Rae's List

About 2 weeks ago, I finished reading a book called, Lilah's List, by Robyn Amos - a good (romance) book, by the way. The main character, Lilah, made a list of things she wanted to do by the time she was 30. She started the list at 16, forgot it after college, and came across it again 3 weeks before her 30th b-day. Lilah only had about half her list crossed off, so, she decided - or rather, her bff decided for her - to attempt to cross off what's left in 3 weeks.

This novel has inspired me to create my own list. Obviously, I can't do a "Before I turn 30" list because I've already past that monumental birthday. My next "big" b-day is 35. Actually, I was going to make it a "Before I turn 40" list, but my parents and sister are of the opinion that I need to change the age to 35. The fact that this only gives me 3 years to cross of my list items didn't matter to them. So, my list is "Rae's List of Things to do Before 35" or "Rae's List" for short. *NOTE: list is not in any order of importance.

• Become Dr. Rae Weakly, EdD
• Get counseling license
• Go sky diving
• Go para sailing
• Go jet skiing
• Swim with dolphins
• Go bungee jumping
• Go cliff diving
• Stay in a hotel (or beach house) on the beach
• Stay in a resort
• Stay in an expensive hotel for at least one night without worrying about price
• Learn Spanish - be able to hold conversation with native speakers & my sister
• Learn a 3rd language (Portuguese, Italian, French, or Japanese)
• Learn to play acoustic guitar
• Shake hands with a celebrity
• Become a published author
• Fall in love
• Get married
• Have a child
• Travel to other countries/cities/states - Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Brazil, Holy Land, St. Thomas Virgin Islands, Italy, Spain, Japan, Cuba, Columbia, Tahiti, Philippines, Virginia, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Phoenix, Jamaica
• Become owner of THRIVING business, AYM Enrichment Center
• Learn to belly dance
• Learn to Salsa
• Learn to dance Hip Hop
• Get a professional makeover
• Go to a spa
• Get 3rd tattoo (I even know what and where, just not too fond of pain)
• Ride a motorcycle
• Learn kickboxing
• Fly first class
• Have at least one of my novels optioned for film
• Wear shorts in public (I'm self-conscious about my legs...haven't worn shorts in about 12 years)
• Wear a daring (yet tasteful) dress
• Start research on what makes other countries' educational system work & what America can do to catch up
• Comfortably wear a swimsuit without cover (no shirt over it...no beach pants to cover my legs, etc)
• Participate in a walkathon
• Run a mile
• Go white-water rafting
• Go skiing
• Try a fruity alcoholic drink
• Sing at a karaoke bar
• Learn sign language
• Become debt free
• Buy first house
• Buy my Escalade EXT
• Approach an attractive guy (if only for conversation. Even @ 32 I clam up around cute guys)
• Attend a Superbowl game
• Go to an awards show
• Get nose pierced
• Climb the Statue of Liberty
• Eat @ an expensive restaurant
• Set up a foundation for kids (still thinking of what it'll be for)
• Become a motivational speak/mentor for young girls/teen girls
• Play basketball without dying
• Buy my parents their dream house
• Spend a whole day doing absolutely nothing (take a me-day)
• Donate a substantial amount of $ for a worthy cause
• Learn how to play piano
• Plan a camp for girls and/or creative kids
• Experience Las Vegas (or Atlantic City) gambling once
• Research both sides of my family. We have a whole side of French and Native American (my great great grandparents on both sides)ancestors that I know nothing about. I also want to research our ancestors who were slaves.
• Read the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation

So, that's it...so far, at least. Long list, right? Now that I think about it, it'll probably be more interesting, more exciting, to try to accomplish these things in 3 years as oppose to 8. I created this list on my 32nd birthday (last Sunday - September 28th). How fitting! Every once in a while, I'll update my list, crossing off things that I've accomplished. Let's see how many I can cross off in 3 years. Ready. Set. GO!