30 Before 30

I was talking to a friend the other day who is turning 30 in a few months. I've never really latched onto ages, or been defined by the way I'm supposed to behave or certain goals I'm supposed to accomplish because I'm a "certain age." But she was stressing because she felt like she had done SO much in her 20s but really wanted to roll (run?) into her 30s knowing she had done everything she wanted. No regrets. And it got me thinking about how I could really maximize these last few years of my 20s.

Everyone needs a little motivation to learn new things, be a better person, or check some things off a bucket list. And what better motivator than time? I'll be 30 in roughly two in a half years and now seemed like a more than reasonable time to start working on my 30 before 30 list. I have no idea if it's even possible to do all of this in less than 3 years. I mean, things could seriously come up out of no where. However, checking off a few of these seems like a step in the right direction to say farewell to my 20s and embrace my 30s with open arms.

So without further ado, the list:

1. Learn to play guitar - it's ridiculous that I have the music background that I have and have never learned. 
2. Take a spontaneous trip - no plans, to itineraries.
3. Do one thing that absoultely terrifies me - vague, but necessary.
4. Present at a conference - yay professional development!
5. Run a 10K - we'll probably start with a 5K here
6. Buy a House 
7. Learn to meditate - I've heard good things. Figured I would give it a shot.
8. Blog More - Check! (Doing that RIGHT NOW)
9. Write a book 
10. Buy a gun
11. Skydive/bungee jump
12. Manage debt - Going into my 30's debt free, ya'll
13. Set up emergency savings fund - yay more adult things!
14. Meet an elephant
15. Habitat For Humanity build
16. Start a garden - might have to wait for #6
17. Hike in NC - Really. I've lived here 3 years already.
18. Go to the movies by myself - honestly never done this. I'm terrified of it.
19. Go camping 
20. Take a cooking class
21. Unplug from my phone for a whole weekend - <cries uncontrollably the whole time>
22. Snorkeling/Scuba diving
23. Swim in a waterfall
24. Get a tattoo - directly related to #14
25. Get something published
26. Embrace Vegetables - <shudder>
27. Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion - a three day, boot stompin', real country music festival in Bristol Tennessee/Virginia.
28. Watch Star Wars start to finish - True Life: I have never seen any of them
29. Put a secret in a PostSecret book in a bookstore - I found one in my book a few years ago. Time to return the favor.
30. Visit 2 more states - may just get in the car and drive for this one.

Random? Yes. Doable? Probably. Excited? Ridiculously. I'm not terrified of my 30s. In fact, I've honestly only heard good things thus far from those that are a little head of the game. But I will, without a doubt, be sending my 20s out with a bang.

Fingers Crossed (and crossing off #8) - hoping to keep track of some of the adventures here. Wish me luck!