I started this list in my 29th year as a way to kick-off the countdown to a new decade of my life, give myself the gift of 30 little adventures, and challenge myself to do all the things I say I’ll do “someday” now. I kept the list dynamic and made changes as I went along, to include once-in-a-lifetime opportunities as they came up, and to remind myself that life itself is fluid and ever-changing. This became much more than a list for me, but a way of life. Even though I left the list unfinished, I learned to live in the moment, be wherever I am, and prioritize being happy. Here’s how the list looked on my 30th birthday:
30-Before-30 Wish List
1. Swim in a swimming hole
2. Throw a coin in a fountain and make a wish
3. Finish this list
4. Go to a red carpet event
5. Start & finish the “100 Days of Happy” challenge
6. Climb a mountain
7. Make a time capsule
8. Go on a ghost tour
9. Have a mother-daughter trip, outing, or excursion
10. Host a dinner party
11. Paint a blank canvas
12. Start a creative memoir project about my dad
13. Go on a picnic
14. Volunteer to support the Lincoln Square community
15. Make a vision board
16. Make a set of wall art
17. Win a hand of poker or blackjack at a casino
18. See a live rock/blues show with my aunt & uncle
19. Stand on the Sears Tower Skydeck
20. Successfully complete a 21-day detox
21. Visit a state I haven’t been to yet
22. Make a music video
23. Write & send letters to the most influential people in my life
24. Fly a kite
25. Join Conversation Exchange to practice Spanish language skills
26. Go camping
27. Take a burlesque dance class
28. Plant a garden
29. Tell a story at The Mudroom, a community storytelling event
30. Kiss the Stanley Cup
Ashley Blackburn 