A Reflection on my 30 Before 30 Bucket List | One Year On

A Reflection on my 30 Before 30 Bucket List | One Year On

This time last year I published my 30 things to do before 30 bucket list.

Having just turned 29, I went into a spiral of worry over not “achieving enough”.

This overthinking led me to cram my bucket list full of things to tick off, no matter how big they were or impractical at times.

At the time I was filled with determination that I WOULD tick them all off, and nothing less would be acceptable. But, here I am, a whole year later and I’ve come to realise I was putting way too much pressure on myself.

Looking back I admire the determination, it was well intentioned and I really adopted the “go big or go home” attitude.

However, as I look over my bucket list, I see there are some things on the list that would be better suited to a “40 before 40” bucket list, and some that I have no desire to accomplish anymore.

So, with that in mind, today I’m reflecting on my 30 before 30 bucket list. I’m looking back at what I’ve achieved, what I should have put on my 40 before 40 bucket list and the ones that don’t spark any joy in me anymore.

A Reflection on My 30 Before 30 Bucket List

Buy a house

This hasn’t been ticked off. As much as I would love to say I did, unfortunately it’s just not been the right time.

The housing market isn’t great and there hasn’t been one in my area that has made me say “this is the one”. Plus the cost of living has gone up so much. Everything is extortionate!

I’m not overly sad I didn’t tick this one off. I think because I know it’s not feasible right now, I’m ok with it.

Looking back this item would have been better suited to my 40 before 40 bucket list.

Go to a festival

Another one I haven’t ticked off, but again, I’m not sad about it.

I was planning to do slamdunk this year, but because we got a dog, it wasn’t the right time.

Poppy still isn’t comfortable with me being away overnight, so I need to take that into account when planning anything.

Hopefully I’ll be able to go next year.

But, at least I can technically say I’ve been to a festival before I turned 30. I went in 2016 and in 2017, that counts, right?

Solo Hotel Stay

As much as I really did want to tick this one off, I haven’t.

This past year has been a rollercoaster when it came to my mental health and the thought of staying anywhere solo spiked my anxiety.

So, I haven’t done it but I sure as hell will be once I’m feeling more confident in myself and know that it won’t cause me any panic. I mean, what fun is a solo stay if I’m stuck worrying the entire time?

Spa Day

This is another one I wanted to tick off badly but my mental health stood in the way again.

It’s been tricky trying to navigate life when all I have done is worry and panic constantly so adding in an experience that means I have to be up close and personal with a stranger really doesn’t spark joy in me anymore.

I still like the idea of a spa day, but right now it’s not for me. Not until I feel more confident and comfortable with myself again.

Get 3 New Piercings

I am super happy to say that I have ticked this off!

Although I was aiming to get them done professionally, I had a night of wanting to make changes and feeling like a make-over would help improve my confidence.

So, I dyed and cut my hair myself, cleaned out clothes I didn’t like and decided to give myself 4 new ear piercings.

*Just to say I do not advise this nor do I want to influence anyone else to do the same. See a professional for your piercings.

Get a Tattoo, or a few

In November last year I got my half sleeve tattoo finished! I have been waiting for years to get it done so I’m happy it’s finally complete.

Apart from that though, I haven’t had any others.

I am hoping to get some booked in for next year though, so fingers crossed!

Look back to this day & be proud I stuck to my health journey

Well, it’s one year later and I’m happy to report that I have, in fact, stuck to my health journey.

I’ve made a lot of changes in my lifestyle such as:

• Eating healthier
• Moving more
• Creating a healthy relationship with food and exercise
• Creating a sustainable morning routine
• Working on my sleeping habits
• Making time for self-care in all aspects of my life
• And more

This hasn’t been about weight loss as such for me, but to get to a place where I’m comfortable and happy in my own body.

I was feeling sluggish constantly, out of breath easily and unmotivated for life. This was about making lasting habits that allow me to feel healthier within myself and I’ve done that.

Weight loss has also happened through this journey and I’ll be honest, it does make me feel more confident when I put on clothes.

