The 30 by 30 Project

Let me just say before anything else is said, that this is not a bucket list-type of project. For this 30 by 30 endeavor, I will not attempt to kiss a stranger on top of the Empire State Building, get a tattoo, have a one night stand, climb Mt Everest, or dance naked under the full moon. (Although… I have done one of those things. I’ll make you guess which one it is.) Don’t be misled by the title is all I’m saying. I just wanted to make that clear. Read on and you’ll know what I mean… :)


I started this little endeavor mostly due to boredom

I’ve been living in LA for five years. I get up, go to work, hang out, spot a couple celebrities now and then, and I go home. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

I have reached a plateau. I have nothing to do, and I am bored stiff.

Then I realized, being as single as the day is long, living in one of the most exciting cities in the world with no responsibilities, no mortgage or any real commitments, I had no right to be!

What have I got to complain about? The world is my oyster! I can do whatever I want, whenever I want! So what the hell was I waiting for? Why was I wasting time moping around, when I could be out there, living my life the way I should be? I need to find out what my passion is and follow my bliss!

But what the hell IS my bliss?
I have no clue.

Shit!

So I came up with a plan. A mission! To try as many activities, sports, leisurely pursuits, hobbies, occupations or pastime’s, learn as many new skills as I could, until I figure out what it is I’m really passionate about. Find my niche! I'll try anything! It could be random things I’ve always wanted to try… or stuff I’ve already done that I really liked but never got to continue… or just something really cool or interesting that I come across!

I figured, that should the mission fail, if I DON’T figure anything out... then at least I’d have kept myself occupied, and would be able to say that I tried, and did the best that I could!

Besides... I'm trying out for The Amazing Race next year. This is definitely gonna give me an advantage!!! Right? :)

The fact is – the inspiration to get off my ass came to me just a few months ago… Someone asked me how old I was, and I said, “28!” and then I paused, realized my mistake, and said, “No, sorry… I’m 29.”

I’m 29…

And it hit me. This is going to be my last year in my 20’s and I’d be turning 30 soon.

But honestly, even if it does feel like a big milestone, I never really dreaded turning thirty. To me, it's just another year I get to be a little wiser. What really bothered me was the fact that I didn’t feel like I’ve figured out much about what I want to do with my life yet. As a kid, I used to always imagine the grown up 30 year old me, having a cool fun job that involved music or theater or travel, being super rich and famous and having the time of my life! I certainly didn't imagine I'd end up being a training manager for a company that restores hair for balding men. Not to complain about work though - it's a proper grown up job, and I work for a great company that's been really good to me. I'm just saying this wasn't what I had in mind... This isn't what I dreamed of doing... and what's sad is that until now, I'm still not 100% sure of what I really want to do.

I feel like I’ve lost my excitement… My childish enthusiasm for life… I used to be passionate about everything… And on that day a few months ago, upon realizing how close I was to a big milestone in my life, I didn’t feel like I was excited about anything. :(

So instead of feeling sorry for myself, I snapped myself out of my stupor, grabbed my trusty laptop, fired up my search engine, and started searching for "things to do in LA."

Well, actually, I was a little short on cash at that time, so what I really typed was "free things to do in LA!"

It led me to a couple of interesting websites, one of which led me to my first ever activity - that I happened to participate in the following Saturday. And it was AWESOME! After that, I just couldn't stop. I had to keep going! It was - and still is - really addicting! And sooo much FUN!

So that, my friends, is the story of how this whole venture began. One of the things on my list that I finally got to do was enroll in a writing class! And I thought, what better way to use my newly tapped writing skills than to – well, write?? So tadaa! A blog is born!

This blog is going to chronicle my journey… as I attempt to conquer anything and everything that seems cool enough to try… Like archery! Anti Gravity Yoga! Piloxing! Volunteering! Writing! Dodgeball-ing! Learning Languages! Or even… (gulp) … Veganism. I will do as much as I could, as much as my body would let me... The goal is 30 things --- before I turn 30... which is in approximately 6 months.

I may end up loving ‘em.
I may end up hating ‘em.
But the point I’m trying to make is...
At least I’m doing ‘em!
(Maybe I should add "writing poetry" to my list!)

I will take suggestions, proposals or propositions! If it sounds like something interesting, and it won’t cost me an arm and a leg and a lock of my hair, then why not?

They say we should live our lives to the fullest, right?

Well … CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!