40x40: A Bucket List to Help Me During My Mid-Life Crisis
I think I might be going through some sort of mid-life crisis. Is 37 mid life? Maybe I just have the Winter Blues. Whatever it is, I'm going through it. I have been in such a funk lately. I can think of a few things in my life that might be contributing to these feelings but the ones that really stand out are my weight and and the fact that I don't have friends like I used to. It's really quite depressing. The weight thing isn't too serious because I know I'm not obese and I can lose it quickly. I'm 5'1" and I currently weigh 111 lbs. My goal is to be 105 again. I'm tiny so every pound screams, "Look at me!" The friend issue really makes me sad. Having 2 kids back to back really took its toll on my friendships. Now that I am living 400 miles away from everyone I am lonelier than ever. I haven't talked to my best friend in months (my fault) and I know that living in a different state I should start finding new friends. It's not that easy for someone my age to just make new friends. I'm sure once Bella starts preschool I can try and form some friendships with the other moms; I hope so because I don't know how much more I can take.
Besides the weight and friendship issues I am also feeling a lack of adventure and fun in my life. I hate when people think that just because you are a parent you aren't entitled to having fun anymore. I am not asking to go partying every night but I would like to be able to get out of the house and go somewhere that doesn't include buying diapers or having to be back home in a 3 hours. Motherhood can really suck the life out of you if you let it and, unfortunately, that is exactly what I let happen. I need an outlet... or maybe just some Prozac! Kidding! I need to do something that I enjoy. It's pretty pathetic that I'm excited to get out on Monday to go the doctor.
I decided to make a bucket list of things to accomplish before I hit 40. I have 3 years to actualize each of these intentions. In order to accomplish these goals I'm going to have to really commit to them and have the support of my husband. I really feel like I need this list to help me find the real "me" again. So I present to you my 40 x 40 list in no particular order:
1. Learn how to use Photoshop
2. Travel to Europe (preferably London or Spain)
3. Read a great book series that doesn't include teenage vampires
4. Travel somewhere with a friend for a weekend (I've done this pre-marriage)
5. Paint my fireplace mantel
6. Go on a fun road trip with my husband that isn't back home to Chicago.
7. Learn how to sew
8. Reupholster my wing back chairs
9. Run a 5K again
10. Learn how to knit or crochet
11. Go to a blogger conference
12. Vlog more
13. Create my recipe book
14. Build a raised garden
15. Go back to work
16. Take a boxing class
17. Try Zumba
18. Bake a cheesecake
19. Have pre-baby abs ... guess making cheesecake won't help that goal
20. Go skydiving
21. Take a family vacation
22. Take a cooking/baking class (to perfect my culinary skills)
23. Enlarge our wedding photo and transfer to canvas
24. Visit my dad's grave site
25. Create something that I can sell
26. Get Botox (seriously)
27. Makeover my walk-in closet
28. Visit NYC again
29. Become involved in our church
30. Surprise Jeff with a trip to Jupiter, Fl for Cardinal's Spring Training
31. Become a Brand Ambassador
32. Take a trip with my mom to Las Vegas
33. Own a professional Canon camera
34. Build new friendships
35. Own an amazing piece of furniture I can't stop gushing about
36. Scan and organize all photos on an external hard drive
37. Spend a holiday in Arizona with my whole family
38. Try a hairstyle that is completely out of my comfort zone
39. Learn how to line dance
40. Get married in Catholic Church
3 comments:
Awww Jen...I can totally relate to how you are feeling and I am not even married nor have any kids. I am also stuck and in a rut. I think all of us go through something like this at one point or another.
I love your Bucket List, it's very similar to mine. I am scratching off getting a Canon professional camera in April. My friend is bring it back for me when he visits the States. YAY :) Very best of luck with your goals.
xo Tami
Hi Jen, I found your blog through a pin on pinterest and have now been lost in it for the better part of my afternoon. I totally feel the same way and I only moved 45 min. from my friends/family. It's not easy making new friends, unlike when we were 10 and could just ask anyone "Hey, you wanna play?". I <3 your blog, thanks for being so candid about everythng.
Wow, you have 35 months to accomplish all this. While some are easier to do than others (like in a day), I know you have to do this on top of being a busy mom. So I hope you get to do them all. And even if you don't, ticking them off the checklist is such an accomplishment that it motivates you to do more of the others and it becomes easier.
=)
Post a Comment