since I turned 22 I have...

found out some bad news health-wise.

dealt with that bad news.

mailed postcards.

googled how to write postcards.

sent thank you cards.

sent birthday cards.

sent Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, and Easter cards.

sent just because cards.

moved out of the house I lived in for over a year.

moved to China.

taken my first flight.

and then two more.

planned a vacation to Boracay.

said goodbye to friends and family.

taught my Nan how to skype.

taught kindergarten.

taught grade two.

taught Montessori preschool.

fallen in love with The West Wing, Girls, Friday Night Lights, and The Newsroom.

discovered new music.

listened to The Lumineers on repeat.

bought and decorated a Christmas tree.

been a bridesmaid in my best friend's wedding.

cried at my best friend's wedding rehearsal.

driven with the windows down.

sang at the top of my lungs.

visited friends in Montréal and Vermont.

seen Ingrid Michaelson in concert.

written over 250 blog posts.

eaten sushi for the first time.

made new friends.

begun learning a new language.

completed countless school assignments and given countless presentations.

dressed up as an apple tree.

bought leggings.

learned to like beer.

cried.

laughed.

ran 5K.

read more than 27 books.

baked banana muffins twice.

baked pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

applied for at least 6 jobs.

interviewed for two.

been hired for my first "real" teaching job.

questioned what I want to do for the rest of my life.

wondered what's next.

worried.

promised myself I wouldn't worry.

worked at Paint the Heartland.

attended an art festival.

witnessed a giant protest.

drank coffee.

ran late.

been early.

told the truth.

told white lies.

bought art.

fought with friends.

made up.

picked lilacs.

made important phone calls and asked lots of questions.

asked lots of questions in general.

stood on the Great Wall.

visited the Temple of Heaven.

moved to a city with a subway system.

become a pro at riding escalators.

learned how to use chopsticks.

ordered a meal in Mandarin.

paid for things in five different currencies.

bought 7 plants.

kept those plants alive.

given gifts to friends and family.

mailed a Christmas present in the summer.

gotten out of bed when I didn't want to.

fallen in love with avocados and greek yogurt and edamame beans.

graduated with a Bachelor of Education.

closed two bank accounts.

opened a new bank account.

paid all my bills on time.

bought insurance.

continued to write in my journal.

given pep talks.

received pep talks.

called my mom and burst into tears.

been held while I cried.

danced in my living room.

gone on a date.

gone out for drinks.

danced with a Texan.

kissed a Texan.

had a few haircuts.

tried parting my hair on the other side.

decided I didn't like it.

ran outside and on a treadmill.

signed up for a half marathon training program.

sold approximately half of all my possessions.

packed two big suitcases and two carry-on bags and had room to spare.

kept secrets.

confided some of my own.

kept in touch with friends.

realized that life goes on.

realized it again. and again.

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Tomorrow, I turn 23. I wonder what I'll do in the next 365 days.

This post was inspired by Elise Blaha.