May 13: GOALS - 35 before 35 (delayed)

I will be 35 in a little over 2 years so these goals are realistic and I am hoping to be able to make them all happen that time. 

35 BEFORE 35

1.     Get a new passport – I plan on doing this as soon as possible.  I have some big plans and it is necessary to have.

2.     Hookah Lounge - this may happen sooner than later. I have gotta go and try it.

3.     Step Class (ole school Chicago stepping)

4.     See Jill Scott in Concert again (she is amazing and I love her).  It would be awesome to see her in Philly and then go to an Eagles game (perfect)

5.     Go to a Eagles game in Philly - long term I want to got at least 10 NFL Stadiums.  I LOVE FOOTBALL!

6.     Host a wine tasting event

7.     Go on a cruise – stamps on my passport

8.     Get involved in a cause (preferably Diabetes in honor of my daddy)

9.     Host a brunch start to finish at my house (garden party) – I love to cook so I want to plan the menu, decorate, make real invitations – the full event (I’m crafty).  I wanna get my Martha Stewart/ B. Smith on.

10.   Build my savings

11.   Attend the Essence Festival and actually attend the concerts

12.   Develop a creative business for myself that I will actually grow

13.   Put a dent in my student loans – That awesomely wonderful  HBCU education is/was expensive

14.   Complete my book(s) and publish them

15.   Move out of Los Angeles again (improve my quality of life by growing up)

16.   Vacation with a man that I love (hopefully but we shall see – this is an entire post of its own)

17.   Start bartending again – I miss it.  I miss the social aspect the intensity and if you don’t use it you lose it)

18.   Stay involved with my Alumni Association (Fisk University) where ever I am

19.   See a Broadway Show in NY

20.   Take a craft class (possibly beading)

21.   Build another scrapbook of something monumental event

22.   Purchase a fantastic pair of Designer shoes

23.   I would like to be married or at least engaged

24.   Go to the Taste of Chicago and Essence


25.   Go Camping with all the specialties. I am not really and outdoors chick but I have had some conversations that make it sound fun.  It will be a group outing that I will have to coordinate.  I am getting kind of excited about it.

26.   Learn more about wine and sangria

27.   Start sewing (using the machine that I already have for real – I need to make something good.  My mom has these awesome patterns from the 70s when she made all her clothing.  I admire that about her.  She tried to teach me when I was younger but I lacked interest).

28.   Take my mother and grandmother on a vacation

29.   Road Trip by way a Diners, Drive in and Dives – I love Guy

30.   Ride in  Hot Air Balloon with someone special

31.   Grow a garden.  Not truly my thing but I hear that it is relaxing.

32.   Sky Dive

33.   Become more involved with Diabetes Prevention Charity

34.   Visit Daddy’s grave – still haven’t had the desire to go.  I need to make that happen.

35.   Convince my friends to hold me to this list.

When you find your path, you must not be afraid. You need to have sufficient courage to make mistakes. Disappointment, defeat, and despair are [some of the] tools God uses to show us the way.

Paulo Coelho

Change

Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.

King Whitney Jr

There are so many things changing around me.  Some of it good, some of it bad and some of it is simply just changing.  There are times when I am hopeful that the good will out weight the bad and that the bad is simply a figment of my imagination that will simply change.  Confused?

 

My life has changed a lot within the last year and half.  I moved back to LA from Atlanta which has been more monumental than I give credit on top of my unstable emotions caused by grief.  My father died and that has been more than tough and some days are better than others.  I have not completely found a balance in that change but I do know that guilt and greif is a hell of a mix. I have had several jobs but nothing very steady or completely full time.  I have recognized that my mother is a woman outside of being my mother. My sister had a daughter which is awesome that I was here for my sister and her family.  I reunited with some old friends from high school.  The time difference has impacted some of my most significant friendships and relationships along with all the things that I have been feeling. I have changed and I have not been able to find my new normal or where I fit in. 

Any transition serious enough to alter your definition of self will require not just small adjustments in your way of living and thinking but a full-on metamorphosis.

Martha Beck, O Magazine, Growing Wings, January 2004

Life goes on with or without you around.  It sounds rather cold but it is true.  Life went on without me in LA and I had built a life for myself in Atlanta.  Both of those lives have changed and moved on with and without me.  I am here now and often just sort of feel that there has been so much change that I cannot seem to catch my breath or seemingly deal with or wonderg if I am dealing the right way.  I guess I am trying to figure out what I am suppose to learn from all the change.

I know that I am not the only one that  has to learn from change or even deal with it.  We live, lose, love and learn. Som I am curious to know the thoughts of others so that I can complete this post. 

What are yout thoughts on change?

 

 

Freckles' Thought for this day...

A good idea acted upon brings enormous mental satisfaction. Got a good idea? Then do something about it. Use action to cure fear and gain confidence.


David J. Schwartz