30 Before 30

So, I turned 29 a little over a month ago. Just before my 29th birthday, I started thinking about the dailyness of life and how quickly it passes without me even realizing what is happening. The past several years I've been talking about this idea of being present... in the moment... living intentionally. My friend, Stephanie calls it living in the "thickness of time." God has given me one life to live and I want to be intentional about how I live it. In this vein of thinking, I've decided to create a list of things to accomplish or experience before I turn thirty. Seeing as how, the processor in me has taken a month to compile a realistic, measureable list - I now only have eleven months within which to check all of these things off of my list. The list is in no particular order of importance, although I did put one that is completed as number one. Part of the fun includes blogging about each experience! 

Here's my list (Let me know if you want to help me complete one of these too):

1. Take a spiritual pilgrimage

2. Take a real, grown-up vacation (not visiting family)

3. Roadtrip to Kansas City

4. Get a dog

5. Publish something I've written

6. Write one hand written letter each week

7. Read 12 books (and finish them):

• Lioness Arising by Lisa Bevere
• Pursuing God’s Will Together by Ruth Haley Barton
• Jesus-Hearted Woman by Jodi Dietrich
• The Noticer by Andy Andrews
• God’s Favorite Place on Earth by Frank Viola
• Quiet: The Power of Introverts by Susan Cain
• God’s Women Then and Now by Gill & Cavaness
• Sex & The Soul by Donna Frietas
• Through Painted Desserts by Donald Miller
• Community is Messy by Heather Zempel
• How Does it Feel to be a Problem by Moustafa Bayoumi
• And It Was Good by Madeleine L’Engle

8. Build a true friendship with a woman from another culture & religion – at least once a month invest quality time into her.

9. Prepare and eat an entire meal with friends in which we only speak Spanish

10. Plant a garden

11. Purchase a decent camera & learn the art of photography

12. Learn to play chess

13. Take a pottery class

14. Learn to crochet – an afghan

15. Go on a real date

16. Golf with Dad

17. Make a memory with mom

18. Go on a hiking & camping trip with Michael & Steph

19. Memorize a chapter of the Bible (Romans 8)

20. Create a Self-Care Kit

21. Take a 3 day spiritual retreat
22. Spend a day at a spa: massage, facial – the whole nine yards

23. Take one day/week as “social media free” – Sabbath

24. Save $1200

25. Eat clean for 30 days

26. Invest in a personal trainer

27. Run a 5k

28. Try hot yoga

29. Spend a Sunday afternoon on the back of a motorcycle

30. Do something that scares me

So, what's on your list? How are you living more intentionally?
I'd love to hear from you...