find 38 things.

It's an aggressive list, but that's usually how I roll. I strongly believe in the power of writing things down to make them happen and if even only a few of these were set in motion today that would be a success.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Comments

[Sylvia C.]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPH!!! HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!! DON`T WORRY GET OLDER, JUST MEANS YOUR GETTING WISER :-)
Sylvia

[tingle]

ambitious but i have no doubt you an do it! happy birthday to my beautiful, brave, bold friend! love to you today and every day! xo

[Liz C.]

Happy, happy birthday!! I definitely want to be at #7!

[Steph]

Thank you ladies! Much love to you all. xox

[amy]

What a great year you are going to have as you work through this list. may I suggest that #4 involves a plane trip to Utah? :)

I hope you had the happiest of birthdays and I wish you the happiest 38th year ever.

xoxox