Recapping my 300 by 30 List
Four long years later, I'm done.
My 300 by 30 List is the fourth bucket list I’ve made, the last one of my twenties, and the only one I’ve extensively shared on the internet. When I made the TikTok about my List, it had already been over a year. I just really enjoyed editing videos and saw it as a fun side hobby. Undoubtedly, my perspective had changed with all the lovely comments, other creators, and unexpected pressure. Here are my takeaways from the List that accompanied me from the ages of 26 to 30.
True Time Capsule
I wrote my List a few months before my 26th birthday: October 5, 2020. At the time, I was going through a deep depression, ripe with fear over the pandemic, and living in a forced homebody environment. All of those anxieties were reflected on the List. A chunk of the travel destinations were California based, unsure if I would be able to fly anytime soon. There was a whole section just for home purchases. The Activities section wasn’t necessarily things that I haven’t done before - just things I wanted to experience, either again or for the first time. The paranoia and uncertainty was palpable and captured exactly how I felt.
Fleeting Interests & Disposable Income
The List also showed what I prioritized at the time, in a way that seems completely unrelatable now. I had a whole section on Sustainability, an important interest that can sometimes hinge on not as affordable options. Before my break up, I had more time and money to spend on trying all the refillable grocery stores or shampoo bars. Once I moved out on my own and had to readjust my life, it became something that fell to the side as a luxury.
So! Many! Repeats!
A big surprise was how crossing off one thing could snowball into more. Number 190 (go rock climbing) led to me getting a membership at a bouldering gym. I went from roller skating occasionally to owning two pairs of skates. I ate at three different Vegas buffets because I could not stop! Some other repeats were just fun coincidences. Multiple weddings, new states, weekends in San Diego. I’m all about trying everything once, and it was fun to do what I really liked again and again.
Wishful Thinking
Some items were just not that fleshed out, I’ll admit. How many vacation days did I have in comparison to the trips I wanted to take? Could I afford a Creative Writing Certificate, and would I have the time? But if something did matter to me, I noticed myself coming back to it, even if I was aware enough that I couldn’t complete it now. I also learned how to compromise and find my own success. Waking up at 7AM every day was too ambitious, but 7:30AM is the perfect sweet spot :)
Four Years Too Long
This was my longest List by length. Way too much happens in a four year span to even be remotely predictable. I had so many moments where I would look at an item and wonder if I wanted it. It also made procrastinating incredibly easy; the devil that’s impossible to escape. I was originally opposed to a traditional bucket list because “before you die” was just too long of a time period. Turns out I feel the same about this!
Cliche but True
You expected it: my 300 by 30 List changed my life! It was a needed anchor through my Saturn Return. I prioritized in a way that was so successful - I accomplished life long dreams. I’ll talk about Peru for the rest of my life! Posting it on TikTok came with very little regrets. As a recovering people pleaser and hot head, not responding to comments was a learned skill. (Most of the time the answer was “because I wanted to” and I took that in my day to day life.) I also shared my List with my friends, who were supportive and often asked to join me to cross an item off. There were a handful of online people that started their own Lists, or were generally kind, and those always made my day.
This will always be my favorite comment, and one that keeps my spirits up.
Thank Yous!
While I had the company of so many wonderful people, I couldn’t have done this without the help of my two favorite Tauruses and best friends: G and Christine! They did so much heavy lifting on multiple items and put up with a ton of my logistical nonsense. G especially carried in the three (!!!) Spanish speaking countries that we went to. Christine was always down, even if it was erratic and manic on my part, like a last minute road trip or camping in 100 degrees. There is not enough gratitude in the world!
So, what’s next? Something, of course! Stay tuned :)
Full stats below. You can see the entire list here. The entire series is on TikTok under the hashtag #300by30. (I never got to 10k so I couldn’t make a playlist LMAO)
Start: October 5, 2020
End: October 5, 2024
27th Birthday - 10/5/2021 - 63 items completed
28th Birthday - 10/5/2022 - 122 items completed, 59 this year alone
29th Birthday - 10/5/2023 - 149 items completed, 27 this year alone
30th Birthday - 10/5/2024 - 178 items completed, 29 this year alone
Stats by Section
Travel - 27/47
Financial - 10/11
Career - 4/11
Home - 18/21
Life - 11/33
Zuko 3/4
Food - 20/39
Sustainability - 7/16
Activities - 44/57
LA/Riv/OC Things - 20/32
Clothing & Beauty - 8/17
Books/Films/TV Shows - 6/12
Written to: What’s The Time Where You Are? By Troye Sivan
Category: Schemes