Introduction: 20 things to do while I'm 20

I'm sitting on the balcony of my apartment, surrounded by things which make me happy.

- A glass of fresh, cold water
- A mug of hot milky tea in my favourite red coffee cup (a gift from my Nanna when I first moved to the city)
- A small handful of almonds quickly decreasing in size
- Brutis, my relatively new and totally adored iphone
- A new chick lit paperback
 

(Note: the almonds have now disappeared...)

- A black fineliner which actually works
- 2 hot air balloons floating in the sky above me
- A notebook of blank white paper
- The sound of birds competing with the busy sounds of the city

It is Friday morning and it is my first day of freedom.
Yesterday was the day.
All my folios were due in. For months I had been painstakingly working them, devoting hours a day to ensure that the little bits were 'just right'.
Is it actually hard to believe that they are completed, done and that I am now on holidays for a little over four months.
It's an invigorating feeling.

There are so many things I want to do which I had to put off whilst completing my study. I feel completely relaxed and at ease knowing that I have all the time in the world stretching out before me to do whatever I wish.
However, I am determined not to waste these holidays. 4 months is a long time and I want start back Uni in March 2010 knowing that I have achieved something during this time.

A few weeks ago, while stressed out and desperately wishing for free time, I passionately made a list of 20 goals. These are the things I most want to do in my 20th year of living. My Birthday is still a week and a half away. In a week and a half I will be a young adult, no longer a teenager. Wow. I'm scared.

It's a new era, well, at least for me.

And that is where this diary comes into it. I need a place to reflect, record and ramble about my life, my goals, achievements, discoveries and adventures as I venture into my first year of adulthood. This is the year I am going to become the person I truly want to be - emotionally, physically and mentally.

The following is my list of goals:



20 things to do while I'm 20

Creative Goals:

-       Open an Etsy store

-       Attend 20 exhibitions

-       Sort and back up all my photos

-       Do work experience at a design firm

-       Make my own zine for fun

Health/Fitness Goals:

-       Lose 10kg and get to goal!

-       Learn how to cook 40 new healthy meals

-       Buy a bikini and wear it publicly

-       Be able to ‘butterfly’ 10 laps

Personal Goals:

-       Spend more time with other people

-       Eliminate negativity and become a positive person

-       Become more cultured by learning about 50 new topics

-       Spend  more time with nature (outside vs. computer screen)

-       Simplify all my belongings and declutter

-       Save $5000

-       Read 50 books

-       Visit 30 new places

-       Take some classes at the Alliance Francais

Giving Goals:

-       Do something nice for someone else everyday

-       Pick a charity to join and support

As you can see, some goals are only small, some are a bit silly and some are serious.
All lead in someway towards the person I want to be, to larger goals I hope to achieve in the future.

If I can complete even just half of these in the next 12 months, I will be proud of myself.

Follow me as I journal about my daily adventures and my steps towards completing my goals.
So much more to write, but my chick lit is waiting for me.
More soon!

Alice :-)
xxx