Hey, Ambitious Fam! I’ve been putting off this post for a while. When I created my 30 before 30 bucket list, I was just about to turn 26 years old. Pre-pandemic Cierra was considering a doctorate program, lived in a small studio with the best view, and had an optimism that was not yet jaded. She had a love for pink, dresses, and frills, and embraced hustle culture with the eagerness of someone willing to wake up at 5 am to make it to her workouts before 6 am. She had a plan for where she was going in life and all the time in the world to make it happen.
I’m not the same person I was when I wrote that list. More often than not lately, I feel like I don’t know who I am. With the weight of world events, self-discoveries, and the passage of time, I felt the urge to cling to what was familiar. Change can be uncomfortable and it felt like everything inside me and around me was changing at once.
Let’s add on the layer of being a content creator. While I’ve shared some aspects on Instagram and the podcast, I’ve also felt…stuck. I was worried that if I changed too much, that I would lose my audience. People like knowing what to expect and I felt like I was struggling to fit into a mold that I no longer fit into. I forgot one of my main reasons for starting the blog in the first place: to document my own growth journey and to encourage others on theirs.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love pink, frills, and pumpkin treats. Bucket list adventures are here to stay. But the blog (and its associated social platforms) have returned to being a safe place for learning, growing, and trying (and sharing) new things. A place where we will continue to take up space, support each other, and celebrate life’s journeys. Here’s to being authentically, unapologetically, and ambitiously us. It’s good to be back.
As for the 30 before 30 bucket list, well it could use a little work. The pandemic stole time; honestly, some of the items just aren’t as important to me as they once were (looking at you, NYFW). In 6 months, I will be leaving my twenties behind me. Let’s close that decade with some flair, shall we?
What I completed so far:
I have modified the original 30 Before 30 Bucket List to include check marks next to the items that I have completed so far. A few of the items were completed as recently as a couple of months ago, including my trip to Europe (more on that soon!), traveling [a segment of] the California coast, and the facial that I got on my birthday.
What I would [realistically] like to complete in the next 6 months:
Though I am not committed to completing the entire list, there are still a couple of items that I want to (and could realistically) experience in the next 6 months.
Go on a vineyard tour! Virginia is home to many vineyards and I always that that vineyard hopping looked fun. One of my friends is actually planning one for her bachelorette and I can’t wait to experience it in the company of great people.
Attend an event that requires a gown: There is something magical about having an event to get dressed up for. If I can’t get on the guest list of an event, then well, I’ll just have to create a reason to celebrate in fancy attire!
Go to a drag brunch: There isn’t much to say about this item other than I think that it would be a fun experience and a great way to support entertainers (and eat yummy food).
Leaf peeping in New England: Fall is right around the corner and I have wanted to experience the magic of a New England autumn for so long now. Hoping to do a small weekend getaway this year so that I can finally see the beauty for myself.
Help someone check something off their bucket list: Bucket list adventures have added so much to my life. There is joy in finally getting to experience the thing that you have only dreamt about. It is empowering to plan and go after the life that you want. I hope to be able to help someone check something off their list so that they no longer have to wonder what it would be like.
What I would still like to complete (even after I reach 30):
There are a few items on the list that I still want to complete in the near future, but they are less likely to make the deadline.
Debt-free: I made a lot of progress over the years, but unfortunately I still have a ways to go before I can check off this item.
Go on a retreat: An opportunity to be immersed and fellowship in an atmosphere with like-minded individuals? Sign me up!
See the Northern Lights: Still holding out hope that I will get to see this natural phenomenon in person one day.
As for the rest of the items on the list, some of them would be nice to experience, but I no longer have a strong attachment to them. Some of them, I don’t care to experience at all. There are also a couple of things that didn’t make the list that I discovered that I would like to check off on my road to 30 as well.
My 30 before 30 bucket list reminded me that it was ok to change. You are allowed to shift your priorities and focus your attention on new things as they become important to you. Even if that means deviating from your original plans. After all, isn’t that what life is about?
I’ll keep you updated on all of my bucket list adventures here, on Instagram, and on YouTube!
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