27 Things To Do Before I Turn 27

Hi Friends,

As I sit typing this 25th part to the "confessions" blog, I am munching on a vegan, gluten and dairy free Justin's Peanut Butter Cup. Sometimes, on a rainy and fog night, you just need to have a little bit of chocolate. Sweet to the lips with that soft, peanut butter taste, encased with rich, dark chocolate.

It's the "little things."
:)

For the past 3 days, a friend from college and I went on a "mini-vacation" to New Hampshire to visit another friend. This friend shared with us endless accounts of her time teaching English abroad in Vietnam. I even got to try some Vietnamese food for the first time! While on this excursion, I learned that sometimes, the best conversations occur during car rides. My friend shared with me that she had started a list of important things that she wanted accomplish. She encouraged me to start my own "list," specifically, a list encompassing the "27 things that I want to do before I turn 27" next month.

Anyway, I thought it was a great exercise and it really required me to think about things that were important to me. My friend also encouraged me to ask myself the question whenever I intend to do anything or make a purchase: "Does this bring me joy?"

With this support, I did, indeed, take her advice and comprised a list of 27 things, one for each day in the month of January. Because, I turn 27 on the 26th of January, one of the days will have "two" things that I am setting out to accomplish. My goal is to chronicle these "27" sequential goals with a written blog post every day. It is my hope that I learn about myself through this process, as well as seeking to set goals for myself that slightly stretch me out of my comfort zone.

This is a journey in which I seek to grow and learn from my choices. Rather than serving as a "checklist," I hope that I am also able to learn about my neighbors, my family, the people around me, those that I surround myself with, and everyday strangers.

As such, here is my list of the "27 things." What would you add to this list? Please feel free to comment below.

Cheers!
-alex

27 Things To Do Before I Turn 27

1. Paint my nails
2. Work out for 4 consecutive days
3. Leave a note of encouragement in a random place.
4. Get up early and make myself breakfast
5. Spend at least 10 minutes in the morning in silence for 3 days.
6. 5 consecutive day social media fast
7. Make a birthday cake for a family member.
8. Bake gluten and dairy free cookies
9. Listen to live music
10. Pay for something for a stranger
11. Encourage my co-workers
12. Wear a ribbon in my hair
13. Order takeout
14. Choose 5 words from the newspaper and use them to write a poem.
15. Go out to dinner.
16. Host a reunion.
17. Paint
18. Make an edible bird feeder for my feathered friends.
19. Meet someone new.
20. Make a snow angel.
21. Paint with my students on canvases.
22. Stargaze.
23. Go bowling.
24. Make a bouquet of flowers.
25. Plant flowers.
26. Have a birthday party AND do something new (aka: say "yes" to something that I would otherwise say "no" to: albeit, healthy, of course!)

Confessions of a Single, Gluten-Free Gal (the original posts)

Hi Faithful Reader Friends,

Time has gotten the best of me, and I haven't written in a month. My apologies! Since I last wrote, a couple of things in my life have changed.

First, I have finished my Masters Program for Graduate School. I am beyond excited! I never thought that I would make it through. The light at the end of the tunnel was dim there for some time and I thought about just giving up. Thankfully, with the support of both my friends and family, I pressed on and saw the light of the train. I'm so glad that I waited because I have grown and learned so much about perseverance and my own determination in achieving things that I genuinely want and care about in my life.

Secondly, I am learning how to have balance in my life again. For the past 18 months (1.5 years), I was on full throttle of working and graduate school with very few breaks in between. I was stretched very thinly, stressed, and pushed to limits that were incredibly hard. Yet, throughout it all, I was defined by the moments (albeit, tiny) where I realized that I was not identified by my "work" but by the grace of God which helped me to continue through both challenging and triumphant times.

Today, I was recently reminded of my "confessions" posts as a single, gluten-free gal. I took the time to reflect back on the 24 posts that I have gathered over the past 2 years. I thought that it would be a good idea to chronicle the "confessions" in order and to share them with you, as there are similar and overlapping beliefs and ideas that are seen throughout.

In the new year, I also want to continue regularly with this blog, posting important ideas that I feel are necessary for relationships; specifically those experiences and instances in which I have observed people/couples interacting with each other.

So, without further ado, here are the first 24 "confessions from a single, gluten-free gal," from the first post to the most recent.  Keep an eye out for important themes that are carried in these posts, for I was completely oblivious to them until I made the time today to search them out.

1) Guys, take off your hat when you're eating a restaurant.
2) A date is not a conversation between you and your phone.
3) No arms or elbows on the table at a fancy restaurant; hold your lady's hand instead.
4) Maintain a conversation with the woman that you're interested in by looking at her when she's speaking, communicating that you're genuinely interested in what she is saying to you.
5) When a woman makes you a meal, say "thank you" (and help with the dishes, too.)
6) Make promises that you are able to keep.
7) Express your thankfulness when your lady goes out of her way to cook, clean, or wash dishes for you.
8) Girls, always feel comfortable taking yourself out to eat at restaurants.
9) Dates are conversational experiences between you and the other person, not between you and your phone.
10) Girls, it's slim pickings out there.
11) My future boyfriend/husband must be tall enough to reach the Bird's Eye frozen squash in the freezer at the supermarket AND better be an exceptional nighttime driver.
12) Invest in looking at the other person on a date.
13) Be friends with the people in your neighborhood and make a genuine effort to get to know them.
14) I am 26, still single, and that's okay!
15) Always work to make things right.
16) Contentment is important.
17) Love is hard. Period.
18) Relationships are not "Happy Meals".
19) Guys, don't chew on pencils or those wooden coffee stirrers. Your goal is to use them, not eat them.
20) I had a dream that I had sandwiches from J's Deli for my rehearsal dinner.
21) Life is all about balance.
22) Always make sure that you enjoy your passion.
23) There is good in this world. Always affirm good and truth wherever you find it.
24) A guy who remembers that I like honey in my coffee when I've lost my voice, is a keeper.

And, lastly, the 25th post of the "confessions of a single, gluten-free gal," will be coming shortly "to a blog near you."

Cheers!
-alex