Some things I want to do this year, and many of them involve playing in the great outdoors:

1. The Warrior Dash! Mud slingin’, rip roarin’, tire jumpin’ fun! It’s basically a 5k meets a mini boot camp.
2. Back-pack camping. Maybe not quite Man Vs Wild, but I’d love to have to trek for a day and find a suitable camp site. The tomboy adventurer in me demands it! As Emerson put it, “Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”
3. Keep on rocking out my grad classes, and I’ll begin the internship program in May! About 1 year 3 months until Masters graduation, internship completion, and the J-O-B.
4. Complete a half-marathon. I’m not disappointed in the 9 miles I finished last year, but I know I can get there again and beyond.
5. Give our Miss Kitty hugs and love, our Angelbird seedling trees and grooming, and our Skittens the Mittens belly scratches. Might I add: Cats are awesome and self-sufficient. They require food and love, and in exchange, they provide entertainment and affectionate head butts.
6. Travel. In my life, I’ve been to at least 26 states and been out of the country 3 times on various family and friend vacations, road trips, and plane flights. There will definitely be a trip to California for the ADA conference as part of the internship! Never been to Cali…
7. Life life deeply and deliberately, as I only get just one.
8. Laugh with Ryan as we play with and work on our house together.
9. Encourage our blueberry bushes to flourish, and build a hydroponics vegetable garden. “Science. It works, – !”
10. Sculpt my body into the healthiest state it’s ever been.
11. Anticipate the healthy delivery of Mark and Kayla’s precious baby. I’ll be that annoying neighbor that begs to babysit and be “Aunt Bo”. Actually, Kayla will surely dub me “Aunt Neeter”!
12. Continue with my hip-swinging Zumba classes, heart-pounding spin classes, and muscle-building weight training! I love the variety, and keeping my body guessing is a good thing.
13. Paintball! I’ve never tried it, and it looks like fun. I envision myself in camo, crouched in full gear behind a tree, sneaking up on Ryan…then SPLAT! Someone will likely have bamboozled me from the side.

Almost a week ago, I awoke at 6:00am full of anticipation at walking across the stage for USM’s 100th commencement anniversary. I had successfully completed my Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Systems, and it was and is very satisfying. As I stood waiting to go out onto the field with my classmate pals, I felt true butterflies in my stomach for the first time in a long while, both for my own excitement and nervousness. I’m my own worst critic when it comes to absorbing knowledge, and this moment was no exception. Is this real? Did I finally complete my B.S? Is it really mine? I quickly quelled these thoughts with a firm, Yes, it is deserved. Yes, I worked hard for this. Yes, it is mine and cannot be taken away. Own your mistakes and successes – and this is mine, baby! My chin came up, I felt a smile spreading across my face, and across the field we walked. I was temporarily reminded of my band marching days, and my shoulders automatically squared themselves back. And I knew my family and friends were somewhere in that immense crowd watching for me, and my heart swelled with love and gratitude. I felt so giddy throughout the ceremony, and my face hurt at the end from grinning so much. And of course, I couldn’t help but hop up and down a little walking back to my chair with glee!

And I’ll start graduate school classes in about 1 week to begin my Master’s degree….life is good. I know Mom would be really excited for me and promptly ask, “So when are you coming up to see me before you get swamped again with school?” Oh, if I could see her again. I’d never really considered my Master’s degree before this past year, but I’m glad I’m in now. I’m pretty sure this is where I’ll stop my higher education advancement as far as degrees go, though. I have no aspirations to get my doctorate, mainly because I’m ready to get out in the working world again and apply this knowledge!