Last year I started a list of 26 things I wanted to complete before my 26th birthday. I thought if I had a finite list of things, I’d be motivated to cross the items off one by one. In the middle few months, life and work got crazy and I lost focus. However, I still was able to complete items I certainly wouldn’t have otherwise. With my 26th birthday come and gone, here’s a retrospective on my progress and how I plan to continue with my venture.

Things I completed:

Took a weekend trip to Sedona — link
Read and returned all borrowed books — link
Got a record player — link
Saw Fountains of Wayne in concert — link
Reconnected with an old friend — link
Replaced master bathroom shower — link
Watched The Godfather — link
Organized the garage — link
Digitally organized and archived all photos — link
Lost 15 pounds — link
Learned to properly cook a steak — link
Created wedding books for my parents and in-laws — link

Things in progress:

Replace guest bathtub — Materials purchased and ready to be installed in May.
Host a poker night — Poker chips and table are ready, interest has been shown, date to be set soon.
Reduce my private debt by one fourth — I’ve set up a timeline and payment plan and have already made my first payment. I should be debt-free in a couple years.
Refresh and customize an old piece of furniture — I have the piece already, but have been agonizing over what paint color to use.

Things I still plan on completing:

Paint the kitchen cabinets — Just waiting for a long weekend so I can do it all at once. I may try the bathroom cabinets first as a test run.
Have a smores party — We plan to put in some grass, a fire pit, and a nice seating area in the backyard. Then, smores for everyone.
Paint a picture for myself — I have a few commissions lined up, but will soon after begin painting more for myself.
Learn how to change a tire — Someday…
Take a city tour of Phoenix — Of all the tours I researched, the Town Lake segway tour sounds the most fun. May have to wait till fall for the best weather.

Things I don’t plan on completing:

Build a piece of furniture — Too many tools to buy and too much work. I’d much rather spend time browsing antique stores!
Try snowboarding again — Last time I was in snowy climate, I found every excuse not to go snowboarding. Too expensive, too scary, and too much prep. I’ll stick to wakeboarding and warm weather.
Take a pottery class — My dad and I are going to take a printmaking class instead. Fun!
Stay up all night and watch the sun rise — I’m just too old for this, ha!
Buy a nice set of dishes and flatware — I actually shopped around for these, priced everything, and then decided I’d rather spend my money on other things. Our IKEA plates and Target flatware are good enough for us.

While I didn’t complete most of my list, I still feel great about it. One of my resolutions this year was to complete more projects I start. I loved the process and now am considering some larger, more difficult items for my 30 before 30 list.