On February 5th, I celebrated my 22nd birthday with my friends, stuck in my apartment due to ridiculous amounts of snowfall and ice. Needless to say, I had an incredible time celebrating another year of life, another opportunity to be with my friends, and to hope for an even greater year ahead of me.

In celebration of my birthday, I was inspired by Micki Clark’s personal challenge to complete 24 different things by the time her next birthday came. (www.loveandcommunication.com) It’s a brilliant idea, parallel to MTV’s somewhat impressive new series, “The Buried Life”. So I took some time in my last week of the age 21 and created 22 goals that I hope to accomplish before turning 23. There is a mix of both practical and uncanny. Some are simple and could be done without any problem, while others will need both patience and persistence (see #5). Here’s to another year!

22 Things Before Turning 23

1. Launch a new blog. (sorry blogspot)
2. Fill a notebook up with nothing but ideas.
3. Donate a weeks worth of clothes where it’s needed.
4. Tip 150% to my waiter without him/her noticing.
5. Finish a 5k. Dare I say half-marathon?
6. Create 2 new YouTube videos to glorify the good ol’ days.
7. Create a canvas painting to display.
8. Throw a surprise party.
9. Learn more than 5 songs on guitar. Write my own song.
10. Own 3 harmonicas and play a blues song.
11. Watch the Chronicles of Narnia and/or Harry Potter for the first time.
12. Get my Passport.
13. Help someone paint their house.
14. Call my extended family on their birthday’s.
15. Send “Just because” notes and mail to others.
16. Visit North Carolina
17. Take more pictures.
18. Make a mistake but get paid for it.
19. Connect with someone on an international level.
20. Complete the P90X program (while surviving)
21. Pay for a strangers meal.
22. Sing and dance in public more often than usual.
23. Go to a John Mayer concert.

Meet Kevin. We typicaly inspire each other to do new things, go new places, and open ourselves for new opportunities. He’s a fun laugher too.