So last month, I turned 23! Not a milestone age by any means, but just like any other birthday it made me reflect – on how far I’ve come, and where I see myself in the future. Honestly, I’ve never been someone who sets clear goals for themselves in life. Things rarely eventuate the way I imagine them to in my head, so the whole concept of a five or ten-year plan is mind-boggling to me! And funnily enough, some of the best things in life have happened to me purely by chance, not because I planned it all out.
Nonetheless, I love writing up goals and to do lists way more than the average person. After all, having something to aim for gives you purpose, no matter how vague or out of reach it may seem. I’ve been seeing quite a few bucket lists floating around lately, so I was inspired to write my own! Some things are definitely more achievable than others, but I thought it’d be a laugh to read back in a few years and see how many I’ve crossed off. So without further adieu, here are 25 things I want to do before I’m 25:
1. Go back to Japan
You know when you visit a place and it immediately feels like home? That’s Japan for me – I did live there for an entire year, after all! Whether I move again or just go for a holiday, it doesn’t matter. I just know that I need to be there again ASAP.
2. Visit Europe
I’ve always wanted to make the trip, but there are so many places I’d like to tick off that planning the whole thing seems daunting. After all, if I’m going to spend twenty-four hours flying there I definitely want to make the suffering worth it!
3. Meet up with a blogger I’ve never met in person
In the past I’ve attended blogger events, but have never gone out of my way to meet anyone beyond that. I’m not sure why either, because hanging around other bloggers is so much fun! You’re guaranteed to have common interests, not to mention they understand the need to take photos of everything (food bloggers in particular).
4. Get my damn driver’s license!
This one’s pretty self-explanatory…
5. See another musical
I’ve only seen a handful of musicals, but they’re always such a treat. I love the live orchestra, the choreography, and singing the soundtrack for weeks after it’s ended. There are quite a few productions I want to see, but right now Wicked and Anastasia are at the top of my list.
6. Get back into using watercolours
These days I don’t have much time to sit down and draw, but when I do it’s such a relaxing way to pass time. Watercolours can be a tricky thing to master, but like all things it just takes a bit of practice.
7. See the Australian Open again…
8. … and by extension visit Melbourne again!
It’s been way too long since my last visit to Melbourne, and I’m pretty sure it’s changed a lot since then.
9. See Uluru
I feel like Uluru is one of those quintessential Australian icons I have to see at least once in my lifetime. Travelling there isn’t exactly easy, but no doubt it’d make an amazing trip. All I need to do is find someone who’s also up for the journey!
10. Visit an outdoor cinema
I can’t think of a better summer activity than laying under the stars, having a picnic and enjoying a good film all at the same time. With all the outdoor cinemas happening in Sydney during the warmer months, I don’t know why I haven’t gone yet!
11. Save up for a new laptop
If anything, this one’s more of a necessity. My current MacBook is pushing six years, and it lets me know every time the fan decides to go on overdrive.
12. Go to New Zealand
Considering New Zealand’s right next door to Australia, it’s kind of ridiculous that I haven’t visited at this point. I’ve always wanted to see the mountains, the crystal clear water, not to mention the sheep. Plus who doesn’t want to see where the Hobbit lives?
13. See snow again
A far-off goal unless I travel somewhere cold enough, but a girl can dream right?
14. Go to a concert
It’s true – in all of my 23 years I’ve never attended a concert. I’m just the kind of person who would rather spend money on other things, but if an artist I really like comes to Sydney? I would definitely make the effort to see them live.
15. Sew an item of clothing
I come from a family of seamstresses, so my lack of sewing skills kinda leaves something to be desired. I’ve always dreamed of making the perfect dress with my bare hands, but for now a simple tote bag will suffice!
16. Be able to hold a conversation in Lao
Definitely way easier said than done! While I’m quite good at understanding conversations, I can’t make a sentence in Lao to save my life. In fact, you could probably say my speaking level is the same as a toddler’s.
17. Make a blog schedule and stick to it
This is something I’ve attempted time and time again, without long-lasting success. Since I’ve always blogged for the fun of it, I’ve never felt pressure to stick to a consistent posting schedule. Nonetheless, I do wish I was more organised when it comes to planning content! I feel like I’d be able to make higher-quality blog posts that way.
18. Go fruit picking
I’ve actually gone cherry picking in Japan, and it was quite the experience. This time around I want to try picking berries or apples, just because.
19. Successfully make macarons
I once went through a phase of making macarons, but never actually succeeded in my attempts. Whether they’re too hollow, too cookie-like or cracked, I’ve never made anything that resembles the real thing! If you know a good recipe, please do share it…
20. Improve my video editing skills
Occasionally I make videos to accompany my blog posts, but there’s always room for improvement.
21. Move the blog over to WordPress
I’ve been meaning to take the plunge for ages now, but this time I mean it. Mark my words, it’ll happen sometime this year!
22. Make a Lao dish from scratch
Lao food is notoriously difficult to make, but if I’m going to move out one day I need to take all my home cooked recipes with me. Right now I’m tossing up between making Lao laksa or larp, a kind of meat salad. Which recipe would you like to see on the blog?
23. Wake up early enough for brunch
For someone who adores breakfast food, I rarely go out for brunch. And this is coming from someone who lives in Sydney, the capital of avocado toast and hipster cafes!
24. Read at least 5 more books in Japanese
These sound like ridiculously low standards, but considering I’m super slow at reading (even slower in Japanese) it’s a pretty appropriate goal. Not to mention, I’ll have to acquire five Japanese books in the first place.
25. Have one of my tweets go viral
I just want validation that I’m funny, okay?
Now that I think about, I may have been a little over-ambitious when writing this… Two years isn’t long by any means, and I’m sure the time will fly right by. Does anyone else out there also have a bucket list? I’d love to hear what’s on yours!
