34 for 34 🎉
A list of things that may or may not happen this year!
It’s my birthday this week and I guess I can no longer say I’m early 30s. Nope, I’m firmly entrenched in my mid-30s at this point.
I got the idea to do a list of things I want to do in my 34th year from Gretchen Rubin, who makes the same list but for each calendar year (e.g. 24 in 2024).
33 was jam packed. I was pregnant for the first half and then in the second half had a baby. I spent some time in Australia, visited an island called Rurutu, made some art, farewelled some beloved friends. I got into kombucha making, ginger beer, and raising chickens.
I’m looking forward to 34 and seeing my beautiful baby turn into a little toddler. Here are some other things I want to do this year:
Drink 34 happy hour cocktails for my birthday (jokes, I will drink max 3 and be incredibly drunk because I’m a lightweight these days)
Visit Makatea (booked for September!) where I will try…
Rock climbing (apparently there are some easier walls for the kids which is where I’ll aim myself, as I have the upper body strength of an infant), and…
Swimming in a fresh water grotto
Go to see some Tahitian dancing and music at the Heiva (booked for July)
Complete my diving baptism
Set myself up a studio so I have a dedicated space to make art
Start selling artworks, both originals and prints
Perfect my hard kombucha (the first batch was pretty good, but I think there’s room for improvement) and make a hard ginger beer
Restart my daily diary, spend 3-4 minutes each day writing down something small that happened (plus a photo or 1SE?)
Start a salad and herb veggie patch (or pots)
Get a new yoga mat and start going to yoga once a week
Do a plein air painting of the view from the Belvedere near Temae
Keep up my weekly newsletter
Take Auguste back to Australia to meet his Australian family
Sew this skirt and this dress
Read 34 books (enjoyable garbage doesn’t count towards this number)
Read 3-4 books in French
Read 3-4 books to my baby every day (yes, I’m allowed to do repeat books, I already know his Australian Animals book off by heart)
Do all my financial shit (taxes, BAS, super etc) on time
Buy a chest of drawers and finally organise all my clothes that are everywhere
Paint a REALLY REALLY BIG hibiscus (HUGE in fact)
This one is pretty big, but I think I can go bigger. Go big or go home, right? Get 100 photos printed and make a photo album
Visit an art gallery and a museum, sit and do some sketching
Swim with whales for a second time
Buy a really nice mug for my morning cup of chocolate/tea
Bring my piano over from Melbourne and start taking classes again
Find 3 or 4 mum friends on my island
Play a song at open stage night at Vaiare Pizza
Go to a festival with my baby
Adopt a kitten
Learn to drive the scooter and learn how to drive a manual car
Spend 34 minutes sketching, doodling or painting every day
Finish 3-4 courses on Skillshare
I’ve written previously about how I’m really good at starting things but not so great at finishing them, so I’ll see you in a year to tell you how I actually went with all of this.
Do you feel the urge to make lists or reflections when your birthday rolls around? Tell me in the comments! 👇
Reading, watching, thinking about…
If you grew up in Australia, chances are you’ve had a boogie to a Wiggles song at some point or another. This album of reimagined Wiggles bops (and the The Wiggles doing a bunch of covers) is surprisingly full of bangers. I love a bit of DZ Deathrays and Auguste have been doing a boogie to Hot Potato!
We had the winter solstice last week, and I did nothing to mark it. I’m going to sit down and watch this video my lovely friend Wez sent me and learn about some winter solstice rituals from different cultures.
My sister-in-law writes a wonderful newsletter that you should check out whether or not you’re interested in learning French.
Love the dedication and variety of your list Zette. If you achieve even half whilst looking after your baby and the man child it will be amazing 🧡
Ohoh that's a sweet one! I also feel the urge to write goals and lists when my birthday comes around...and I sometimes feel like I need to make sure "enough" things happened that year... I hope your 34 desires come true ❤️