The question “What do you want?” has always sent me into an existential funk. Am I allowed to want? What do my instincts tell me? Am I answering what I actually want, or what I think I should want? What am I afraid to admit what I want? I pause during this question, because I don’t want to take my own desires for granted. If I say I want something, I really mean it.
However, it isn’t so hard to express how I want to feel and who I want to be. I know I want to feel natural and authentic. I don’t want to put on a performance, but rather just, Be. I love to feel connected and bonded with others. Sharing rituals, stories, memories.. that matters to me. I also appreciate a good aesthetic. When my surroundings look nice, smell pleasant, sound calm, etc., I feel peaceful. I feel soft. I feel free.
I want to protect my inner world. I want to let go of the people who don’t make me feel good. My favorite way to exist is to be with those I trust. I also value intentional moments. I would rather have fewer, intentional, slow moments than a thousand moments that feel rushed by. I want to do things simply because they bring me joy. I want to make everything beautiful!!
Along with these soft feelings, I am also simultaneously, a modern woman. Discipline is where I exist. I get it done. I am not afraid to make a fool out of myself for putting in effort. Ambition is not embarrassing! I value when I am living a life that is so exciting that it makes me want to jump out of bed in the morning. What a treasure.
So, I am going to run towards that. Whatever that looks like for me, however I get there, I am running toward a soft, ambitious life. That’s what I want.
In true Virgo fashion (admittedly Type-A lol), here is my completed 30 before 30 list!
1. Collect all the National Parks Quarters. This was not easy, and although I almost collected them all from quarters in circulation, there were a few that I wasn’t able to round up, so I ended up purchasing a collection to complete this goal!!
2. Grow out my natural hair color. The last time I highlighted my hair was April of 2024! Maybe I will highlight it again soon? Maybe I won’t? TBD!
3. Read the ACOTAR book series. I honestly didn’t love this series – apparently, romance-fantasy is not my genre. But, I did read them all to complete this goal, and still found enjoyment out of it!
4. Go to Bear Lake. There is nothing, NOTHING, like reading at the lake!!
5. Wake surf in Island Park. After this summer of being on the water 24/7, we might officially be boat people.
6. Hike Red Rock Canyon. I can’t believe I live right next to this! So much in Nevada to explore.
7. Eat at the Hell’s Kitchen. The food was of course top-tier.
8. Update scrapbook. It’s so much fun to print pictures and reminisce on so many memories during this process.
9. Road bike to dinner. This was a very funny experience. Will do again.
10. Go to the movie theater. As a millennial, this movie was a must-see! I loved every second, and especially loved seeing it with my sister!
11. Solve a Rubik’s Cube 30 times. I already knew how to solve these, but I hadn’t done it in a while, so this was great practice to keep up the skill. It takes me a couple of minutes each time to solve.
12. Cheer on Gray at Iron Man 70.2. He did amazing! That’s a lot of work to do in the brutal sun, so I was very very proud.
13. Watch Vegas Golden Knights Hockey. Are you even a Las Vegas resident if you aren’t a fan of VGK!?
14. Crochet baby booties. I probably did around 10 pair total for various friends and family. My grandma did this for us as babies, so it is fun to pass on the tradition!
15. Get a professional headshot. I organized professional headshots for our entire Finance department! It was a huge hit!
16. Visit a farmer’s market. Weekly sugar-free cookies, local honey, and fresh coffee are my go-to’s at the market.
17. Mini golf. Pop Stroke is Tiger Wood’s mini golf course, complete with dinner and entertainment for literally an entire day!
18. Gamble in Vegas. I can finally say that I have gambled in Vegas. Blackjack was my favorite.
19. Watch the sunrise. Watched this sunrise during my 10-mile run one morning. I can’t think of a better start to a day!
20. Help sisters with newborns. Two of my sisters had babies this year!! It was such an honor to be there. My sisters amaze me.
21. Move into new house. We closed on our first home!
22. Finish yard. Complete with xeriscape 😉
23. Hike Mt Charleston. All I can say is, WOW.
24. Go to Disneyland. When Gray has a layover across the street, we go to Disneyland!
25. Fly on plane Gray is piloting. This was the morning after our Disneyland layover 😉 being in the cockpit of where Gray works never gets old!
26. Have a coffee date. We went on SO many coffee dates. Our favorite Saturday activity.
27. Drive a golf cart. Golfing is even more fun when no one keeps score and you can move your ball wherever you want. Who knew!
28. Go on 30 runs. I went on more than 30 😉
29. Watch all Harry Potter movies. I can’t believe I hadn’t watched this whole series before. I read all the books when I was little, but wow. These movies really are iconic!!
30. See the Colosseum. Completed this one on my 30th birthday!!!
I had such an amazing year, and I am so ready for my 30’s.
Eliza Shippen 