Time is almost up

I turned 51 today.  How’s that possible?  I don’t look a day over 30—or at least that’s what I tell myself.  I’m now officially over the hill.  Since I’m nearing the end of my 50 Things Before I Turn 50 timeline (I think I have until early May), I figured today would be a good time to provide an update.

So far, I’ve finished an oil painting of my son, had my dressers refinished, learned how to make stained glass, tried rhubarb again, found a treasure at an estate sale, interviewed my parents for posterity, planned my funeral, learned Spanish (and still going strong), learned how to ride a horse, became a mentor, hunted for geodes, stayed out all night, danced in the rain, performed my music at Velour, splurged on something extravagant, spoke at a conference, learned to meditate, bought a house, started a blog, went crabbing (lobstering), completed a visit to all 50 states, read To Kill a Mockingbird, got a mammogram, visited the Salt Flats, read 50 books, learned to play pickleball, learned how to make fresh orange juice, and donated blood (multiple times).

Of my 50 Things, I still have to blog about 10 things that are done.  Unfortunately, I have only a couple of months left to finish 19 things still remaining on my List.  Of those 19 things, I will not be able to visit the Philippines, I likely won’t learn how to paddleboard, and writing a book will have to wait. However, I’ve had a very full year.

Even though the time I set for myself is nearly up, I’m not going to stop trying to accomplish the things on my List.  In fact, I’m going to create a new List: “60 Things Before I Turn 60.” I figure 9 years is a much more reasonable allotment of time to accomplish a list of things I want to do and try.

I used to feel bad that I hadn’t accomplished more in my life.  However, in the past year-and-a-half, I think I’ve more than made up for it.  You might be wondering if I’m disappointed that I didn’t get more done on my List.  Well, maybe I am a little disappointed.  But I’ve done a lot more than I ever would have accomplished if I’d never made my List in the first place.  For this reason, I’m super grateful.

If you’ve ever thought about similar things you’d like to try and do, now’s the time.  If it’s important enough to you, you’ll do it.  Decide what things you’ve been putting off that you want to do and give yourself a deadline to accomplish it.  Take as much time as you need but start now and make a plan.  So, if I could have one Birthday wish for you, it would be for you to decide today to make your List.  After all, there’s no time like the present.