This is absolutely NOT a midlife crisis! I am going on a spiritual journey to refined myself and who I am after children and disability! Okay maybe a little bit of a midlife crisis- but just a smidge
I have been really fortunate to have achieved a lot in my short years on this earth. I have travelled to places like India, Australia and America. I have gotten married, have three children and taken the massive leap to go freelance and started a blog and youtube channel. So now as I turn 29 I thought it would be a good idea to jot down 30 things I want to do before I turn 30 and immortalise them within this blog. I want to have a mix of achievements and experiences- I have been doing a lot of research and most of it is the usual ‘go travelling’ or ‘throw a dinner party’. And those things just aren’t things I need to achieve as I have been there and done that...I suppose I am struggling to find enough things I really want to do as my life is so far removed from the average person in their twenties.
This probably stems from having children young and losing all my hobbies due to not being able to do them anymore because of my disability. But I won't allow it to define me any longer!
Here is my list of thirty things I want to accomplish in the year before I turn the big three oh! (30)
1. Get out more
I have started a meet up group to meet people in my area and I really want to get out and have at least one digital free day where I am not connected to my phone or working. I think its really important to mental health to have a day where we can reconnect with our surroundings and socialise with people. Not having small children means meeting other parents is now quite limited as coffee mornings and toddler groups are now off limits. I hope my meet up groups will take off but even if they don’t just getting out myself will be worth it.
2. Go skydiving
I don’t think I want to hurl myself out of a plane- that doesn’t really thrill me! Maybe I can save that one for my forty before forty. But I would love to give a wind tunnel a go as a sort of pre warm up to the real thing! My husband regularly plops out of a plane down at Netheravon and has been trying to get me up to fourteen thousand feet above ground level but so far I haven’t broken! But watch this space.
3. Sleep over at Hampton court Palace
This is as rare as Rocking Horse shit. But when is does come up I will be on it! When I was in primary school in London we went on a school trip here and I have loved the Palace ever since. The chance to sleep on a roll mat in the freezing cold, terrified out of my wits just thrills me!
4. Fight for a cause Well I think it’s pretty clear that I advocate for better representation of all disabled people within media. That is a cause I will keep fighting for but it also includes more employment opportunities and inclusion.
5. Let go of my past
I have had a pretty traumatic life so far. I didn’t have the most stable childhood, I was kidnapped by my biological father, I was beaten up and almost murdered at 13 years old, suffered loss of a pregnancy and bullied pretty intensely by peers. The thing is I can’t do anything about this. I can’t change it and I shouldn’t let it define me and if anything its made me a much more aware and street smart person. I am not the only person int he world for awful things to happen to them and I won’t be the last- which is sad. But in a way of letting go I must use what happened to me as a way of helping others in the future. 6. Start violin lessons!
I have had a violin for a while and while I have some hand function I would love to master this instrument to at least the level of twinkle twinkle little star. And then obviously being able to bang out some of the GOT soundtrack at parties!
7. Fall completely in love with myself
I have had pretty low self esteem since I was bullied. I am fundamentally a changed person but while I can’t go back I want to move forward and accept myself more. I am not sure how to do this but I think just making the step to acceptance is putting my best foot forward.
8. Become more culturedFrom The Globe Theatre, West End, Proms to seeing a Drag show at The Glory. I want to see more cultural things from tried and tested to new and inspiring.
9. Rediscover my childhood at Ballie BallersonJumping into a pit full of balls just sounds like something we should all be doing- just to let go and have no cares or worries for a few hours!
10. Meet a hero
I am not sure who? Maybe the Queen or getting the chance to have tea at Buckingham Palace. That would be amazing! Or failing that send fan-mail off to get an autograph of someone I admire.
11. Attend Summer in the CityDefinitely a must for 2019! I just want to experience it at least once- I have heard that the accessibility is not the best at this festival but it is something I have wanted to do for a while!
12. Buy a piece of art
I would love to invest in a piece of art. Even if it is just a print of a 3D print on to canvas. Since I spend 99 percent of my time at home it would just to have something I love to look at rather than magnolia walls!
13. ReadOr buy more books! I love reading and the children have a large collection of books but I seem to have lost my love for pouring over a book story!
14. Travel across Europe by train on the Orient Express
This is something that my end up on my forty before forty list. But If I ever got the chance this year or next year to go, I would jump at it! Maybe for our seventh wedding anniversary or Valentines day.
15. Go skiingI have always wanted to plow down a mountain full of white power on two tiny pieces of plastic attached to my feet. Just seems like such fun! I would have to do it tandem now just in case my legs or arms decided to give up on me but I won't let my SCI stop me from having fun!
16. Go to Africa and visit Giraffe manor in Kenya
This is another that may end of on the forty list but I would dearly love to take my children to Africa and see all the amazing animals before they disappear completely!
17.Sleep outdoors without sacrificing luxury!
So my children are desperate to go camping but I am not convinced. However I have been looking at Feather Down Farms and Yurts to hire at Rockliffe Hall. There is potential there!
18.Break a bad habit
I am just very good at procrastinating and I need to prioritise my work and blog much more if I want to make my freelance an actual career. Nothing comes to you unless you work hard for it. Yes some have luck and sheer talent but most of us have to pull our finger out and get on.
19. Have an all-day/ weekend Spa Experience
I don't like to spend money on myself BUT I would love a day at Bath Spa. Something completely child free with my husband where we could just relax and unwind.
20. Do something scary that will give me an adrenaline rush.
I am not really an adrenaline seeker but I would love to do a zip wire, leap of faith onto a giant air bag and or a bungee drop. They have all of that at the Eden Project- so it would be amazing to do all those things just once would be enough!
21. Afternoon tea at Claridges
Just because I love the history of the hotel and the surrounding architecture is beautiful.
22. Go up in a hot air balloon
I would LOVE to do this for my actual birthday. I have always had a thing for hot air balloons. I not really sure why- maybe its to do with living part of my life in Wiltshire as you see them a lot!
23. Drive some really fast cars!I think this would be an awesome experience. I am not really a petrol head but I can appreciate some beautifully constructed cars!
24. See the Northern Lights
I think this is just a must and a once in a life time experience! Potentially seeing them in Norway and combining other things like a sledge ride, stay at the ice hotel.
25. Take a Family Holiday abroad
We have never been on holiday together and I would love the opportunity to take my children to see family in Australia and India.
26. Whale watching in Scotland
Whales are without a doubt my favourite animals. The fact they will go extinct in the next fifty years saddens me greatly.
27.Learn How to Take Better PhotosI want to make my Instagram just have that better edge and learn how to get the best angles etc- I have no idea how I can do this so let me know!
28.Have a family holiday in the UkI am thinking Cornwall and staying at the Eden Project Hostel or your know maybe Center Parks will sponsor me to get the low down on a disabled eye view of their lodges? Who knows I will simply put that out there to the universe!
29. Celebrate New Year's Eve in a foreign city
This one may be difficult to do this year. But I have actually done this before when I was 18 in India with my family. So I could probably tick this one off!
30. Have an amazing 30th BirthdayI would love to have a massive fancy smancie party with my nearest and dearest at a hotel somewhere but I don't have that many friends and I hate socialising. But it would be great maybe to go to Vegas and really celebrate reaching a mile stone birthday!
Lets see how much I can accomplish within the year and not let the fear of judgement get in the way!