Some thoughts and discussions from me.
28 Things I Want to Do in My 28th Year
Tomorrow I turn 28!
I feel bittersweet about it. Last year when I turned 27, I felt 100% comfortable about the age. It was my golden birthday, and I was determined to make it a memorable year. And it definitely was!
However…this year, I’m actually a little apprehensive. Growing up, I always felt like 28 was the year I turned into an official grown up. I should have it all together by 28. I should be ready to start having kids by 28. I should be the career I plan to retire from by 28. I should be in the house where I plan to spend the majority of the rest of my life by 28.
Instead of shoulding all over myself, I’m focusing on what I want this year.
Taking a cue from my girl Lauren, I thought I’d make a post about 28 things I want to do in my 28th year.
1. Create my support system here in Colorado.
I miss my girls from back home. Dearly. I also dearly miss my family. They’ll always be first in my heart, but I need to form a core group of peeps in my life here in the mountains, too. Thankfully, we live in a neighborhood that’s incredibly tight-knit, and we’ve already formed a little group who we’ve been hanging out with. I’m excited to build that group, and make some close girlfriends! While I can hang with the guys, I’m a girl’s girl at heart (and incidentally, tend not to get along with girls who say “they get along way better with guys” than girls.)
2. Strengthen my faith and my relationship with God.
I think moving to Colorado has brought me closer to God. During the crazy, scary, exciting time of my life, I’ve found myself using prayer to calm myself and get hope. Plus, we’ve found an incredible church. I’m excited to see where my faith takes me this year!
3. Hike my first 14-er.
Probably with this girl. Then when my brother comes out to visit. He’s already agreed to it, now I just have to hold him to it 
4. Start climbing.
One of the gyms I work at is one of the biggest climbing gyms in the country, where many professional climbers come to climb. In fact, we’re holding a national climbing competition next month! Confession: I’ve never rock climbed. I want to change that.
5. Figure out what my body needs.
I’ve got some issues going on. I tried going paleo to fix it (more on that in another post,) gluten-free, I’ve backed off exercise, gained 5 pounds, and I’m still trying to figure it out. I want to figure this out without the intervention of medication.
6. Continue to learn about myself through yoga.
Like faith, yoga has played a major role in my life since moving to Colorado. I feel my best when I go 3-4 times a week, and find myself craving that euphoric feeling during shavasana on my off days.
7. Take a summer road trip to the Grand Canyon, or somewhere else here in the west.
Living in Illinois, most vacations were to the ocean or the Rockies. Now that we live in Colorado, I want to explore places we can drive to here in the west.
8. See where the fitness/health world takes me.
My biggest downfall/worry about being a personal trainer/group fitness instructor: it can be inconsistent, and depends on sales. I want to work hard at what I’m doing – both in the gym and online – have an open mind to opportunities, and see where it takes me 
9. Read more books.
I finished The Litigators last week, and just started The Stand <—takes place in Boulder! I used to read throughout the day when I had time, but lately have only been reading right before bed. Actually, I think one of the main changes is I don’t get on the elliptical or treadmill much anymore, and I used to read while on them all the time!
10. Hike at least once a week, and blog about it.
When researching hikes on the internet, I never find all of the information I’m looking for. Once the snow’s pretty much over, I want to hike a new trail once a week, and create a new page for Colorado hiking, complete with difficulty level, trail path description, elevation, mileage, how to get there, where the trailhead is, etc. etc. etc. Oh! And pretty pictures, of course 
Ok, so I only got through 9, but I gotta go to work now. Plus I’m out of ideas. I’ll continue later! Today’s work includes teaching a morning class, training a morning client, subbing for a noon class, and then I’ve got a few more clients this evening. Busy one
What’s one thing you really want to do this year?
Love this! Such a great list! Hope you have a very happy birthday tomorrow!!!
One thing I want to do this year is take more trips! It’s so easy to make excuses because of work/school/life of why I can’t go, but I want more fun in my life 🙂
Ashley @ Life and Fitness recently posted…A Day In Photos
Love this post! I did a 30 by 30 list about a month ago and am slowly ticking off those items. This summer I want to go paddleboarding!
Lindsey recently posted…Easter Brunch Menu
This is a great list, and I especially love the one about hiking. As backpackers, my husband and I have long noted the woeful lack of information on the Internet which is one of the reasons I started my own blog. Good luck!
Natalie @ Free Range Human recently posted…If Only I Had A Mountain View…
I love this idea! I wish I could hike with you every week!
Kaitlin @4loveofcarrots recently posted…Corner Grille
Me tooooo!
What an awesome post!!!! Wishing you a very happy birthday tomorrow my love!!!!!!! You’re looking amazing by the way! LOVE love love love that pic of you in the gym!
Thanks, darling!
These are excellent goals for your 28th year. Take it from a 31-year-old, some of these things you may want to focus on every year 🙂
One thing I’d love to do this year is to spend more time with family, which is hard when some family members live two states over, and another lives halfway across the country. I’m going to finally figure out how to Skype, and make regular dates to talk with my sister and sister-in-law / her kiddos.
And – HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Hope that this one is your best birthday, yet!
It does sound like there would be some uncertainty in your career, BUT you always seem to have a lot of clients and classes. For living in CO such a short amount of time it sounds like you’re doing super awesome and are great at what you do.
Happy almost b-day!
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Once a week hiking sounds impressive. I’d love to read about it since I’m never really sure where to go — overwhelmed by the options, I guess!
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I joined like a hundred and one hiking groups on meetup.com, and have found TONS of ideas through it – even if I don’t go on the group hikes myself 🙂
Looks like a great list! Love that you have rock climbing on there, i really want to do that more often this summer.
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Happy (early) birthday!! This is a great list! I know the feeling of thinking you were supposed to have it all figured out at 28, I turned 29 last year and had a meltdown because my life was nowhere near what I thought it should be, I eventually got over it. Now 30 is coming in a few weeks and instead of focusing on those things I think I will take a cue from you and do my own list of things I want to accomplish this year.
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Aww I’m sorry you haven’t figured out your health issues yet. Big hugs <3
Happy birthday for tomorrow!!!
I always had a thing about 28 when I was younger- I thought it sounded SO adult. Now it seems like such a long time ago! I love your goals- every single one of them! And I will DEFINITELY hike a 14er with you. Greg and I want to do several this year. We’ll begin making plans right after we move! And I’ll volunteer to be your hiking buddy too (at least until I find a job out there). 🙂
I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, and oh man, I’d love to go. Just like you- we almost always vacation(ed) in Colorado. It will definitely be nice to live closer to the west coast- there’s so many places I want to visit!
Happy pre-birthday!
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Happy birthday to you tomorrow!
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Happy early birthday!!
#5 something we are working on daily it feels like. and we need to do more of #6!!
hugs
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These all sound amazing!! DEFINITELY climb a 14er! There are some that are easier than others (there’s a scale, so be sure to look it up ahead of time) and you will just love it, you feel so amazing when you make it to the top and the whole hike is gorgeous! Well, mine was but I’m sure they all are!
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I want in on #s 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10…mmmmkay?! 🙂
Ha! Deal 😀
Remember: Age is just a number! (haha…that’s SO cliche!) but it really is. Think about how much you’ve accomplished in 27 years and all the cool things you will accomplish this year. This is a great list, but I think there are more things you really want to do. Challenge yourself!
-AJ
FitTravelerAJ.blogspot.com