#26for26bucketlist

I know, I know – my birthday was over a month ago. But since my birthday card from my dad JUST arrived this week, I think it’s okay that this is a bit overdue. I am only now getting used to telling people I am 27.

I am 27 years old.

As most of you know, when I turned 26, I was in the valley-est of all my valleys. I was on a journey of healing, a path toward spiritual health, and possessed a strong desire to reclaim life and joy and small moments and pieces of my heart for myself. I began 2016 with a desire for it to be over, and come February 12th, I knew I couldn’t keep walking that out if I wanted to get where I was hoping to go. So I wrote myself a bucket list, and shared it with the world.

When I posted the list, I wrote:

” This is what I want. I want to be seen and known. I want new life out of brokenness, to be better, stronger, and closer to God because of what He has been through with me. And I want to truly live and embrace this season that God has me in.

I want to intentionally embrace life, so I have been brainstorming a list – a 26 Bucketlist of sorts. Things I have always wanted to do or learn or be. Some of them are ridiculous, some are serious, some will be fun, and some will be challenging. But I want to keep searching, keep finding joy, and keeping finding myself in Him.  This is my season of living and experimenting and owning who I am, and this list is just a start.”

Sitting on the other side of those roughly 26 items, 6 weeks into 27, and a quarter of the way into a new year, I can tell you that I am so incredibly thankful for the time and intentionality I put into completing these things. Because of this list, my perspective shifted. I focused on myself and my growth – something I have rarely allowed myself to do in the past.

And because my perspective shifted, other things not on this list happened, as well.

I found my community, my people. I pursued counseling and inner healing, which I now recommend to EVERYONE. I grew in my ability to invest in relationships. I had bangs for a while. I learned more about my giftings and callings. I am learning how to have healthy boundaries for myself. I have learned how to say yes, and how to say no. I got a new tattoo. I have reconciled relationships. I am learning to fight for myself, and to let the Lord fight for me most of all. I have learned how to operate out of the Lord’s strength instead of my own. I moved into a new house. I am discipling and being discipled. I successfully completed the Whole30. I traveled for work AND for fun. I have connected with many people who chose to do something similar, and have gotten to watch as God works healing into their lives, as well.

Some of the items on the list that I thought would be the easiest, turned out to be incredibly challenging. And the most difficult items led to the most growth and depth and healing and freedom. I still walked through my fair share of heartache and disappointment. I am still not where I thought I would be at the ripe, young age of 27 (but that just means my track record of 0 for 27 is consistent with this one). But I was right – this list was just the beginning. And looking back at 26, it turned out to be a really beautiful year. Hard, yes. But one of my favorite by far.

For those of you who want to walk nostalgically with me – here it is. Facebook and instagram have the full captions, but this is the visual experience. My 26. My year of growth. My year of me and Jesus. My new beginning.

 

26 for 26!

Go camping

Eat a meal with a random stranger

 

Find places and ways to teach again

 Sing karaoke

The musical stylings of the Middle Joneses – coming soon to a location near you

(if you are located in Gainesville, GA)

#cantkeepupwithus

 Ride a motorcycle

 Eat pupusas from the gas station

See a musical onstage

Chute the ‘hooch

Learn a New Skill

Go to a UK game

HOW DID I NOT TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS?

Maybe it was because I had nosebleeds seats and a fever.

Learn to drive a manual transmission

I would still consider this a work in progress.

Step out of my comfort zone

How do you capture this in a photo? I shall try.

 

And, you know, most of the rest of this list.

Adventure and Explore my own Backyard

Host a fancy dinner party

Well, this turned out to be one of my favorite things to do, if you couldn’t tell.

 

Go on a blind date

Read: Ask a guy on the date.

He said no. 

Take a trip by myself

Run a 5K

Lack of motivation moved me to sign up and pay for a half-marathon. In the training, I have done 5ks over and over. Can’t seem to get past it, but I have until November.

 

Build or create something with my hands. And finish it.

 

Invest intentionally in my community

 

Complete a restaurant eating challenge

I have the challenge.

I potentially have the partner.

I just need to have the time,

And you are NOT going to want to miss this.

 Go to Music Shows .

 Say yes to more things

*see entire rest of bucket list*

Be debt free

Still working on this one. I’m a few thousand closer!

I had a few people make one time donations for this,

and I even have a monthly donor helping me make additional payments!

Learn to be pursued

I wasn’t sure how I was going to learn this one, outside of the Lord himself doing it.

(He did)

But then He also sent these girls, and the rest of my community, to show me what being pursued for who I am really looks like.

Go West!

Seek first His Kingdom

Many people have asked me – what is on your bucket list for 27?

Well, I decided not to make one. Because I am in a different place than I was a year-ish ago. Because I don’t need one this year like I did last year. I don’t need a new bucket list because I have a new way of living.

#bucketlistliving