Spring bucket list: 60 before 60 – update 2
Live life in full bloom.
Elizabeth Murray
We’re two months into spring, life is in full bloom…and it’s time to share an update on our Spring Bucket Lists, or in my case, an update on my 60 before 60 Challenge.
Last October, I announced that I would be completing a 60 before 60 Challenge in the year leading up to my 60th birthday. That challenge will be taking the place of my typical seasonal bucket lists for this year. Here’s how I’m doing seven months into my challenge.
Health and Fitness
Walk 60 miles on trails or roads I haven’t traveled yet. I’m making slow progress on this one…but progress none the less…15.25 miles to be exact. The 2021 hiking challenge for my office is in full swing, so that should help motivate me. So far, I’ve completed four of the beginner hikes on this year’s list, three of which were trails I haven’t previously traveled. This month’s hikes were the Hell Hole to Virgin River Trail (1.89 miles) and Grandpa’s Pond Trail (1.31 miles).
Joy
Declutter 60 things. Since last report, I cleaned out the final cupboard in the downstairs bathroom and my bedroom closet. I disposed of 16 items, bringing the total to 70…10 ahead of the goal. This one is officially checked off the list! That said, I will continue to count the items I declutter between now and October.
Learning and growth
Do 60 new things…that is 60 things I haven’t done in adulthood…if I haven’t done something since I was in high school, that counts as new. I’ve added four things to the list since last report (those in bold below), putting me two shy of being on track to reach the goal of 60 things in a year.
- Started 52 lists for calm journal
- Tried Freddy’s (fast food)
- Tried brie and cherry honey
- Took a wine appreciation course
- Visited Red Cliffs Desert Garden
- Tried Dot’s Southwest Pretzels
- Tried pralines and cream cold brew
- Fixed a new potato pepper frittata recipe
- Listened to Ashley Campbell music on YouTube
- Downloaded PetFinder app
- Went through the pet adoption process
- Ate with my left hand
- Made a new friend: Buddy
- Tried online grocery shopping
- Drove a different route and took in my surroundings
- Tried Beans & Brew egg bits—not so good; I prefer Starbucks for egg bites.
- Cooked taco soup (new recipe)—loved it!
- Discovered two new blogs: Roughwighting and Annika Perry—loved them both!
- Tried new type of beer: Uinta Brewing Co. Yard Sale Winter Lager—thumbs up!
- Meditated with eyes open—this just felt strange; I prefer eyes closed.
- Tried Zuppa Toscana soup—delicious!
- Learning to crochet—so far, I am enjoying it (though not yet good at it!)
- Tried Killer Pecans Smokin’ —They were good and, in fact, grew on me the more of them I ate…which was probably too many.
- Signed up for a virtual mixology class—I actually missed the class, but the kit arrived, and so far I have made two of the drinks. It is fun and delicious. Win win!
- Tried Shake Shack—it was good, especially the beer and the cookies ’n cream milkshake.
- Made Jamaican Jerk Chicken & Vegetables (new recipe)—yummy!
- Made glitter stress relief bottles with granddaughters—lots of fun and they turned out great!
- Built a swimming pool!—long process, but we love the finished product!
- Ate at Lonny Boys BBQ—delicious!
- Attended Meet the Universe Halfway (a group coaching series) at Sacred Energy—loved it!
- Went to Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point—it was beautiful; a perfect day.
- Lavender cocktail at Oyster Bar—delicious and beautiful!
- Conducted a DNA test on my dog—easier than I thought it might be; surprising results! We’ve been referring to Buddy as an American Staffordshire Terrier mix, when that only accounts for 11 percent of his breed mix.
Relationships
Commit 60 intentional acts of kindness. This month I have committed three acts of kindness specifically with this goal in mind, putting me at 51 total…ahead of schedule. I choose not to share every act, but to give you an idea, this month’s list included donating small amounts of money to random strangers on Venmo and sending a photo of a happy memory to a family member. I hope it made her smile as much as it did me.
Your turn
What about you? I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to this spring (or fall for my Southern Hemisphere friends). If you have a bucket list, please link up with us. Otherwise, simply share a few things in the comments.
Hi Christie – well it’s all coming along remarkably well and you’re certainly well ahead of schedule. It looks like Buddy is definitely a bitzer – with bitz of lots of different ancestors in his mix. Loved your tulip pics and well done on the acts of kindness x
Thank you for the encouraging words, Leanne. I really can’t believe we are more than halfway through the final year of our 50s. It’s nice to have this little record of things I’ve done. And you’re right about our sweet bitzer Buddy. I think he got the best characteristics of each of his breeds. We couldn’t have asked for a better companion.
