40 Things to Do Before I Turn 40

Ten years ago I created a list of 40 things I wanted to try before I turned 40. I’m using this blog post to update my progress as I begin Year 39. It’s interesting to think about what my perspective on life was at 30 and to take time to purposefully look back over the past ten years. It’s no surprise that they have been filled with so much change. Some pretty amazing things have happened that I never dreamed to put on a list like this (like so much travel, completing two half marathons, and watching my kids discover unique interests) and also much unexpected sadness (like a job loss, a miscarriage, and the passing of my dad) and also so much mundane (I don’t want to think about how many loads of laundry I have done). Life is an interesting journey that passes so quickly. Derek always makes fun of me for saying Gretchen Rubin’s famous quote, but the days really are long and the years are short!

For my own memories, I want to summarize a few things about myself when I wrote this list – I had three very small children (5, 2, and a newborn), a surprising new job as a college professor, and I had never flown in an airplane! It seems worth sharing a few pictures from around that time.

And, just for fun, this hilarious picture of Derek – because he looks so different at 39 than he did at 29!

THE LIST – I’ve got about 10 months left to get anything done on here that I am still interested in doing.

1. Try a new food – lots of times!
2. Buy Reds season tickets – never did this. And I’m surprised it’s on the list.
3. Be a LEAD mentor – Did this! Sending my love to Sigrid Skaggs
4. Go on a weekend vacation with Derek – we do this all the time now. It’s funny to think that back then we didn’t.
5. Ride the Gatlinburg SkyLift – I don’t think I have done this. I did a long time ago, but not in the past ten years.
6. Get a pedicure – of course! I guess I only recently started doing this.
7. Go to the movies alone – once. During a work trip.
8. Straighten my teeth – Yep! Invisilign. And it was expensive.
9. Fly in an airplane – Lots of times to lots of places!
10. Make a new friend – Lots of these too!
11. Learn to drive something new – I learned how to drive my father-in-law’s 4-wheeler.
12. Go up in the St. Louis arch – Okay. Seriously annoyed with this one. I put it on here because when I was a kid I was too scared to go up in the artch. I have tried to go up twice in the last ten years. The first time Derek was hit by a car while riding a bike in St. Louis right when I was supposed to meet him to go up in the arch. The second time I went to St. Louis on a work trip and it was closed for construction. Ugh! I’m done with this goal.
13. Have a baby – Even though I had three little ones, I remember thinking I wasn’t quite finished yet. Now, Ellie Jo! And I’m so glad we have her.
14. Publish a book – working so hard to make this happen!
15. Stay at Murphin Ridge Inn – Done!
16. Watch Gone with the Wind – yep. When Ellie was born and she had her days and nights switched, I passed the time watching this movie.
17. Ride a new roller coaster – Done!
18. Run a 5K – Yes, several!
19. Complete a doctorate – BOOM! You bet I did!
20. Run in the Flying Pig – I am shocked this is on here. I was not a runner back then. I’m just now thinking maybe/possibly/might try to do the half at some point.
21. Talk to the boys about baptism – Yep, and baptized both!
22. Camp in the backyard with the kids – Um…no. And I don’t see myself doing this, but maybe I can convince Derek to do it. Haha!
23. Drive a clover leaf loop – yes!
24. Go to Wrigley Field – No! And I’ve been to Chicago more than once. Still need to make this happen.
25. Go apple picking – Hmm…I’m really surprised, but I don’t think we have done this yet. This fall!
26. Organize my email – HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
27. Make homemade spaghetti sauce – I have definitely cooked a lot of new things in the kitchen, but I’m not sure I’ve done this one yet.
28. Sew something from a pattern – Oh, embarrassed to say I think this is a no.
29. Complete a Beth Moore Bible study – yep!
30. Buy an outfit not on sale – yes!
31. Lay in bed with each kid while they fall asleep – I used to do this a lot when they were younger. Not so much anymore, but every once in a while.
32. Read Pride & Prejudice – No! Sniff, sniff. I really should. I love the movie.
33. Sleep in until lunchtime – Yes!
34. Grow herbs – Yes! I just started doing this during the pandemic.
35. Go on a bike ride with the kids – Yes!
36. Publish an article – Yes! Co-authored a few.
37. Read through the Bible – I think so, but I have jumped around.
38. Complete the Thanksgiving Day Race – This is funny that it is on the list. This is a family tradition that we have now done at least six times!
39. Stay overnight in a hotel alone – Yes. I obviously had no idea how many work trips I would be going on when I wrote this list.
40. Learn to crochet – Nope. Bought the stuff, but have yet to learn.

I think I can still do a few of these things in the next 10 months. Then I can decide what will become part of my next goal list.