I’m not someone that tries to make things symbolic when there really is no need.  However,  I thought I’d write this post on this date, August 26th, a week shy of my 26th birthday, with a list of 26 tasks that I want to complete.   I know I won’t complete them all anytime soon, but I was inspired by the 30 things To Do list by YesandYes to make good on my own list 26 things I want to start at 26:

1. Learn my mother’s recipe for pound cake and perfect it.

2. Be able to successfully defend myself physically if a situation arises.

3. Dress up and go to the opera.

4. Read the entire works of Shakespeare.

5. Learn how to box.

6.Take a dance class and go to the highest level that I possibly can.

7. Move to another country and live there for at least a year.

8. Throw a fabulous cocktail party.

9. Run a marathon.

10. Learn how to box.

11. Become absolutely dedicated to a cause I care about.

12. Go to graduate school.

13. Volunteer at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving.

14. Learn how to belly dance and become damn good at it (not the same as #9).

15. Learn how to appropriately apply false eyelashes.

16. Perfect my skincare regimen.

17. Ride my bike along the Chicago lakefront.

18. Designate one room as my library when I purchase my first home.

19. Write a book.

20. Dress up in my most fab dress, best jewelry and throw on my favorite shoes and go to brunch, browse/shop and or peruse a museum–alone.

21. Pay off all of my debt. Every.single.cent.

22. Re-read the Elements of Style.

23. Become happy and comfortable in my skin.

24. Start a gym regimen and keep up with it.

25. Build and keep a constant nest egg for myself so that I can always take care of myself no matter what the circumstances are.

26. Continue my thirst for knowledge and curiosity and learn as much as a can while I am on this Earth.

Do you have a list or any tasks that you want to complete by a certain time?