But that wasn’t my focus and I’m glad it wasn’t because I haven’t reverted to old unhealthy mindsets of honing in on the fat loss aspect and in turn that’s helped me stay motivated.

Doing this the healthy way has made a huge difference and by doing this for me and my health instead of the media’s idea of beauty is truly the reason I’ve stuck it out.

Do couch to 5k

I am currently working on this one!

In the summer I decided to get myself a treadmill to help me with exercise and movement as my fibromyalgia means I can’t go on big long walks like I used to.

Walking is something I genuinely enjoy doing andI could walk for hours and hours if my body let me. But, my fibro always flares up after a while meaning I can’t do the long walks I want to.

So, having the treadmill has given me some of that back as I can go at my own pace and for as long as I like without worrying about having to make it home.

Anyway, as we have the treadmill now, I have started using the couch to 5k app and I’m currently on week 2 about to go to week 3.

Camp at a beach

Unfortunately I haven’t ticked this one off. I mean technically I have as last year we went wild camping at Yellowcraig beach in the summer. But since I made this bucket list I haven’t been.

I’m not too sad about this though as we have managed to go plenty of weekends away to my friend’s caravan and we went away on a little break to Loch Lomond.

Book a photoshoot

I really did have the go big or go home mentality when I thought this one up. In my mind I had this idea of booking a photoshoot and completely leaning into it, but as I haven’t felt the greatest with my mental health and working on self confidence, I couldn’t bring myself to do this.

Hopefully I will tick this off in the years to come before my 40th though, that’s my new goal.

Do a Munro

This is another one on the list I thought was a good idea at the time.

Looking back I understand why I chose this to be on the list, but as I sit here today, I laugh because there is no way I’ll be able to do one until I get my tolerance up and my fibro allows me.

Go Strawberry Picking

When I say I’m so sad that I haven’t ticked this off, I mean it.

There’s been no good reason why we couldn’t have done it and I was so tempted to book us in at the last minute but life got in the way and we opted for different activities instead.

Read 15 books

I’m so happy to say that I did indeed tick this one off!

I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t as I had only managed 7, but the end of July saw me get the reading bug. Just in time, because I’ve read 16 in total and can now say that I ticked this off.

Take a trip to a log cabin

I tried and tried to get booked into a log cabin for my gran and I’s birthdays, but I couldn’t find any at a good price.

The ones I did like didn’t have the dates available and the ones that did, didn’t have the best reviews and the price wasn’t great.

Instead we decided to book a luxury Lodge in Loch Lomond. So, we still got away for the week, just not in a log cabin.

Visit a cat café

I tried to tick this one off, but unfortunately any time I was able to do it my friend wasn’t and any time she was available, I wasn’t.

It all came down to unfortunate timing but I’m not too fussed that I didn’t go as I have been before.

Go to an upscale restaurant

As much as I would still enjoy the experience of going to an upscale restaurant just to try it, I’ve not been bothered to actually try.

I think it would be nice to experience one day, but I genuinely couldn’t give a damn anymore if I’m honest. If it happens it happens, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.

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A Reflection on My 30 Before 30 Bucket List – Continued

Buy a designer item

Yeah, this is one of the things on the list that really no longer sparks joy in my life.

I used to think that I had to have something designer, that I just had to. I mean, would I turn down someone buying me a designer bag? Nope! I’d welcome it as a gift. But buying it for myself? It no longer interests me.

This past year I have gone through a lot of personal growth and this included identifying what really matters to me in life. One thing I realised was that materialistic items just aren’t up there for me anymore.

I would be much more content using the money to go out and create memories with my family and have wonderful experiences that will stay with me till the end.

After all, I’m not someone who will be on their deathbed thinking about all the possessions they did or didn’t have, it’s going to be what memories I made with my loved ones.

Go to a gig

I’m sad to say that I have not ticked this off.

I still want to go to more gigs, I really do! But with my head space being the way it has, it’s not been the right time.

Save £1000

Another one I haven’t ticked off, but I’m not far off.