Hi, Christie – I love your ’60 before 60 Challenge’. Very inspirational! Beautiful photos as well.
Thank you Donna. It’s been a fun little personal challenge. Speaking of inspiration…I’ve been contemplating walking the Camino de Santiago (100 km anyway), and I’ve been reading some of your older posts. Right now it’s just a dream, but it may become a plan in the not-too-distant future.
I loved all the pictures of nature-so pretty! I can’t wait to go on some walks together.
I laughed at Buddy being mostly American Bully. I’ve never heard of that, and the Buddy I’ve met is no bully! ?
Thank you Cindy. We definitely need to walk and talk. I hadn’t heard of American Bully either, but once I read about their characteristics, I see it. He’s a wonderful companion for sure.
Hi, Christie! You are doing so well with your bucket list! It’s been over a year since I’ve done one. Gosh, those tulips are gorgeous! And I had never heard of doing a DNA test on a dog. My Annie is a golden retriever rescue, but I think she has more in her than just golden retriever. I’d be very interested to do this with her!
Thank you Gale. I’ve really enjoyed doing the 60 before 60 challenge I set for myself. Perhaps you will join us for the next bucket list link-up in June. I’d never thought of a DNA test for dogs either, until my daughter did one on her dog. We were glad we did. It’s just interesting to know what breeds make up your dog. Buddy was a rescue too, so we really had no idea.
Christie, Excellent progress on your 60 before 60 Challenge. Beautiful photos of nature in spring as well. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you Natalie!
Congratulations on your progress, Christie! Hiking outdoors is far more fun than logging miles on a treadmill. As you well know, the hills ramp up the fitness. You have inspired me to track items I dispose. This may help make it fun for me. A constant challenge. Interesting about #12. I have heard how this helps our brain synapses. Roughwighting and Annika Perry are two of my favourite blogs.❤️ All of the photos are great. The tulips, beautiful! Thank you for sharing a fun and interesting post. ❤️
I couldn’t agree with you more, Erica, about walking outdoors versus the treadmill…both for fitness and enjoyment. I think there are a few things on my new things list that have worked my brain…and many that have stimulated my taste buds! Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to comment.
I know I’ve said this before, but I LOVE this idea of 60 before 60. I need to consider doing something like this. Those photos are gorgeous.
Thank you Kirstin!
For some reason you dropped off my list of bloggers to check in on regularly Christie but I have you back in my sights now :). It’s great to read of your 60 lists, I did something similar last year prior to turning 60 in December but I stopped at 12 as 60 seemed too many things. You’re doing so well and lovely to see you again!
Welcome back Deb! It’s so good to hear from you. Sixty does sound like a lot, but since I count even the small things, it’s not so much. It has been fun, though, and kept me mindful. Have a lovely week!
You are coming right along on your 60 by 60 list. I am inspired by the photos of your new trails to discover new trails for us to hike. We walked one beside the Rio Grande last weekend but the rio was nothing more than a dry river bed. Those tulips are the most glorious orange and their fringed edges remind me of the trend in denim with raw hems.
That lavender cocktail sounds and looks so refreshing. I have always wanted to try something with lavender. Lavender cookies, maybe? Or this drink if I can find a recipe.
My daughter has put a yet-to-be-born pup on layaway that is supposedly a sheepadoodle or something like that. Sheep dog/poodle. Will share this DNA site with her. It would be interesting to see if the pup turns out to be what they say it is. I bought the very best dog for $35 in 1994 because it was supposedly a husky mix. And I love huskies. But this dog was about as much husky as I am. Wish I could have known what in the world she was. No doubt part human.
Hello Leslie! I did love those tulips with the fringe. I’d never seen that variety before. That’s sad that the Rio Grande is dry. We’re in a drought situation here as well. We did get some rain this week, and it was a welcome change. Congratulations to your daughter on her upcoming puppy. That’s exciting! It was fun doing the DNA test on our dog. I’m not sure it will change anything, but it was so interesting to see all the breeds that make up our Buddy. I know what you mean about part human. It should doesn’t feel like we are such a different species at times.
Christie, We were surprised on our Dog-DNA test as well. While we refer to her as a lab-mix, she’s actually mostly boxer! I love Leanne’s “Bitzer” term and think I might switch to that. Thank you for continuing to share your acts of kindness … it helps me see my own. I’ve been trying to feel good about giving so many things away as we move – seeing it as acts of kindness.
Sounds like your experience DNA testing your dog was much like ours, Pat. I love the term Bitzer too. Our Bitzer is lying on my feet right now as I type this.