33 things I’m looking forward to now that I’m 33
I just celebrated my 33rd birthday. Thirty-flipping-three. For several days leading up to my birthday, I was feeling generally sorry for myself. I was feeling old, tired, and uninspired. But on my birthday, I woke up with a new outlook. There are so many awesome things in my world right now, and so many awesome things to look forward to.
So, taking a page from a recent Babble blog, I’ve decided to list 33 things I’m looking forward to this year. The following is a decidedly positive list.
1. Seeing a movie. For Christmas last year, my husband gave me a movie gift card. That was nine months ago.
2. Celebrating my fifth wedding anniversary this month. We don’t do much, just toast a glass of delicious fancy wine we bought last year at this time, and get drunk and be thankful.
3. Cooler nights. Bring on autumn.
4. Taking my son to the beach for a farewell-to-summer trip.
5. Writing more and getting better at it.
6. Getting my first tattoo. Is 33 too old? Don’t answer that question.
7. Finishing our home renovations. It’s only been five years. Justsome “finishing work” (how long have we been calling it that?) like sheetrock, trim, carpet …
8. Finding ways to relax.
9. Buying a new couch. I think about this one a lot.
10. Hearing my son say sentences.
11. Letting go of the guilt, doubt, and fear that weigh me down. Or at least trying.
12. Going out for drinks with my girlfriends. Maybe if we make it a more regular thing, I won’t feel compelled to drink my weight in Pinot.
13. Uninterrupted sleep.
14. Checking out books from the library to read with my son. We are finally tired of our collection and I have rediscovered the magic that is the public library.
15. Finishing one of the seven craft projects I have started.
16. Buying my son completely unnecessary toys for Christmas.
17. Warm bubble baths.
18. Taking some road trip adventures. As soon as this kid turns 2, we have to buy his plane ticket, which means fewer flights for this family.
19. Crockpot season.
20. Boots weather.
21. Reading – and finishing – Zadie Smith’s new novel, NW, which gladly isn’t a parenting guide.
22. Relearning to knit. Again. For the 17th time.
23. Running more and getting better at it.
24. Planning and taking a mid-winter vacation to somewhere tropical.
25. Handwritten letters to and from people I love.
26. My son’s messy artwork from school.
27. Reading Fifty Shades of Grey. There, I said it. I want to read it, but I will probably do so in hiding, or with a decoy book jacket.
28. Lots more sit-ups.
29. Cooking more and teaching my son new tastes and textures of delicious, healthy foods.
30. Engaging more on Twitter.
31. Doing my part to make sure President Obama is reelected so legislators don’t succeed in robbing women of all their individual rights. Also to make sure that anyone who wants to marry who they love regardless of sexual orientation can damn well have the right to do so.
32. Working on ways to build my self-esteem and feel more confident as a mother, a friend, and a woman.
33. Writing more lists.
What’d I miss?
Sara Michael is a first-time mom with Type A tendencies. She likes rules, makes lists, and follows plans. That all seemed to work out fine until she had a baby. Now she balances her need for order and answers with the desire to enjoy the unpredictable journey she is on with her 2-year-old son (and a second on the way). Her day job? She is a writer and editorial director at a health care media company where she manages content for an online publication. Her journalism background started in daily newspapers, covering health, science and government. Follow her on Twitter @sara_the_writer.