I didn’t have much time to contemplate my 30th birthday last year, as I had just moved back from Berlin and all I wanted to do was settle back quietly with my little network of friends and family. But I love birthdays. I never know why people don’t celebrate them. It’s a constant surprise to me that I’ve survived another year on this planet.

It’s been heck of a rollercoaster, and I’m actually looking forward to fewer big transitions in the year ahead. Here are 31 things I hope to accomplish in the year ahead!

• Here’s something awesome: as an early birthday gift to myself, I PAID OFF MY STUDENT LOANS! Hoorah! 10 years in the making!! You can’t imagine how good that made me feel. But now in my 31st year, I’d like to get rid of that unsightly credit card debt too. It’s a plague. Credit cards are the devil.
• Travel somewhere new. I have a habit of revisiting the places I love, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But it’d be great to explore somewhere new this time around. Maybe Asia? Costa Rica? Back to the Balkans?
• I want to make the most of the good weather in Newfoundland. Hikes, camping, kayaking, etc. Sun is rare. Make the most of it.
• Learn to better manage my time, and trim my workload.
• But also start writing narrative again, because holy hell, I miss it.
• Finish my Newfoundland guidebook because it’s NEVER GETTING DONE!!!!
• Go back to Berlin.
• Go back to Ireland.
• Potentially start my own business. More on that soon. (Funny, when you’re working two full-time jobs, it’s a little hard to write a business plan.)
• See more of my family. It’s been hard to juggle work and family time, seeing as how my parents and brother live 600 kilometres away…and I don’t drive. But my mother was quite ill this past year, and family time is precious.
• Conquer my fear of driving in this god forbidden nightmare of a city.
• Take more time for myself, rather than saying “yes” to every social engagement that comes up. I have the worst case of FOMO in the history of mankind. It’s ruining me.
• Cultivate the close relationships around me, rather than stretching myself thin for acquaintances.
• Take at least one day of the week every week where I don’t even look at my freelance work, cuz…right now, I’m working about 60 hours a week and it’s way too much. On the other hand, bling bling.
• Keep better on top of this blog. It’s hard to be an interesting human when your life is 90% work and house sitting and then work some more.
• Keep better on top of my friends’ blogs, especially in the travel scene. I’ve been (unintentionally) distancing myself from the blog scene these days, as I’m not thrilled with the atmosphere in most Facebook groups/conversations. But my favourite travel bloggers continue to churn out amazing content, and I want to support what they do.
• Go on another epic walkabout. It’s unlikely I’ll be able to do the Camino again anytime soon, but man, even a few days of trekking would really heal my soul right about now.
• Participate more in the local arts scene. I participate quite a bit now, seeing as how I work in the arts. But I rarely go out seeking shows or art in my own personal time.
• Get better at celebrating my friends’ birthdays. I expect them to do a lot for me when my birthday rolls around, but I’m not particularly good at reciprocating.
• Have more fun with less money! Hiking, friends potlucks, camping, movies, game nights, you name it. It’s far too easy in St. John’s to drop $80 on a simple meal and a few drinks. (Guilty.)
• BUT also appreciate those splurges from time to time, whether it’s a delicious meal at Raymond’s or a spa day of self pampering.
• Be a little more generous, and volunteer my time. When I have it.
• Continue on with my German language practice, even if I probably won’t be returning to Berlin for a while yet.
• Start doing more hands-on things, like gardening. I spend entirely too much time in front of a computer.
• Keep up my mean reading streak. I was doing excellent with reading at the beginning of the year, and now I’ve slacked off due to overworking. (Best read so far, I think: Life After Life, Kate Atkinson.)
• Be more honest on this blog. Less self-censorship. Even if I’m aware that my mother reads this.
• Don’t screw things up with this delightful new guy I’m seeing.
• Stay better in touch with my friends from abroad, or relatives I haven’t spoken to in awhile.
• Start doing more to improve my health, because I’m far too susceptible to Haribo gummy bears (see also: Skor bars, nachos, white cheddar popcorn, cool ranch Doritos, etc.). I don’t have the metabolism of a 25-year-old anymore and it’s painfully obvious.
• Do more things that scare me…like riding a motorcycle. Maybe. We’ll see. Ugh.
• Perfect my washer toss game so that I can dominate all backyard lawn tournaments while waiting for the BBQ to cook. I mean, these can’t all be serious.

My 31st year kicks off tomorrow. Cheers to the year ahead!