Over the past year there have been unexpected expenses plus we got a dog, so I kept taking money from my savings for things.

To date I have £840 in savings, so I’m not too fussed on not achieving the £1000.

See a live comedy show

Yeah, I didn’t tick this one off. I’ll be honest, I completely forgot that this was on my list.

Maybe over the next year I’ll tick it off, fingers crossed.

Buy Canon 90D

I unfortunately didn’t tick this one off, but I couldn’t justify spending over £1000 on a new camera when the money could be better spent.

I’m hoping I’ll get it at some point, but I’m not too fussed if it isn’t for a few years.

Host a dinner party

This is a strange one because I didn’t have friends round for a dinner party, but instead took a night to cook for my gran, Little Bear and my other half.

So I technically did, but I’m not sure if that counts. It was different to normal dinner every night as I went all out creating a menu and setting the table and giving a dress code.

It was lovely getting to have a fancy night in the house.

Adopt a cat

I didn’t adopt a cat, but instead adopted a dog.

I really wanted to get a cat because I missed Teddy so much. But, I realised that I only wanted to because I missed Teddy and that’s not a good enough reason.

The more I thought about it, the more I realised I just wanted him back. I wanted my fur baby back in my arms.

So, I decided I had to take time to heal and allow my heart to recover. Once I stopped thinking about it, the opportunity to adopt a dog came along.

That’s when we got Poppy. I’m so glad because she’s the best and I’m so lucky we get to call her ours.

Cook more

Yep, I’ve ticked this one off!

I’ve been cooking most nights now and takeaways are a once in a blue moon thing.

As I’ve been on a health journey, I’ve found cooking has helped me to stay on track. Plus, I’ve enjoyed trying out different recipes and foods I otherwise probably wouldn’t eat.

Dance in the rain

With the amount of rain Scotland gets, it would have been harder not ticking this one off!

I’m happy to say that I did and it felt great. We took a drive up a country road and we all got out of the car, and danced in the rain.

We had music on the radio as we danced and laughed harder than I think we ever have.

It was definitely a memorable experience and I’m so glad I put this on my bucket list.

Build a blanket fort

Another one I’m happy to say that I ticked off.

Little bear and I created a blanket fort in his room during the Easter holidays. We got lots of munchies and watched a bunch of films together.

Make a time capsule

Happy to say this is another item ticket off.

We got an old shoe box and put some items in.

Items we put in:

• Newspaper
• £1 coin
• 0.01p coin
• Photo of Poppy
• Polaroid of Little Bear and I
• Dinosaur figure
• Lego figure
• Letter from myself to Little Bear
• Letter from Little Bear to me

Little bear and I done this together and have placed it in the attic.

Our plan is to open it on my 40th birthday and reminisce.

Double my social media following

Unfortunately I didn’t achieve this one but I’m not bothered by it. In fact, I’m indifferent about it as I’m no longer focusing on numbers.

I’m far more interested in working on bettering my blog and content.

And since last year I’ve done a lot to improve and I’m seeing the results. My views have gotten better, engagement is better and all round I feel a lot more positive about where my blog is.

Start dressing how I want to

This is sort of half and half as I have started to wear clothes I like rather than just because they fit or are oversized, but I’m still not 100% happy.

My plan right now is to keep going with my health journey and when I feel confident in my body again, I’ll start to make changes to my wardrobe.

Stop being a people pleaser

Happy to say that I have indeed stopped being a people pleaser.

I’m at a point in my life now where I don’t feel the constant need to put others above myself at all costs. It is ok to say no and it is ok to set boundaries and not feel guilty about that.

Looking back I’m really proud of myself for ticking off as many as I did. I am annoyed I forgot a few of them so never even tried to achieve them, but in the grand scheme of things, who cares?

My perspective around life has changed a lot and that is down to the changes I’ve been making within myself. This personal growth journey I am on has brought so many good things my way and helped me gain clarity on the things that don’t bring joy to my life.

It’s great to know that going into this next chapter of life I’m feeling more free than I ever have and that’s comforting.

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