A Reflection and An Update

As I continue on I have begun to wonder if this list is really what I want it to be.  Almost four years after coming back from Mexico where God showed me over and over that His standards are completely different than the world's standards, I have realized that once again I have slipped into my old ways.  I have found that I compare myself to other people and their lives.  Is my life exciting enough?  Am I as successful as those around me?

Having asked these questions and looking over my list, I have found that there are several things that I want to change.  I enjoy running and like to run for fun, but I am not really someone who needs to train for a long run in order to feel successful.  Just because everyone around me seems to be running marathons does not mean I need to in order to be successful or feel like I have accomplished something in my life.  Training for a half-marathon actually does not sound like fun; it takes all of the fun out of running for me (plus I find I easily get bored running).  I might want to at some point (and I do feel somewhat like a quitter for removing it from my list), but with the winter months setting in and less hours of light in order to run, I don't feel like putting myself through months of guilt and shame if I am not ready to run a half-marathon in the spring.

I have also realized that a few items are going to be slightly difficult to complete or are no longer of interest to me.  Instead of visiting a new continent, I might just need to put in "get another stamp in my passport" whether that is a new continent or an old familiar one.  After viewing the webcam for the Sea Lion Caves, I don't feel it is worth the drive.  I would like to visit Eastern Oregon, but I am not sure that it will happen before my 30th birthday.  So, the list has morphed a little, and I think that will be alright.  I want to enjoy life, not feel pressure to accomplish things that might not be fun for me after all.

I have decided that what I really need to be asking is: Am I following God in the way that He wants me to?  Do I find joy in life?  With those at the core of what I want my life to be about, here is the modified list that is still subject to change; not to make it easier (I am a little competitive after all), but to make sure that completing these activities adds to the enjoyment of my life, not the stress level of my life.

The "30 before 30"

18 items and 9 months to go

1. Visit Crater Lake

2. Visit ZooLights (Washington Park Zoo)

3. Visit Multnomah Falls

4. Visit Newport Aquarium

5. Visit the Japanese Gardens

6. Go skydiving

7. Swim with dolphins

8. Try oysters

9. Hike part of the Pacific Crest Trail

10. Rock climb at Smith Rock

11. Try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing

12. Finish my Masters Degree 

13. Climb the Astoria Column

14. Visit Mt. St. Helens

15. Go clamming

16. Visit Timberline Lodge

17. Ride on a motorcycle

18. Move into my own place

19. Learn to change the oil in my car

20. Go whale watching on the Oregon Coast

21. Learn how to go fly-fishing

22. Visit Silver Creek Falls

23. Visit the Chinese Garden in Portland

24. Go for a helicopter ride

25. Learn about photography

26. Go to a Timbers game

27. Run the Warrior Dash- I will actually be doing this one again in September!

28. Get another stamp in my passport

29. Take an out-of-state trip with friends (road trip?)

30. To Be Decided (last one to be completed…maybe something extra fun for my 30^th birthday)

Back-up ideas (for fun): Learn to skateboard, visit the Oregon Interpretive Center, trek through Ape Caves, learn the Thriller Dance, visit the John Day Fossil Beds, eat at Voodoo Doughnuts, visit Malheur Wildlife Refugee