What Must Be Done By 31

First off, I feel really clever for coming up with the title of my list.  Next, after last year's big 30 list, I've decided to do fewer items. And I'm going to try to have things on the list that really push my boundaries and make me step outside my comfort zone.

MUST BE DONE BY 31

1. Finish Pharmacy Technician Certification- I know this will get done. I only have one class left and then my externship thing. And then I'll just have to take my national and state exams.
2.  Get my own apartment. The roommate thing has been good for this transitional period as I adjust to being single again and try to get my life figured out. But, I really need my own space. I need to have a space for all my music stuff and not having to worry about roommates when I have a few seconds to practice. And sharing a bathroom is just not working out, especially with this particular roommate. And I ran my own household for 8 years. So having 2 roommates, one in particular who just doesn't think about anyone else, has been quite the adjustment.
3.  Learn to play a new instrument.  I'd really like to learn the guitar, but I don't have access to one. I do, however, have access to a flute, a violin, a trumpet, and a few saxophones. So I guess I have a lot of choices...hmmm
4.  Go on a vacation.  I definitely need one of these. Hopefully it will be a super awesome one.  But even if it is just a weekend away...I just need to get away.
5.  Figure out how to be single for life. I'm not saying this is the only option. But I have to be realistic. In my heart, I've been hoping this situation was short- term. After a year of being divorced and living the single life, I need to accept that this might be the way it is. I mean, I have been married before. I know that's something that a lot of girls don't experience. What are the odds of me finding someone else who wants to put up with me on a permanent basis? I'm not being self- deprecating and I'm not looking for pity. I'm saying it like it is. I know I'm not shiny and new like I was 10 years ago. And I don't play games. It's not that I don't want to married again. And obviously I'd still love to have kids. But if there's one thing I've learned in my life, it's that you can hope all you want, and work toward the things you hope, but you have to learn to be happy in whatever situation you find yourself in. And so I need a single girl plan.
6.  Do something I've been too scared to do. I did this one last year and I think it's incredibly liberating for me. I don't take a lot of chances, usually. But I was very daring this last year. And I think I'm better for it.
7.  Be a better communicator. If I can write things down, I communicate really well. If I have to be conversational about it, I'm significantly less effective. And if it's confrontational or emotional, I pretty much shut down. So I'm going to work on it.
8.  Serve others. If it's just going to be me for the rest of my life, I'm going to need a purpose.
9.  Read 5 new books. I used to devour books. And I would read constantly. I love reading, I just need to make time for it.
10.  Get healthy. I know at least half of you are going to hate me a little for this one. I need to gain weight. Over the last 3 years, I've dropped 20 pounds. Not OK. At least not for me. And for about 3/4 of this year, I exercised pretty well. But I've not been doing well recently. So I want to put on some weight and be physically fit.

I still want to add a few more items to my list here, so watch for updates. I think it's interesting that last year, I needed a lot of distractions, so my list had a lot of "do this" type of thing to keep me busy. This year's list is more focused on refining, don't you think? Obviously, I'm getting much more wise in my old age. Or more boring...