25 Things I Did Before 25

So today is my 25th birthday and I have been freaking out about it. I am excited but for some reason 25 seems like a big one. I spent some time analyzing why this birthday has been hitting me so hard and even did a little research on the web. Turns out, I am not the only one that finds 25 to be a milestone. Everyone I found on the web seemed introspective regardless of where they were in life. I saw a married mother of 3 freaking out about turning 25 and laughed. It seems no matter what is on our list of things to do, we all seem to freak out when we haven't gotten there by our self-made "milestones". I happened upon one girl's blog that broke my heart. She stated: "But what really upsets me about turning 25 are my relationships. I have one best friend that I've known since high school. But other than her, I don't really have any friends. She and I go out occasionally, but we're both so busy with our own lives."

It struck me as so sad and yet true, life really is what happens when we are busy making other plans... And boy do I make a lot of plans! But God is so faithful anyway. In my introspection I have determined that I have so many amazing friends and a spectacular family despite the fact that we are all so busy with our own lives. I am truly blessed! I hope to be better at making time for the people I care about in my next 25 years, but I am blessed to have so many people that I love dearly and that share the sentiment! Praise the Lord for His blessings! I already feel so loved on my 25th birthday and it has just begun!

So instead of thinking of my list of things to do in my life and how many of them I have yet to accomplish, I would like to share with you 25 things that I have done by my 25th birthday!

Enjoy:
1. Lived in England my own for seven weeks... and survived.
2. Ran/Walked a 5k and a 10K.
3. Laughed so hard I cried.
4. Walked barefoot on the beach.
5. Watched the sun set.
6. Pulled an all nighter.
7. Been a bridesmaid 9 times.
8. Put someone else's needs above my own.
9. Completed a Triathlon.
10. Beat my mom at several Wii games but gotten my butt kicked by her in Wii boxing.
11. Learned to cook and managed to give my self food poisoning only once through the process.
12. Had several real and deep conversations that have shaped me life.
13. Taken a risk with my heart and lived through it.
14. Blown a tire 20 miles into a 21 mile bike ride... So close, and yet so far...
15. Been camping in a rain storm.
16. Had a mud fight.
17. Been abroad four times and counting!
18. Pushed myself farther than I thought I could manage... and survived.
20. Been drenched and played in the rain.
21. Been in the newspaper.
22. Eaten sushi... and loved it...
23. Sang at the top of my lungs in my car despite the fact that I am tone deaf.
24. Read more books that I can count.
25. Survived law school (close enough)!