2021 is the year in which I will turn 50. A couple of months ago, I started thinking about what I want to do for this milestone birthday. I was supposed to be on a cruise for the actual birthday, the first time we would be cruising on the day, but the cruise has been cancelled. We were planning to go to Norway to celebrate - that has also been tabled. Parties and gatherings of any kind discouraged now, and probably still until later this year as well. I decided to focus on what I can do and to do things that I enjoy.
The first spark was "Read 50 books". That sounded like a lot (I read 30 in 2020, the last 2 I finished on the final 2 days of the year - it was that close. I have read more than that in prior years though.) but then I thought if I re-read some childhood and young adult favorites as part of the mix and include books I am really excited about, fifty now sounds doable. With that in mind, maybe I could make 49 more goals! No.... I really don't have 50 interests - let's make it things I enjoy.
As you know from reading this blog, I like reading, eating, and creating in many different ways. Some of the Fifty for 50 (as I have decided to call them overall) are inspired by those. Others are things that are important to me. I have put them into these categories: Family/Friends, Reading, Creating/Creativity, Giving, Eating, and Health. All are designed to be accomplishable, regardless of weather, pandemic or other factors I cannot control, which is also the reason travel was not one of them. Here are my Fifty for 50 and what each means.
In 2021, I will:
- Blog 50 times (writing/creativity)
- Complete 50 scrapbook pages (creating)
- Read 50 books - a mix of old favorites from throughout my life and new-to-me reads, including book club selections (reading)
- Give a combination of hours and baby hats to total 50 - e.g., volunteer 20 hours and donate 30 hats (giving, creating)
- Walk 50 miles per month (health)
- Cook or bake 50 new recipes (eating, creating)
- Reach out in one way or more to 50 friends/family and connect or reconnect (giving, health, possibly also creativity)
