29 Years Old

“The year you were born marks only your entry into the world. Other years where you prove your worth, they are the ones worth celebrating. 
” 

― Jarod Kintz

Last year was the first birthday that I really felt like I'd made progress during the year. You can walk down memory lane and read about my 28th birthday (I know I did). This year with 30 bearing down on me, I get to once again evaluate the past year, much like all these talk shows did as we moved into 2013. I get to decide whether 29 was a good year or a waste of one. So here it goes:

• I spent the first five months of 2012 living in the Jetta, which I loved. I did a lot of school work and kept pretty busy.
• I went to Boston Symphony, something I try to do at least once each year
• I graduated from college with a BA and two minors, a pretty big check mark in the productive column
• I moved back to NH, got my own classroom, and started teaching pre-K
• I said goodbye to the Jetta after a long battle with the check engine light. A very sad time. 
• I spent three days in a boarding house before ditching it and loosing my money to a crocked landlord. Luckily my parents are sports and I got to move in for a few months. 
• I got to see my little sister, which is a bi-yearly occurance and therefore very special
• Finally I moved into a great little apartment in a great town with a great roommate
• My last real accomplishment was that I started learning violin, which I'm loving.
• I also read 40 books (not including trashy romance novels)

I'm torn as to whether this was a productive year or not. Finishing college was big, but other than that I really haven't done that much. I'm racking my brain to recall some memorable events, but nothing comes to mind. I did go to New Orleans for the Teach NOLA interview, a position I would eventually decline, but that was so close to year 27 that it doesn't really count. Don't get me wrong, I'm having fun with my job and my home, but it is evident that I need to get out more. 

OK, so year 28 was not a resounding success quantity wise, but I like to think that the quality of the year was pretty high. I learned a lot and, after jumping out of college, managed to get my footing in the grown up world relativity quickly.

So, what are my birthday resolutions for year 29? Well, this is the last year of my 20s, which is a huge step. Yes, maybe it's one of those leaps that, in hind sight, will look like jumping over a stream instead of the Evil Kinevil Grand Canon stunt it appears to be now, but I'm going to let myself freak out for a while. Because this is the last year of my 20s I want to do something grand, just to set the stage for my 30s. 

• I want to keep at the violin, no loosing focus!
• I want to travel someplace. It's always been hard, what with my never having a real job (and therefore no money), but I want to go someplace like Denmark, just to say I've seen it.
• I'm not sure how long I want to stay with this job, but I want to really push the envelope so, if I choose to leave, I will have something awesome to put on my resume.
• I need to take two classes in NH to get my teaching certification, that's a must do ASAP
• Most of all I want to do things, not just work. I'm not sure what I want to do, but I'm sure I can come up with a cooking class or volunteer work.

See? I can set goals!