I’M OFFICIALLY 27 – HERE’S EVERYTHING I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR

If you couldn’t already tell from the title.. IT’S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY!

This year, I’m surprisingly less excited to celebrate. I know, who am I anymore?! I can’t pin-point a reason why I’m feeling subdued. Perhaps I’m still jet-lagged from my recent trip back home to Canada and reaction time has been delayed. Or, it’s because I’ve discovered more than one grey hair on my head and it feels like my youth has officially ended. Serious question, if I pluck a grey hair out, do more grow in? Or, is that a myth? Please advise.

ANYWAY! I came into the world 27 years ago (holy shit I’m almost 30!) and if you remember from last year, here were the goals I wanted to achieve at 26. Let’s see how I did:

1. Write a book.

This didn’t happen because it’s still not the time. As much as I want to sit down and commit to my writing, I’m constantly sidetracked with other projects. One day I will write a goddamn book but (again..) this wasn’t the year. SOON!

~~2. Go to my 5th continent.~~

HECK YEAH! New Zealand and Australia were my latest travel expeditions and they were sweet as. I already want to go back.

~~3. Create a morning routine.~~

I wouldn’t call it a routine but I wake up a lot earlier than I used to so, I’m counting it.

~~4. Create a budget.~~

I’ve been doing my best to save but it’s been a little difficult, especially because I’ve been traveling a bunch. I do the best I can and am conscious of where my money goes but sometimes I crave a $6 latte okay! LET ME LIVE MY LIFE! I’m not perfect with finances but I DID reach my goal (barely.. but I did it!). You’ll see why I’m trying to save once you read the new goals below.

5. Raise $1,000 for The Malala Fund to secure girls’ right to a minimum of 12 years of quality education.

I raised $386 for The Malala Fund, and even though I didn’t reach $1,000 mark (it was quite ambitious..), I’m thankful for everyone who took the time to donate. Seriously, thank you. #FreedomForAllGirls means educating girls and women to be strong, independent, and opinionated. To feed your brain with useful knowledge, check out The Global Goals new video they created forInternational Day of the Girl, which was on October 11, featuring the song “Freedom” by Queen B.

In March, I will be leaving South Korea (can you believe it’s almost been two years?!) and returning back home to Canada.

Below are the goals I will strive to achieve during my 27th year of life:

1. Start a career in a creative field.

2. Purchase property.

3. Go to my 6th continent.

4. Commence secret project (Mwhaha! Sorry, you’ll know in time, I promise!).

5. Donate blood.

Most of these are lofty goals, but when I leave South Korea I’m ready to create a whole new life in an entirely different environment. In the meantime, cheers to another year of learning from mistakes, working hard, and being a goal-achieving-bad-ass-bitch-who-will-never-be-too-old-to-eat-peanut-butter-with-her-fingers-out-of-the-jar.

Below is a photo from this morning featuring my co-teachers and I. They were waiting for me to arrive so they could surprise me with a cake but I rolled in just as the bell rang with a $6 latte in hand. Heh heh.