#32list

September 14, 2013: the birthday table,
a Morgan family tradition.

I recently stumbled across the most inspiring thing I've seen on the interwebs in a long time. What was it, you may ask? No, it wasn't a heroic story of triumph in the face of adversity. No no, nothing so lofty as that. It was this simple list, compiled by a friend, of things she wanted to do before her next birthday, which was last month.

Why on earth, you might be wondering, would anyone find a list of mostly prosaic and just-for-fun items more inspiring than the great sacrifices and accomplishments of humanity? I should at least aspire to do something great on my bucket list, right? Well that's just it, folks. This is not a bucket list.

And frankly, that was what I found so refreshing. Why make the end of your life your goal to accomplish great things, or do what you've always dreamed of doing? If you have the slightest trace of procrastination in you (*raises both hands*), it is all too likely that you, like me, will regard your bucket list as a "haha yeah right as if I wish dream on" list and not really get around to taking it seriously until the proverbial bucket is actually looming, and then frantically do a few mid-life crisis-driven things. And not to be morbid, but speaking of the dreaded Bucket, none of us really knows how long we have in this life anyway. Anything can happen, as the heroes of real life so eloquently (and sometimes heartbreakingly) demonstrate.

Enter #32list. The concept is simple: have a list of things you want to do before your next birthday that equals the numbers of years you'll be turning. Items can be lofty, daredevil, or "just things we had been wishing we would crack down and do," in anothernicole's own excellent words. And there are no rules. Items can be discarded or changed as desired at any time (see #9 in the original post). You can interpret the accomplishment of an item however you like (see #'s 1, 12, 14, and 22). The idea is to have fun and get things done for a whole year! I found this liberating, exhilarating, and downright exciting. Imagine having a "bucket" list...for every year of your life!! Of course, I still do want to travel to all 6 populated continents and live in Europe again at some point in my life, but I can't plan on that next year. But we might visit London, Boston, or Vancouver! Next year might not be the year for the half-marathon I've always dreamed of doing, but hey, if I start jogging regularly again, I will totally give myself a high-five for that. And no, I won't finish all the Life-Studies before next September 14th, nor is it likely that I'll read one message a day. But! I know I can finish at least a book or two from the set! See how this works?

I can't fulfill my whole bucket list right now. And even if I could, there are so many other little things in life that are not "bucket list worthy," but just as satisfying and rewarding (finish decorating our apartment, vacuum once a week, spend more time at the pool, visit all the free museums in my area). If I can check off half my list before my next birthday, I'll feel like I've lived.

So without further ado, I give you... #32list:

1. Start a blog - Oooh look, I can check that off already! #winning #twobirds
2. Have a regular morning time with the Lord - The idea is not to set oneself up for failure (e.g. "every day"), and since my current morning time amounts to 0 times per week, I will happily settle for anything more than that.
3. Exercise regularly
4. Run a 5K
5. Run a 10K
6. Run a half marathon - Just in case I get around to it...
7. Read 1 new book every month (borrowing this straight from anothernicole)
8. Travel outside the country - London/UK gets my first vote.
9. Visit Boston
10. Go camping - In, like, a tent and everything.
11. Learn how to create and edit video
12. Secret personal health related goal that I won't share here (sometimes you can't let it all hang out)
13. Get back in the habit of reading the Bible before bed
14. Check social media less
15. Make every recipe in Ina Garten's Barefoot in Paris cookbook - I'm convinced that this one item alone will make me supremely happy.
16. Make these - Since the debut of this coveted urban mashup pastry phenomenon, it's been on my "I wish" bucket list to try the original at Dominique Ansel's eponymous NY bakery. But since I recently learned how to make butter croissant dough from scratch, I decided that there's no need to wait until I die to try a cronut. I can make my own, thank you very much, complete with Tahitian vanilla cream and rose glaze. So there, Monsieur Ansel. The gauntlet is thrown!
17. Get a puppy!!!
18. Find fun things to do instead of watch TV (especially while we eat - is this my life???)
19. Read Les Misérables - I feel obligated to read it in French because I can, which makes an already daunting task a downright chore...but also a challenge that will lead to indisputable #braggingrights. If I am at least halfway through one of the longest novels ever written by September 14, 2014, I will consider this done. If I'm actually finished...then a trip to France will be #1 on my #33list. That, and a giant box of macarons. #motivation
20. Speaking of macarons: perfect macaron-making at home, and learn to make more flavors than chocolate and vanilla.
21. Meet this baby in person - Preferably before he turns 1 and isn't a baby anymore.
22. Spend less money at coffee shops
23. Figure out a weekly chore system that works for me
24. Make dinner by 7:30 pm 
25. Other secret personal health related goal that I won't share here 
26. Throw a tea party (debating if big hats and little gloves should be required)
27. Have people over for dinner more often (once a month would suffice - and hey, if you're reading this, invite yourself over! I do all the cooking and cleanup, there's always dessert, and it's a standing offer :)
28. Spend more time at the pool
29. Go to a (free) outdoor concert or festival
30. Spend a weekend at a vineyard B&B
31. Do more hiking
32. Finish at least 1 book of the Life-Studies