On Monday I turned 37. It wasn't the best of days. It had nothing to do with turning a year older (I don’t mind that at all), just a bunch of little things that became annoying after a while. Like not being able to find something to wear that morning, then leaving my phone at home, then biting into a rotten blueberry in my blueberry muffin that left grit in my teeth, then having to rush rush rush that afternoon to get the girls shuttled to dance and get myself ready for an evening event. Stuff like that. But I was determined to not let it get me down. Had it not been my birthday, it probably would have been a rotten day, but the many well wishes from my family and friends made it all better.
I usually do a birthday ‘things about me’ list, but this year I’m doing something a little different. Taking the lead from Amanda, I’m going to do a list about things I want to do this year. A list of 38 things I’d like to do before I turn 38.
1. paint my bedroom
2. attend a creative workshop
3. pick up my camera more often (sorry abandoned 366)
4. smile more
5. make a quilt for Lily
6. finish a sweater
7. say “yes” to my kids more often
8. be in this space more, documenting my life
9. work on losing this pregnancy weight
10. go on individual dates with my kids
11. write a friend a letter telling them how much they mean to me
12. accept myself just the way I am
13. be more daring with my wardrobe
14. paint a painting
15. have friends over for dinner
16. make time to sew weekly
17. reply to my blog comments
18. spend time with my grandmother
19. doodle
20. let go when need be
21. print some photos
22. finish start the playroom overhaul
23. make Ava her own dance bag
24. load up the car and take a weekend road trip
25. make a slipcover for my sofa
26. paint the ugly black computer cabinet (that no longer houses a computer)
27. finally decide on new kitchen counter tops
28. sew Alex some pajama pants
29. participate in what I wore wednesday
30. sew Ceci some little dresses
31. be kind to myself when I want to beat myself up
32. return to my gratitude journal
33. purge lots of stuff from my house
34. purge lots of stuff from my mind
35. organize my closet
36. take more photos with my kids (i think the photo above is the only one I have with all of us together)
37. go on more dates with Matt (even when I’m too tired)
38. be present
Many things on this list aren’t new to me, but are things that have fallen by the wayside. This year I will make the time to be with those I love, doing the things I love. I will find “me” again.
