Life Changes

Since I'm 30 now (and it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be - lovely birthday), I've been thinking about what I will do in my thirties.

Here's a list.

1) Travel
My best friend's sister has a very good possibility of working in England for two years. I visited England back in 1995 and fell in love with the country. I guess maybe I'm an Anglophile, which I will not apologize for. *grin* If her sister's job goes through, then we are planning to make a trip next summer. My husband has friends in Germany and his ex-mother-in-law loves us all (strange, I know! She even emailed me birthday greetings yesterday!) and we would be able to stay with her.

2) Publish the book.
I always thought I'd have this one accomplished in my twenties. But, simply put, I wasn't focused enough. I was too concerned with finding a husband, getting through school, looking good (a.k.a. not worrying about what I shoveled into my mouth because my metabolism ROCKED) and having fun. Now, I'm married (will be six years in July), have a mortgage, a good job, a master's degree, and an adorable little girl. It's like the "I must haves" of the twenties have been fulfilled. Now, it's on to the "I wants" for the next decade.

3) Earn enough money.
I've been thinking about this one a lot. My parents (divorced a few years ago) are both broke. My husband's parents (also divorced a few years ago) are also broke. My grandparents are broke. There is absolutely no way I'm getting an inheritance. And that's fine. But I want more for my children. Not materialistic things, but I want to be able to help them out if they need it. "Need $1000 for a vet bill? Here ya go." My husband and I are barely scraping by and it bothers me to no end. I have this degree and frankly, I'm not using it. I want to make more money. BUT, I'm not going to sacrifice my happiness for it. Thus, my husband and I need to evaluate our financial situation and see what choices we can make to improve our bank account.

4) Live in England
I have a dream that surpasses all others. I want to live in England. Maybe just three months out of the year (the hot, humid summer months here in Nebraska), but that would be enough. I've been fascinated with England for such a very long time that it feels like home to me. When I visited in 1995, I didn't want to return home. I vowed to go to grad school in England and I did try. But then I met my husband and, well, you know the rest.

5) Better health
I haven't been healthy in five years. Literally five years. My weight has spiraled, I'm on way too many medications, and I want it to stop. My brother has agreed to be my trainer. Even if I can't fit into that size 7 dress I used to wear, I want to be healthy so that I can be around to accomplish all the above-mentioned goals. But more importantly, I want to be there for my daughter.

The trick about all these goals is remembering them on a daily basis. It is very easy for me to run into Barnes and Noble and see a good book and buy it instead of saving the money for a trip. I'm very spontaneous that way.

Five goals. Five dreams. All within reach.