I love to drag my birthday out. It's more like, birth-week than birthday. ;) So far, I'm up to two celebrations! Lunch with the grandparents on Saturday at Cheesecake Factory, and then arcade games and happy hour with my parents and little brothers. And one more celebration is coming up on Sunday--I'm having martinis with friends.
I'd like to celebrate my 25th birthday with 25 things from the past year that have been important. In no particular order, here they are:
How do you like to celebrate your birthday? Did anything lifechanging happen this year?
I'd like to celebrate my 25th birthday with 25 things from the past year that have been important. In no particular order, here they are:
- Running a marathon. It was on my bucket list, but I didn't think I could do it. But I trained, and was ready. And I did it.
- Getting a tattoo. It hurt like heck. But I'd wanted to get one for awhile, knew exactly what I wanted to get and where, and I love it. It's definitely representative of something very important to me, and I'll never regret getting it.
- Running Hood to Coast. Another item on my bucket list. It was awesome, and I couldn't have done it with better people.
- My running buddies. For all of the difficult runs they've carried me through, for all of the inside jokes and beers that we've shared, I love you guys!
- My friends. I went through some difficult times this year, and they were there for me.
- My students. Yes, sometimes they drive me crazy, but they crack me up. Today they insisted that I wasn't really 25, and that I was only 20 because I look so young.
- My job. It's challenging and rewarding, and I'm glad they hired me.
- Seeing a nutritionist. It helped me reach my marathon time goal and made me an overall healthier person.
- A rough breakup, cute shoes, and getting over it. It was time to let things go, and find new and better things!
- Starting a blog, and hoping I'd get readers. It can be a little scary to put yourself out there! But it was worth it.
- Recognizing the importance of stretching and consistency and rest. My IT band problem during marathon training was resolved when I was consistent about running all during the week AND during long runs, when I stretched regularly, and when I took days off when I needed it. I had to learn to read my body's signals.
- My blog getting its first PR samples! I felt like I'd made it :P
- Realizing how much I hate going out to clubs. I think this year of my life was the tipping point. I'll sit at a nice, chill restaurant bar and relax. But barhopping and clubbing is not my thing. I guess I'm getting old!
- Learning to workout or run by myself. When it's just you and the pavement, it can be really hard to stay motivated. It's easy to cut a run short and just turn around. But doing a run by myself reminds me that I can be strong on my own.
- Working out with friends, and going to fitness classes. Increasing my number of workout buddies, and going to fitness classes has really helped me be more consistent about working out. It's also made working out a lot more fun because there's more variety!
- My mom. For all of the delicious lunches that she's packed for me, and for being supportive.
- My brother, for letting me tag along to happy hours and taco tuesdays.
- My three half-brothers. Seeing them grow up into young adults has been really exciting.
- Starting Yoga again. It's really helped bring some peace to my life.
- Repairing my relationship with my dad.
- Reading books again! I haven't really read any books in awhile, and started reading again this year. I love it! There's nothing like a good story.
- Using a foam roller and a runner's stick. Seriously, these two objects have changed my life. I didn't even know what they were before this year.
- Finding some good skincare products. I've battled with my skin since I was a teen, and it's starting to become manageable with the right products!
- Being threatened and harassed. It was a really difficult situation, and very frustrating.
- Thoughts and uncertainty about the future.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday? Did anything lifechanging happen this year?