56 Things To Do Before I Turn 57
Every birthday seems to whisper something different.
Some years it's about big goals and exciting adventures. Other years it's about healing, slowing down, and paying closer attention to the life that's already unfolding around us.
As I get ready to turn 57, I've decided to create a "56 Before 57" list—not a bucket list filled with impossible dreams, but a collection of meaningful moments I want to experience before this next birthday arrives.
I've learned that a beautiful life isn't built from grand accomplishments alone. It's built from tiny moments that often go unnoticed.
A sunrise with a hot cup of coffee.
Fresh flowers on the table.
A watercolor bloom that surprises me.
A handwritten note to someone I love.
A quiet afternoon wandering somewhere new.
A page in my journal that holds nothing more than gratitude.
This list isn't about being busy. It isn't another checklist to complete or another way to measure success.
It's an invitation.
An invitation to notice.
To play.
To be curious.
To say yes a little more often.
To create memories instead of waiting for them to happen.
Some of the things on my list are creative. Some are adventurous. Some are wonderfully ordinary. Together, they remind me that joy is often hiding in the smallest places.
Maybe this inspires you to make your own list.
It doesn't matter if you're turning 27, 47, 67, or somewhere in between. Pick a number that feels meaningful and create your own version:
30 Before 31
42 Before 43
65 Before 66
Fill it with things that make your heart feel lighter. Include adventures you've been putting off, tiny rituals that nourish your soul, creative projects you've wanted to try, and simple pleasures that deserve a place on your calendar.
And here's my favorite idea…
Document it.
Take photos.
Collect little bits of paper.
Press flowers.
Paint color swatches.
Write a few sentences about each experience.
By the time your next birthday arrives, you won't just have crossed things off a list—you'll have created a journal full of a year that was intentionally lived.
Life moves quickly. Our days can become routines before we even realize they're becoming memories.
So this year, I'm choosing to pay attention.
To gather beauty.
To celebrate ordinary moments.
To create more than I consume.
To live this year on purpose.
Here's to 56 beautiful moments before 57.
I'd love to hear from you. If you make your own list, tell me what you'll call it—or share one thing you'd love to do before your next birthday. Let's inspire each other to live with a little more intention, one meaningful moment at a time.
56 Things to Do Before I Turn 57
Watch one sunrise with a cup of coffee.
Paint 56 tiny abstract botanicals.
Fill an entire journal with memories from this year.
Visit a place I've never been before.
Take myself on an artist date.
Read six books that inspire me.
Learn one new watercolor technique.
Make homemade pasta.
Write a letter to my future self.
Spend a day completely offline.
Press and journal 25 different botanicals.
Host a creative afternoon with friends.
Watch the stars without checking my phone.
Create a journal page using only found papers.
Visit a museum or art gallery.
Have a picnic.
Take a long scenic drive with no destination.
Try a new coffee shop.
Learn a few phrases in a new language.
Paint outside.
Watch a thunderstorm.
Take a spontaneous day trip.
Donate art supplies to someone beginning their creative journey.
Create a collage from travel treasures.
Make a recipe that has been in my family for years.
Declutter one room.
Say yes to something that scares me just a little.
Buy fresh flowers just because.
Start a gratitude jar.
Send five handwritten notes.
Learn the name of ten wildflowers.
Visit a local farmers market.
Paint with a color palette I've never used.
Try a new restaurant.
Watch an old favorite movie.
Make a tiny journal.
Take a class just for fun.
Walk somewhere beautiful without headphones.
Create a sacred heart collage that represents this season of life.
Bake something to share.
Take 100 photographs of ordinary beauty.
Watch birds for an hour.
Finish one project I've been putting off.
Learn something new about my family history.
Have a slow Sunday with no agenda.
Celebrate someone's success.
Watch the sunset from a new place.
Write down 100 things I'm grateful for.
Plant something that will bloom next year.
Make a playlist for this chapter of my life.
Practice saying "no" without guilt.
Laugh until I cry.
Spend a whole day creating with no expectation of the outcome.
Celebrate one small win every week.
Write the story of one treasured memory.
End the year by writing 56 things I learned before turning 57.
