While people cheered and danced, fireworks like cannon blasts, I stopped for a second to soak in the joy of being with true friends. Happy New Year! While the opportunity to be home during the holidays was nothing short of fantastic, in that particular moment my mind was back on the trail. What’s next? Where’s next? What can I do differently this time that may help me be more comfortable and efficient? ? What do i want to accomplish this year? But seriously- what DO I want to do this year?!

As I walk, I have all the time in the world to get lost in my thoughts and daydream. I sometimes think about what the future holds for me and what I would like to do in the meantime. I have been working on a constantly growing list of life goals, dreams, and ambitions for months now and I think it’s about time to start crossing some of these things off my list. Consider these my resolutions for this year, some vague, some concrete. I expect certain goals to be easier than others, but my expectations have been proven wrong before; who knows what will be crossed off first? Here’s my favorites from the list

1. Walk to California
2. Catch a wave on a surfboard
3. Participate in a drum circle
4. Do a cartwheel
5. Get some dreads
6. Break a board with my fist
7. Crochet a blanket for someone
8. Go without shoes for a week
9. Eat something I’ve grown/ hunted
10. Learn Led Zeppelin’s “Going to California” on guitar
11. Skydive
12. Pet a bald eagle
13. Throw a frisbee off a mountaintop
14. Run a marathon
15. Land a kickflip
16. Learn to play the harmonica
17. Read Kerouac’s “On the Road”
18. Walk above 10,000 ft. in elevation
19. Learn ALL the words to the Star-Spangled Banner
20. Visit Bozeman, Montana
21. 30+ mile day on foot
22. Throw a bullseye with a dart
23. Ride a horse
24. Get a tattoo
25. Win a rap battle
26. Attend a Rainbow Gathering
27. Swim a mile
28. Ride a motorcycle
29. Walk in another country
30. See some great live jazz
31. Chop down a tree with an ax
32. Plant 100 trees
33. Do 100 consecutive pushups
34. Feed 100 people
35. Train hop

Some of these goals are entirely dependant on my own willpower and motivation like doing 100 pushups; there is only so much someone could do to help me accomplish that goal. In the end, it is up to me. There are other goals that are impossible without the help of others, like petting a bald eagle. If I am to cross that one off, I will just have to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. In my eyes, this balance helps me maintain confidence, faith in humanity, and the motivation to keep walking. If you can help me cross something off my list, I will stop at nothing to help you cross something off yours.

Also, check out some of my most recent pictures from Indiana. I’m almost to Illinois, so I’ll put another post up soon about my experience in Indiana and the people I need to thank. One of my goals should be to post on the website more often- I know I’ve been slacking on that.