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35 Things To Do in the Next 35 Years

My friends know I tend to get a little depressed around my birthday.  I spend a lot of time thinking about how I'm not as far along in life as I want to be, about how I thought I'd be doing something more important than I am.  Well, today is still a little bit like the other birthdays.  I've made peace with some of my shortcomings, and I'm mostly happy, but I know I've fallen short in areas (like the career department).

I decided to celebrate my 35 years on this earth by putting forth a list of 35 things I hope to accomplish in the next 35 years.  A bucket list, I suppose, of things I want to do between now and age 70 that I think will be fun and give my life a bit of purpose.  If and when I get done with these items I can come back and update the list.  Let me know what you think.

Here they are, in no particular order:


  1. Run a half marathon in less than 2 hours.
  2. Run a full marathon in 4 hours 30 minutes or less.
  3. Finish an Olympic distance triathlon.
  4. Finish a Half Ironman.
  5. Finish a Full Ironman.
  6. Qualify for (and run) the Boston Marathon.
  7. Adopt a kitty.
  8. Adopt a doggie.
  9. Travel with my dad to Detroit.
  10. Travel with my mom to Illinois.
  11. Start a small business.
  12. Visit Japan.
  13. Visit England.
  14. Take Chris to New York City.
  15. Run the New York City Marathon.
  16. Run the Chicago Marathon.
  17. Prep for the zombie apocalypse.
  18. Inspire someone.
  19. Earn the Healthcare Technology Systems Certificate of Completion.
  20. Re-learn how to speak Spanish moderately well.
  21. Win at something.
  22. Landscape my backyard.
  23. Learn how to make tamales.
  24. Research the family tree.
  25. Eat vegetarian at least one day every week, hopefully forever.
  26. Update my resume.
  27. Get the French Horn out and see if I can still play it.
  28. Take Eden to Disneyland.
  29. Go to the Grand Canyon again.
  30. Go to a high school reunion, if one presents itself.
  31. Get my/our wills done.
  32. Attend an Olympic Games.
  33. Volunteer at the zoo.
  34. Successfully change a bike tire.
  35. Become a foster parent for an animal rescue.
And the timer starts now!  

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