Thirty

THIRTY THINGS TO DO BEFORE THIRTY

Another birthday, fewer presents and more questions as to when I will settle down and breed.

The only good thing about being thirty is that it is a round number which is easy to remember, as I constantly forget how old I am at the moment. At either twenty eight or twenty nine years old I have survived the first quarter, but have a break before menopause. The quarter life crisis has left me with a philosophical outlook on life and lots of advice for anybody who seems insecure or unsure. The reflection of my twenties that were spent studying, working and partying will soon be left behind for the thirties of more working and less partying. Before I reach that level of maturity, I want to accomplish a few things other than earning a degree that has not helped secure a successful job. Below is the checklist where I can tick a few items as complete and make plans to accomplish the rest as the clock is ticking…

1. Binge - the only way to find one’s limit is to push the boundry. Excess food, booze or spending on a shopping spree qualifies as binging. More, more, more must be done while living for the moment. The guilt only sets in afterwards.
2. Develop healthy habits. Brushing teeth twice per day, eating veggies, wearing a seatbelt and exercising regularly.
3. Drop my negative friends. These people we dread calling when they text “please call me” messages and I am always nervous to ask about their health as there is never a positive answer. Surround oneself with positive people instead of having to listen to depressed, selfish friends because their negativity is contagious.
4. Lock keys in cars or house or do something equally stupid to learn a lesson that is hopefully not repeated. A good contingency must then be implemented such as giving spare keys to parents.
5. Make debt and then get out of debt. Do not repeat.
6. Stay awake through the night. Party through the night with friends or stay up with another person for a private party.
7. Slap a guy or put the pie in the face that they do in the movies – examples include slapping your cheating boyfriend.
8. Go on a blind date.
9. Get dumped. Experiencing rejection is part of life, but never pleasant. Experience heart break and be a survivor with a story to tell
10. Go cosmopolitan - make friends from different cultures, races and religions.
11. Have regular medical check ups: gynaechologist, dentist and be educated about health problems.
12. Choose a mentor who can guide and support important decisions.
13. Read a self-help book or attend a seminar for personal development.
14. Read the book instead of watching the movie.
15. Complete a DIY activity such as constructing a bookshelf or redecorating.
16. Compile a five-year plan and consult it regularly for direction and guidance.
17. Say NO without feeling guilty.
18. Support a charity that is not myself.
19. Travel oversees – work or pleasure.
20. Change jobs to avoid having one reference on CV.
21. Travel locally by train, motor cycle or any other alternative mode of transport.
22. Adopt a pet.
23. Babysit kids of family to experience what is like to be a mom. Then give them back.
24. Experience the death of a loved one, whether it be a loss of a family member of a pet.
25. Speak to parents about mortality and money. Know the location of important papers such as testaments and legal documents.
26. Realise that sounding like my mother may not be a bad thing.
27. Learn to hold my tongue and stop putting my foot in my mouth.
28. Find a grey (or stray) hair and smile about it
29. Wear sunscreen, night cream and age gracefully.
30. Celebrate birthdays without avoiding them and then forget my age.

Having compiled this list, I can add to it at the next landmark birthday. I have exactly one year and two months to work on the action plan to achieve these goals.