UPDATE 12/29/25: As much as it feels like failure when I look at my spreadsheet and see unhighlighted spaces, it certainly wasn’t. When life takes a swing at you, every accomplishment should feel like a win! There were many things I did that weren’t planned ahead (see my 2025 Recap once it’s posted), and I was able to replace the two things that I had to push to my 2026 list due to surgery. So all in all, I’m not mad at it 🥰
For my sixth annual go at this, I decided on 25 challenges spread across 5 different categories. Though this decision gives me more flexibility and a greater opportunity for 100% completion, it also puts some of the responsibility on others which can always be scary haha. I already had a bunch of stuff in the works for this year, and a variety of other things I want to happen. But there were also some things I have carried over from list to list without success, and those needed to be made a priority. I’m bringing in a People’s Choice category, which was a great suggestion thanks to Shannon, and that will allow me to make some decisions later in the year rather than everything up front. So here we go…welcome 2025! 🥳
Already in the Works
- Epic Universe Adventure – completed 5/3 (earlier than expected, during our UOAP preview!)
Revel Half Marathon– deferred to 2026, due to surgery- Decided to replace this with a Previous Failure, since I knew about it early enough… so we had a Garage Sale 5/17, setting up at a friend’s house
- Spend my birthday weekend someplace cool or doing something cool – completed 9/20-27 in Hawaii (Maui, then Oahu)
- 6-Park Challenge – completed 3/31 with Jen & Jackie
- 101 Reunion at Yma’s Wedding – completed 6/28
Want to Happen
3+ more state races– pushed to 2026, due to surgery- Decided to replace this with a Try Something New, since I knew about it early enough… so we did tent camping 7/17-20 at Inkcarceration
- Attend some type of travel show or FAM training – completed 4/1 at Universal Studios Florida
- Go to a theme park I haven’t been to (or haven’t been in a decade or more) – Epic doesn’t count – completed 10/4 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
- Tulips or Sunflowers at Burnside – completed Sunflowers 4/17 with Mom
- Help someone else achieve a Bucket List goal – completed 12/12-14 with Whitt and Tiff (was Tiff’s first plane ride, even!)
Previous Failure
- Karaoke or Noraebang – completed 11/8 at Echo Box with Ricky, Megan, Morgan, John, and Emily
- Boudoir Session – completed 12/16
Blog at least monthly– gosh I suck at consistency haha. I did manage EIGHT posts this year though!! Nine if you count the one I’m about to make after this 😜Hike a portion of the AT– had a couple of plans for this one but both fell through. Moving it to 2026!Get my kayak on the river more than recent years– I got on the river twice, once with my kayak and once with the company’s. But I’m sure Rhonda and my BIL’s company will help me make it happen more in 2026!!
Do it Again
- Tattoo – completed 3/8 with a line-drawing likeness of Orion on my forearm
Make something from scratch– I mean, if I can count the pistachio salad I made for Christmas Eve and/or the pumpkin cookies I made for our Holiday Shenanigans, I’m golden. Otherwise, not quite ðŸ¤- Watch a sunrise & sunset in the same day – completed 9/21 in Maui (sunrise at the Nakalele Blowhole and sunset at the Haleakala National Park Summit)
- Go on a fun adventure with Mom – completed 7/29-8/3 with Mom on an overnight train ride from PDX to OKJ, a few nights in San Francisco, then a night in Napa
Get a hair makeover– kept my hair long for my photoshoot and since I had to push the date due to surgery, I didn’t leave myself enough time after to make a solid decision. Soon, though!
People’s Choice – Will be selected throughout the year from suggestions given online or in person! (NOTE: Thanks everyone for your suggestions! The rest are still written down for future lists!)
- Catch a Rocky Horror Picture Show performance – completed 10/2 at the Warner Theater with Barry Bostwick himself in attendance!!
- Attend a concert of a band I haven’t seen before – completed 9/10 seeing Our Last Night
- Hang out with someone I haven’t hung out with in awhile – completed 12/7 with Tyler, attending our last Bills game at Highmark
- Go to the Pierogi Festival – completed 10/11 in Falls Church, VA
- Start a new habit, or adjust an old one – completed 11/3-12/4 before hurting my back (guess this is 44… 🤕)