My 20s Decade

As I reflected on the decade that has just passed, I couldn’t help but notice that the 2000s (or the "Oughties") were mostly occupied by my 20s. Meaning, that if I had ever wondered what my 20s were going to be like, or what I would accomplish before turning 30, the answer is right in front of me.

I am 3 short months away from turning 29. No more wondering, no more lists, no more daydreams for what I can do before turning 30. That time is pretty much over.

So what DID I do in my 20s?

(not necessarily in this order)

• I earned a Computer Science degree, with honors
• I have lived in 4 states: MA, OR, CT and KY
• I married the love of my life
• I bought a home
• I acquired many wonderful friendships
• I managed to reach my ideal skinny weight (for about 2 weeks)
• By the end of my 29th year, I will have earned an MBA degree
• I have traveled to Scotland, Mexico, Brazil, Dominican Republic and Canada
• I have seen the Pacific ocean
• I have been to the top of the Sears Tower
• I have kissed my love at the top of the Empire State Building
• I have felt, for a moment, what it is like to be truly alone
• I have felt what it’s like to not be able to live without someone special
• I am now able to say that my significant other is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and really mean it
• I have danced in the rain while singing "Singing in the Rain"
• I bought my very own car, and paid off the loan 1 year early
• I have made snow angels
• I have been given a hickey, and I’ve given one
• I have pulled all-nighters
• I made a 10-ft tall snowman
• I have dined at the Rainbow Room on my own dime
• I have turned heads when I walked into a room
• I have woken up at 4am just because
• I have sung a heartfelt song that I wrote myself to my love in front of all our family members
• I have walked the streets demonstrating for a cause I believe in
• I have wanted to become a doctor
• I studied basic chemistry on my free time just for fun
• I have painted my livingroom green
• I have a pink computer
• I have sung alongside a country cover band in a desolate town in Arizona: I just asked, and they said yes
• I have committed indiscretions that I will regret for as long as I live
• I have seen all these artists in concert: Kenney Chesney (twice), Barenaked Ladies, Smashmouth, Rascal Flatts, Dierks Bentley (twice), Miranda Lambert (twice), Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Sugarland, Brooks & Dunn, Jake Owen, George Strait, Tracy Lawrence, Gary Allan, Ricardo Montaner, Chayanne, Jimmy Wayne, among others
• I have gotten drunk and crazy
• I have gone to Church because I wanted to
• I have volunteered in hospitals, suicide hotlines, organizing toys, and teaching Spanish to kids
• I take public transportation to get to work
• I have been to the Kentucky Derby (infield)
• I have seen the St Louis Gateway Arch
• I have been broken up with because I wouldn’t give it up
• I have interviewed for a job at Microsoft
• I have hurt others, probably irrevocably
• I have made some people happy
• I have been to the top of the Space Needle in Seattle
• I have laughed until I cried (stole this one from the movie "The Bucket List")
• I have restored a homeless person’s faith in people who say "I’ll get you on my way back"
• I have been caught by the police making out in the backseat of a car
• I have attended the Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the Colbert Report, in New York City
• I have seen Champions on Ice (Michelle Kwon included)
• I have played DDR at the mall
• I have beat my entire team (18 men, 2 women) on laser tag
• I have put myself out there and faced rejection more times than I care to count
• I have made poor choices
• Lastly, I have made good choices

I could sit here and think of more, but just looking at these makes me feel like maybe my 20s weren’t as boring or pointless as I might have originally thought.

Here’s to the last year of my 20s. Let’s add some more things to this list!

ina