A few weeks ago I turned 21. Although I am very proud of myself for already accomplishing so much this early in my 20s, there are still so many things I want to do while I’m this young. Here are 22 things I aspire to do before I turn 22:
- Travel solo. I’ve travelled by myself before, but only within Canada. I want to travel internationally on my own before I have too many commitments and responsibilities back home.
- Take steps towards becoming bilingual. In our country, being able to speak both official languages opens so many doors (plus it sounds really cool!). I really want to learn to speak French fluently. I know this will be hard to tackle in one year, I can certainly take my first steps before my next birthday.
- Work professionally in my field of study. I am currently studying Social Work and am eager to take on my first professional internship this year.
- Take more risks. I’m not exactly sure what this means to me yet, but it just feels right. Skydiving, maybe?
- Speak in public. I have yet to give a public speech and I think that is a challenge every young person should take on. It’s scary, but it really seems worthwhile.
- Accomplish an overnight hike. I have always wanted to go backpacking in the wilderness, so this year I’m going to research some local 25-30km trails that I can do over 2 or 3 days with friends.
- Become more financially literate. I know absolutely nothing about taxes, investments, savings, credit, or banks; and after watching a few episodes of The Financial Diet on YouTube, I realized I really should. I think it’s important to get your finances under control while you’re young so you can be secure when you’re older. I predict this will be boring but worth it.
- Immerse myself in a new culture. I spend lots of time studying and reading about other cultures, but how much can I ever really know if I don’t experience it for myself?
- Go wine tasting. Something I’ve never really done. But I love wine, and it looks glamorous!
- Visit the USA. Although there are a lot of reasons I don’t want to visit the US right now (we won’t go there in this article!), I think it would be awesome to say I was in the States as a 21-year-old. Kinda lame, but I have no shame.
- Watch the sunrise at Cape Spear. Cape Spear is the most Easterly Point in North America. I have always wanted to be the first person to see the sun come up over our continent and this year I am going to get my lazy ass out of bed and go do it.
- Have a conversation with someone influential. Although I did get this opportunity through Youth In Office this past November, it was a pretty rushed day and I did not get to talk in depth with any of the ministers. I’d love to sit down over coffee with someone really influential and learn from them.
- Try birth photography. Vulnerable, uncomfortable, and deeply personal. These are things I am getting better at dealing with as I get older. Birth photography is all of these things, and it is so beautiful and so special. I really want to capture this incredible moment for somebody.
- Learn to say “no.” I have got to stop trying to please everyone and just learn to say “nope, I don’t want to do that” or “I’m sorry, I have too much on my plate.” This is a skill I have to learn while I’m young or I feel like I’ll never survive in my profession.
- Take more candid photos. My photos always feel super posey, and I want to start capturing authentic moments more often.
- Take an RV trip with friends. Who doesn’t want to do this?! It will happen this year.
- Have professional photos taken. I’m usually behind the camera, so I want to try being in front of it for once.
- Drink more water. Self-explanatory. Super important!
- Get to the bottom of my reading list. I currently own a stack of books about the same height as me that I have been itching to read. Before my next birthday, I want to get through all of them.
- Only shop at thrift stores. Save money, save the environment, look unique. Sounds like a fun challenge. (Obviously this doesn’t count gifts for others!)
- Do more yoga. I’ve fallen off the Moksha bandwagon lately and I want to get back into it. I have poor core and upper-body strength and I want to improve it.
- Be more aware of current world events. I think this is super important for my profession and my personal life. We should all be aware of what is happening politically in our own countries and internationally.
A little over-ambitious? Probably. But I don’t mind. Having goals keeps me motivated, and there is no feeling more satisfying than scratching items off a list! Wish me luck! Share in the comments what you would like to do before your next birthday. We would love to hear about it! We always find your comments so inspiring.
xoxo,
char
This book is a riveting account of Susannah Cahalan’s own experience with an unknown illness that caused her to lose her mind. Anyone with an interest in psychology or psychiatry would enjoy this book, but it is accessible to all readers. Ultimately, Cahalan’s message is to never give up on yourself or your family- do your research and do not let an institution control your outcome. Brain on Fire is proof of the unpredictability and incredible power of the human brain. You will not be able to put this book down.
Warning: this book may cause extreme cases of wanderlust and the urge to quit your job to become a flight attendant. Mandy Smith shares unbelievable stories about life in the air; you will laugh til you cry and gasp in shock. I literally read this book on a plane during a flight to Punta Cana, and almost never came back. I am still inspired every day by Smith’s story and if all else fails, I am becoming a flight attendant, no questions asked.
Sold is another challenging read. This book does not resonate well with everybody, as it is written in poetry and deals with another very real issue: child sex trafficking. McCormick is trying to make readers aware that this actually happens in the world. Unlike O’Neill’s Asking For It, Sold has a happy ending, which unfortunately is a little less true to life, these young girls usually do not have a happy ending. Sold is a powerful book that everybody should read.
Classic rock lovers, this one is for you. Mick Fleetwood’s autobiography is hilarious, exciting, and unimaginable. The wild antics this man got up to are beyond belief. I am a little biased because Fleetwood Mac is my all-time favorite band, so I would undoubtedly love this book anyway. However, Play On can be enjoyed by anybody, even if you’re not a huge classic rock person. Mick is a smart and insightful man; the messages he shares are uplifting and inspiring and encourage you to achieve your goals, no matter how crazy they might be.
