Back in 2016, I wrote a post titled 10 Things I Never Thought I’d Do. I randomly came across it and decided I needed to add 10 more things I never thought I’d do since it has been several years since I wrote that post.
In 2016, I was fresh out of college, newly married, and childless. A lot has changed, so here are ten more things I never thought I’d do!
1. Overcome my fear of flying. I’d say flying in an airplane has been my biggest fear for the past 10+ years. I’m not exactly sure what changed, but I decided that my curiosity about the world overrode my fear of flying. I want to travel to places that aren’t feasible to drive to, and if flying is how I have to do it, then it’s worth it! I also had a child between developing that fear and overcoming it, and flying is a lot faster than driving with a young one.
2. Raise a daughter. From a young age, I can remember wanting kids. As I grew up, I always imagined being a boy mom. I even had dreams that I had twin boys. Imagine my surprise when I became pregnant for the first time and found out we were having a girl! I’ll tell ya what, raising a daughter is so special. I feel beyond blessed that God gave me Sadie. She has taught me so much in just four years and I absolutely love having a daughter.
3. Quit the gym. I used to be a daily 5:00 am gym-goer. And distance runner. I am neither of those things now and could care less. I think I quit the gym in 2015 and haven’t looked back. Sure, I’m still active, but I don’t need a gym or running to do so. Walking, yoga, pilates, strength training, and the occasional run are perfect for me at this stage in life–no gym required.
4. Drive through the City of Pittsburgh all the time. Pittsburgh is a city filled with one-way streets, a non-grid layout, tons of bridges and tunnels, traffic, and construction 24/7.
Growing up in a suburb just outside the city, I didn’t go through it often. Now? I drive through the ‘Burgh at least three times a week to get to church and also head into the city when I have a hematologist or midwife appointment. Jimmy and I live much closer to downtown than I used to and I’m now (mostly) accustomed to on-street parking, insane traffic, road closures, and everything city life throws at me.
5. Enjoy thrift and antique shopping. As a teenager, I liked new things. Trendy things. Now? Take me to an antique shop! Let’s go thrifting! I feel like there is so much value in older things. Often, they’re made better, and it’s also great for the environment to re-use clothing and home items. I also enjoy thinking about an item’s history–who used it, where, and why. Old stuff is the coolest.
6. Have a small business. I dreamt of plenty of business ideas as a child, teenager, and young(er) adult. I never thought I’d actually have a business, though.
When I was a child, a business meant a brick and mortar shop. Now, business options are endless thanks to the internet, phones, and more. If you would have told me I could have a bakery from my home even ten years ago, I don’t think I would have believed it.
7. Homeschool. I wasn’t homeschooled as a child and never imagined homeschooling my own children. It feels right for us, though. I love that I can instill faith in our schooling, be with my children during these important young years, and enjoy the freedom and flexibility that schooling at home allows.
8. Be okay with my hair. I used to loathe my curly hair. So much so that I would have my mom iron it with a clothes iron on an ironing board! I know, that was probably dangerous and also so bad for my hair.
Over time, I learned to embrace the crazy of my curly hair and now I don’t do a thing to it. I get out of the shower, give it a good comb through, a little bit of product, and go on my way. It’s easier that way and I figured that God made me with curly hair, so I might as well honor that.
9. Be a less picky eater. My poor parents. I did not eat very many foods as a child. If our family had spaghetti and meatballs, I just had spaghetti–no meatballs and no sauce. I can’t remember liking any vegetables and I didn’t even eat chocolate. I think I had a thing against color (red meat, red sauce, brown chocolate, green vegetables, etc. were all no-gos for me).
Over time, like 20 years of time, I grew to adore vegetables. I prefer them to meat and often get made fun of for my love of mushrooms, kale, and swiss chard. I love Korean food, Indian food, tofu, raw oysters, salmon, sushi, and any meat. I remind myself of this huge change when I see my daughter snub some of the same foods I used to avoid.
10. Write a blog for over 12 years. I didn’t know what a blog was until I was a teenager (who remembers Xanga?!). I have always loved writing and blogging but never assumed at age 18 (when I started this blog) that I would still be at it over 12 years later at age 30. I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m hoping blogging is still part of my life for years to come because I love it!
