The 26 List

The days are flying. I am getting older. I am doing what feels like absolutely nothing. Every day is virtually the same. And so, the 26 list was born. 26 things, big and small, that I will accomplish this year to prove to myself that I am not actually doing nothing. 

1. Paint a painting

I have had two unwrapped blank canvases sitting on top of my art bin for years, and I should probably just paint something and put them to use.

2. Walk 2 million steps

This will have me walking an average of 5,500 steps a day for the next year. Which when compared to the 10,000 steps a day propaganda I have been fed the last 10 years might sound low, but that is actually quite a respectable and fairly ambitious goal for me.

3. Run a mile

I’m convinced if there was ever a bear or threatening animal that could chase me at a 13 minute pace, I could easily run a mile, but I have yet to encounter that situation so I have still never run a mile. I’ve decided 26 is the year I finally run a mile.

4. Start an herb garden

My own personal herb garden is exactly what I need to take my pesto and simple syrup passion to the next level. 

5. Knit a top

With everyone having babies this year, my time has been completely taken over by knitting stuffed geese. It feels like with every goose finished, a new person is getting pregnant. Once my time being a goose factory ends, I plan to do some personal knitting in the form of a sleeveless top. 

6. Go on an international trip

I think I need to go to Scandinavia. For some reason, I have convinced myself that a solo trip around Denmark, Sweden, and Norway will fix all my problems. If I return from this trip and don’t feel absolutely evolved as a person, I don’t know what I will do.

7. Have a movie marathon day

In the year 2026, I set a goal to watch 100 movies. (My 2026 goals are separate from the 26 list you are reading now, but have intertwined for the sake of movies). I am now incredibly behind on that goal, and watching 4-6 movies in one single day might be the only path forward in achieving that goal. 

8. Sober 26 days

I probably do drink too much and too casually, but this goal is more of a weight loss goal than anything. Responding to anxiety with a drink is probably a bad idea, but a glass of wine or simple cocktail a night has never killed anyone I know. Here's to hoping I can go a few weeks without hitting the bottle, and my face also gets skinnier as a result.

9. Fill a sketchbook

I need to start just putting pen to paper. I am always waiting for a good idea to come to me, but I need to just start drawing random stuff that comes to mind.

10. Make a homemade ice cream sandwich

The whole shebang. Homemade cookies and ice cream from scratch. If I’m feeling crazy, I might make some sprinkles too.

11. Read East of Eden

This book has been on my list for forever, and it is incredibly daunting to me for some reason, but I think this might be the year.

12. Walk a marathon

I might be shooting for the moon here as there is not way for me to complete this in Birmingham without simultaneously climbing a mountain, but we will see.

13. Get 500 followers on a Spotify playlist

I don’t know how I am going to achieve this, but I would love to get some acknowledgement for all the time I spend on playlists. As of right now, Shimmy and Shake is my most popular playlist with 182 followers.

14. Make a fancy layer cake

I have not decided exactly what kind of cake I’m going to make, but it will be elaborate. If I’m feeling crazy, there might be piping bags involved.

15. Wish on a shooting star

This is out of my hands, but surely I have to see at least one over the course of a year.

16. Mahjong in every category

In order to make this happen I’m going to have to seriously start playing more mahjong. 

17. Paint my nails red

I needed some layups on this list, and I have been wanting to paint my nails red for a while but have been overtaken by a million boy baby showers where red nails would clash with my outfit.

18. Finish all Survivor seasons

I don’t know if I will ever finish all the seasons, but anytime I set goals or make a list like this, I have to include it.

19. Make homemade butter

Another layup as it requires just putting heavy cream into the kitchen aid, but it’s hopefully going to be the best butter I have ever tasted.

20. Fill a disposable camera

I am always saying I want more pictures. I also just like the way disposable, or film photos turn out. I have yet to decide if I am going to get a traditional plastic throwaway camera or I might order a Camp Snap camera or something similar.

21. Get a new piercing

LPD is not obsessed with the idea of this one, but I have been wanting a new piercing for nearly 3 years now, so I think I just need to bite the bullet.

22. Write 50 blogs

Writing 50 blogs feels ambitious, but I think committing to this will be good for me. Every day in the workforce, I feel like I grow stupider, and I think writing blogs about actually stupid things will make me smart again.

23. Spend a day offline

I guess just one weekend, I need to pick a day to completely unplug. Maybe it will be the most productive day of all time or maybe I’ll go crazy. Most likely it will be both.

24. Break 90 in a round of golf

I am most definitely capable of breaking 90 in a round of golf. I bet I break 90 25% of the time, but the real question is: will I play enough golf to achieve those 1 in 4 odds.

25. Make a new cocktail

If I’m going to be drinking at the rate I do, I might as well be getting creative with it. I realize this list makes me seem like an alcoholic, but I just love a one drink night most of the time.

26. Actually clean and declutter my closet/room

This is too subjective of a goal for this list, but I needed to put something down because something must be done about my closet and hoarding situation. 26 is the year of getting rid of those T-shirts and athletic shorts that I have not worn in 6 years and probably never will again.

And that's the list. I feel pretty confident that I am capable of completing everything on this list, and if I'm capable, I might as well just do it.

A month in, a few goals are starting to feel daunting though. I am currently on a great pace for the 2 million steps, but I am already worried about how sedentary I will be this winter. The 50 blogs are off to a slow start, but I can definitely come back from that. The international trip is slipping through my fingers every day. My September Scandinavia trip has yet to hit the books, and I don't start making plans soon, it might be too late.

I have already painted my nails red and started an herb garden though so check!