[photo credit: hostess with the mostess]

Every once in a while I choose a benchmark and I chase it. Way back when it was 25 Things Before 25, then I did 30 Things Before 30, now I am on to conquering 40 Things Before 40… This list is quite exciting to me…

Last Sunday over drinks, I shared all but one item on my list with my Mr (the one I didn’t share is puling off a surprise for him). And for the first time my well thought out list, my overly tinkered with “40 Things” felt real and exciting. It felt like magic in a bottle. I cannot wait to chase this list down with my whole heart.

There are already items I have completed. Four to be exact, with two set to be completed this month. It truly is an adventure of a list and exciting to watch the items get checked off. I have seven years, seven years to complete everything documented. Seven years sounds and feels like forever, but some items on my list are difficult to achieve and furthermore costly.

I want to own our dream home, I want to complete a marathon (on the Great Wall of China?), I want to take a cooking class or many cooking classes to develop skills, I want to blog professionally, I want to take a trip with just my mom and sister, I want to experience a hockey game in Canada, I want to dress to the nine’s for New Years Eve, I want to own a pair of Louboutin heels, I want to hike and camp Havasupai Falls, I want to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, I want to volunteer in Avery’s classroom, I want to throw a proper holiday party, I want to commit to a year of consistently working out, I want to take a European vacation with my Mr, I want to spend a weekend in Portland at the Hotel Deluxe… The list is simple and yet so meaningful to me. Sure there are materialistic items, but there are also big and beautiful goals mapped out on my 40 Things Before 40.

I’m so excited to be crossing items off my list one at a time and setting goals that matter to me. It is my very own and personal pursuit of happiness.