Living My Full Life 
Xanga!!! Girlllll, my first foray into online blogging haha!!! I really had fun reading this post! Might just copy it and do a similar one on my blog 😉
YAS! Xanga crew for life haha! Please do a similar one on your blog. I was to read your ten things!
Salmon and Sushi 🍣 yeah that’s my girl!
Love 💕 you!
Dad
Yeah! Thanks for getting me into raw oysters, too!! I love you!
What a cool post!!! —- You have really come a longgg way with things you’d ‘never’ do! Learning to adapt can be difficult, but fun and exciting too!! I clearly remember your fear of flying- and now you’ve even brought Sadie girl in the air!!
As for me, I guess I never thought I’d be a YaYa to 7 grandchildren all 4 and under. Sometimes I just cry thinking how blessed I have been with 3 amazing adult children of my own, and 7 of the sweetest little grandbabies on earth.
I have come a long way, huh?! I wonder how many more things I can add a few years from now! I am pretty proud of the flying thing 🙂
I am SO happy you’re a YaYa to SEVEN! I bet you never thought you’d be called YaYA hahah. I love you!
This was such a fun post to read, Allie! It got me thinking… things I never thought I’d do… hmm, I guess maybe study for a Master’s part-time while working? That’s probably top of my mind as I’m handing in my thesis this week. And I never thought that I’d go straight into a job after finishing university and, eight years later, still be working at the same company. For a while, I kept hankering after living abroad and thought I’d work for a while, then move to Spain for a year. I didn’t get the opportunity to do that, but I’m content with that and very happy with my life these days 🙂
Congrats on writing a blog for so long. It’s one of the few blogs I still follow and read. Even though we’ve never met, it’s been lovely to watch your life develop. I think I’ve followed your blog for around a decade!
Recently I’ve been thinking of starting to write a blog again. I kept mine going for about six years but haven’t posted since 2017. I think I’d probably set up a new site and a fresh space if I start a new one.
Thank you, Grace! Thanks for always reading my blog. It means so much to me!
I am super impressed you have studied for a Master’s while working (and working at the same company for eight years!). That is a huge feat! I hope all went well with your thesis! That must be a huge weight off of your back 🙂
I would love to read your blog (new or old) again. I miss it! And the pictures of Aimee!
Thank you 🙂 It all went well. Now I just have to wait for the oral exam to be arranged, which will happen in March. My supervisor advised me to think of it as telling the story of my research journey, rather than thinking of it as an exam. A good perspective to have! 🙂
Aww thank you, I’ll let you know if / when I start writing again. I have some ideas for a new site! And I’d definitely include plenty of Aimee pics 🙂
I feeeeel you on the fear of flying, although my anxiety has just recently started. I definitely get the nervous jitters way more these days, but as you said the desire to see the world or the curiosity outweighs the fear. I just need to not see the media news for plane crashes. Ever.
Oh man, the days of Xanga. How funny to think, that was definitely something of the millennial generation that perhaps led to the blogging. I think a lot of millennials are still blogging or writing in some ways thanks to that!
I love your hair. I get it though, I used to care way too much about mine. So I cut it all off. LOL
AANNNDD yaass to thrifting vs new. I think it’s an adolescence thing, caring so much about looks and perception of others. Now I would be embarrassed to be caught in something expensive. Give me the used stuff!
I’m sorry your anxiety has more recently started with flying. Isn’t it such a weird thing? I am with ya on not seeing any media news about plane crashes. Freaks me the freak out lol.
Xanga was where it was at! Those were some fun days. I’m so happy you still blog and have been at it so long 🙂
Thank you for the compliment on my hair! Yours is rockin’ as well! I wish I was brave enough to cut mine short. I’ll probably cut a few inches off soon (when Mordecai starts to grab it for fun) haha.
So true about new vs. old stuff being a teenage thing. I would also feel awkward to be caught in something expensive…. unless I thrifted it LOL.
I still have my letter you sent me of, Where the Trail Leads! It makes me smile each time I read it, and think of how much your Gramma and Grampa (Papa Boom) loved you so much! They missed all your family, so much, when you moved to Pittsburgh, and so did I! I’m so glad I follow your blog to keep updated on you and your family. 💕
Aww, I love that you still have it! We loved Gramma and Papa Boom SO much and have the best memories with them. Thanks for always reading my little blog. It means so much. Love you!