50 Before 30

I made a list with my best friend called 30 before 30.  Naturally, it was a list of 30 things to do or see before I turn 30 years old.  Sounded great when I was writing it, but I soon discovered that those 30 things would not all be happening.

I had about two years to complete the list.  Frankly, the timetable does not matter.  Not when you've put down to run the Boston Marathon.  This one was a stretch, to say the least, since, as of right now, I don't even know if I'll run another marathon in my life and I'm okay with that.  Other, more feasible goals included reading a certain number of books, which I exceeded; visiting New Zealand, which I got very close to accomplishing but it basically didn't happen because of scheduling; go to a Coldplay concert, which was epic; ride a motorcycle and see Mount Rushmore, both of which happened in SD; and visit friends in other states, which has been done a lot with all my traveling lately -- seeing dear ones in Massachusetts, Vermont, Missouri, Iowa, and more.  So, I didn't get them all crossed off but don't worry, I still plan on doing everything, just not before I'm 30. 

I've had a change in plan, seeing as how my 30 year of life is coming up this August and I've been going from state to state so often.  I've now decided to do 50 before 30.  Yep, that's right!  Same concept, different kind of list. 

I'm going to attempt to see all 50 states before I turn 30.  Boom. 

Now some question what it takes to count a state as "seen" or "visited."  One friend's family say that if you use the bathroom in the state, then you have visited.  You can check it off the list.  Haha!  I feel you have to go and have the day there or partake in an event.  For instance, Justin Bieber is a talented artist and I like his music. (I don't care what you say.)  I needed to do something in North Dakota to check it off the list.  So, yeah, that concert happened. 

This new goal of 50 before 30 came about because, well, I'm pretty positive I can do it.  It's always been on my life bucket list but why not do it before I'm 30?!  I also sorta keep track of which states I've been to and I realized I only have three more to visit before I have all 50.  Thus was born the "I have to do this!  This would be so cool." mentality.  

Seriously.  I scrapped my trip to Iceland so I would have enough time to get to the last three states needed -- Arkansas, Oregon, and Utah.  I can go to Iceland some other time, maybe when friends can join too.  Besides, there was an added bonus of seeing good friends before I ventured out on my new adventure :)  

I planned my route, re-routed a lot based on stuff like my friend joining me and crashing a wedding, looked at flights, etc.  My backpack is about to burst.  I have no real agenda, other than to step foot in each state.  I can do whatever I want.

I'm pretty pumped and I'm ready to do a lot of hiking and camping :)  My friend, who I haven't seen in far too long, will join me for a couple of days but I'm mainly going solo.  At the end of it, I'll hopefully be joining some more friends at a beach so I'll have a nice, long vacation with the best of both worlds, beach and mountains.

Honestly, the US is so diverse and beautiful that I could happily go back to any state and find something fun or relaxing.  And there are several states I definitely want to go back to because one little day trip is not enough and especially because I have many friends across the country now.  Can't wait to see what happens as time unfolds but maybe a life goal should be to see all 50 states every 30 years!  

Such a Tease

You only tease people you like, right?  Well then, I'm really liked.  Haha!  At least it feels that way, sometimes.

"Sure, I'm a pretty girl, up in a pretty world" and tend to just "sit still, look pretty" and take it (Name that tune!)  basically because I don't know what else to do in the moment. 

But seriously, my grandfather teases me all the time; my brother did as well growing up.  I'm used to it, you could say.  It can be good.  Teasing can build bonds, be flirty, lighten the mood, show affection, and can actually be really funny and fun.

Just last week during my army training, I was teased hardcore by my fellow Reservists.  One of my favorites had me laughing, rolling my eyes, shaking my head, feeling the love, and trying desperately to have a witty comeback. 

On the one hand, I don't mind teasing because it's usually mutual and because I do think people tease others when they like them and are just trying to be playful, doing it in a fun-loving manner not mean or spiteful or with ill-intent.  On the other hand, I do mind because occasionally I don't have thick enough skin and I don't ever seem to have a good comeback!  Ugh. 

My outlook is to not tease people about what makes us different, since I think being your own unique person is awesome.  I actually want to learn from people who are different than me or like different things than me.  I suppose I tease to flirt or because the person was teasing me first. 

Honestly, I'm nice and want others to be nice to me, and I think they will be.  That might be mistake number one.  I take people at their word and think very realistically for the most part, mistake number two.  So, I assume what people say is in line with the truth, unless it's blatantly obvious that it's not.  A guy friend started a statement saying along the lines of, "Well, when I was a teenage girl…"  I just laughed and playfully pushed him while rolling my eyes because he was being a goober.  It's times like this when I can absolutely tell that someone is teasing in an innocent way that I don't mind at all. 

The same friend had to say "I'm messing with you" several times.  I learned but had relapses.  See mistake number one.  Though at one point, I did get him back with a prank :)  Gotta love it. 

However, sometimes people tease too much.  It's downright mean and possibly venturing into passive aggressiveness.  Not cool.  I'm positive I've done this at some point but the example that comes to mind is when it was done to me.  A friend said he had a souvenir for me.  I was excited because I like stuff like that but then I was also puzzled because I had no idea what the heck he would have.  Well, come to find out, he was completely kidding, having absolutely nothing for me.  Boo.  Unfortunately, it didn't stop there because he made me feel silly for believing him and "hadn't learned anything about him."  See mistake number two. 

But yes, I did learn.  Not only did I learn to "not believe anything that comes out of his mouth" but I also learned he is surprisingly quite the dichotomy.  He is the nerd I thought he was in the things he enjoys -- aren't we all nerds deep down?! -- such as liking video games and cats a lot (like a lot) but then he also likes to workout/powerlift and is actually funny.  Can that really all be found in the same person?  He's usually not shy to state his opinion and is wrong sometimes (no, sorry, I don't think you have all your nutrition figured out, for instance) yet does a good job of leading, getting things done.  Once I got past some of the teasing, I noticed streaks of genuine niceness like the time he gave me a straight up compliment and another time he recognized/appreciated something I had done to help out.  Then, when he's not putting up a defensive front, I saw his ability to intelligently talk about a range of topics.  I realized I didn't know him very well before training but was thankful he and others were there to make it more bearable and just determined people come into your life at a certain time for a reason.  Overall, I think I observed many things in him and learned he's basically nothing like me, it seems, except possibly for liking Indian food and needing Jesus.  No one is immune from needing God in their life. 

In the end, it's those things that make us nerdy, or rather just ourselves, that are the best!  Take time to get to know others and appreciate the things they offer.  You don't know how long they'll be in your life, and you just might learn something.  And don't forget to give them a good-natured teasing.