Now that I am fast approaching a mere 6 months out from turning 25, I am finally going to publish my “25 Before 25” list.

The list outlines goals and aspirations that I intended to do before I turned 25. You know me though – This list originally started to take shape in July 2009 and has been revised several times since then…

You’ll notice that some of the items have already been crossed off the list. Weird considering I just published it, right? Since I technically only have 6 months left, I’m going to fudge this timeline and look at it as more of a moving target. I’ll work at crossing as many items off the list as possible by the time my year of 25 comes to a close. Which means, at the minimum, I’m giving myself a year and half. Wish me luck!

1. See the Pacific Ocean. [For the record, I'm counting the San Francisco Bay.]

2. Make a grown up gal budget and stick to it.

3. Clean my room and keep it that way.

4. Nurture new friendships to be meaningful. [Definitely working on this one.]

5. Use my passport to visit another country. [Looks like this isn't happening as I embark on 2012: The Year of Saving.]

6. Make my relationships with my siblings and their offspring a priority. [And this one too.]

7. Own some really expensive high heel shoes.[Although my shoe collection has grown and I have the pair picked out, it looks like this one isn't happening either due to 2012: The Year of Saving.]

8. Go to a Bears v. Packers game at Soldier’s Field. [Fabulous Chicago Weekend. Big thanks to my family for letting me use the tickets!]

9. Take up rock climbing and climb outside on real rocks.

10. Go on a food tour. [Wondering if a brewery tour(s) should be substituted here...]

11. See some of the Outer Banks’ famous lighthouses.[Hoping for a warmish March trip.]

12. Make a pie from scratch.

13. Attend an awesomely cool music festival like Lollapalooza.

14. Become a more dedicated blogger and increase reader engagement.

15. Have a stable job that I love.

16. Visit all 89 [They added a new one in Davidson...] Char-Grill locations. [3 4 7 down. 5 2 to go! Road trip! Who's with me?]

17. Take financial control by making a will and contributing to a retirement fund.

18. Be more actively involved in my community.

19. Finish at least one book every two months.

20. Be promoted and/or get a raise at work. [I'm counting a couple work switcharoos.]

21. Commit to an exercise plan and stick with it.

22. Learn to drive a stick shift.

23. Attend the SXSW conference in 2011.

24. Go on a kayaking adventure.

25. Study for the GMAT.

So there you have it. Me trying to be a grown up gal trying to figure out things that I haven’t quite figured out and ultimately giving into the explorer in me. I’m super duper excited to start crossing some of these off the list.

Cheers,

G

Photo credit: Noël Zia Lee
Updated & Revised: 8/5/09 & 6/8/10 & 9/3/10 & 12/14/10