{ To Do Before 30 (DAY 514) }

A couple of months ago I kept seeing articles with titles like “30 awesome things to do before you’re 30” or “Ultimate 30 things to do before you turn 30”.  Most of these articles had a theme of travel, fitness, and nixing bad habits.  While I agree that all of that is wonderful I realized I felt like I was missing things.  I was fed up because they seemed pretty darn selfish (I’m selfish enough as it is without someone helping me out that way).  So I decided to make my own list.  Yes, these are things for improving yourself but they also go deeper than that.  These are things I hope to continually be learning and growing in for the rest of my life….far past 3o.

Please note this list is no where near exhaustive…it’s just a starting point for me of things I want to think about.  Feel free to leave a comment on what you would add to the “list”! Also those of you past 30 please give us some wisdom!

Serve.  Bam.  Right off the bat let’s go with that conversation starter.  Want to have a glowing face and radiant smile?  Seek to help those around you.  I promise it will make you prettier.  Do the dishes that your roommate left in the sink.  Offer to walk your elderly neighbor’s dog.  Make a meal for a sick friend or someone that just had a baby.  Take flowers to someone who is sad.

Give, give generously.  Now I realize you need to save money and that that is being responsible.  I fully support that but make sure you put a hefty amount towards giving in your budget.

“No one has ever become poor by giving.” Anne Frank  

                   We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill

Practice staying after a party is over to help clean up.  No, really, this is courteous and if there is one thing to cultivate before you turn 30 it is being thoughtful.

Be trustworthy.  This means that any juicy bit or non juicy bit that your friend told you (and didn’t say to keep secret) stays with you.  It means being a person of your word and when you fail saying you’re sorry.  Once trust is lost it is very hard to regain.  Better to not loose it in the fist place.  Watch your words.  They have the power to heal or tear down.  There is a lot we could cover with this one…and yes, it can be insanely hard to watch your words.  I’m definitely always needing to work on this one.

Read.  This will serve you in so many ways.  It will give you a broader perspective on life and people and everything else in between.  Plus it will help you serve others when you can strike up a conversation or help along a struggling one by knowing about many topics and genres.

Make a habit of gratefulness.  I’ve found again and again that truly thankful people are more joyful.  Don’t you love being around people who appreciate the people and things around them?  I do.  Plus I’ve found that the more I am truly thankful the happier I am.  Writing out your gifts can be immensely helpful.

Be a good listener.  You learn a lot by listening and you bless those around you in the process.  Withstanding a few exceptions we all want to be heard.

Never stop learning.  Soak up as much wisdom and knowledge as possible (yes, they are different).  From birth to the time we complete our formal education we spend so much time learning.  After that period so many people stop actively investing in learning.  Why do we do this?  Lately I’ve been realizing just how important it is to purposefully stimulate your brain.

Unplug.  Yes, I do mean turning off your phone and computer and any other devices that count as social media now and then.  At first it’s hard to do but I guarantee you that you’re not missing much and that you will feel so refreshed after a fast of this kind.  It is 100% worth it.