Carrie Wisehart The Plunge, Year of the Brave

The Year of the Brave: 40 things I am going to do in the year I turn 40

manifestoI have declared that 2015 is going to be The Year of the Brave.

After an exciting year of radical obedience when it comes to food, exercise, and change, I am more ready than ever to follow my 2015 Manifesto.  I am claiming Joshua 1:7-9:

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

When we radically obey the Lord and follow His word, not looking away from what He is commanding – it gives us the ability to be strong, be courageous, and head out on the adventure He has for us in 2015. So I am claiming this passage. I will keep the Book of the Law always on my lips as I jump into my journey.

I am willing, ready to jump in, embrace change, face fear, and be brave.

40 things to do in the year I turn 40

The Year of the Brave

So this year I turn 40. It is so exciting to reach this milestone in my life. I am not afraid at all to enter this new time in my life. Some people dread getting older. I love every minute of it.

My mom challenged me to think of 40 things I want to do in this year of turning 40. So here is my list. I am excited to venture out, be brave, and embrace what 2015 has in store for me.

Here it is. I’m sure you’ll be seeing some of these in the weekly Plunges I put out.

  1. Ride in RAGBRAI (July 2015 – 500 mile bike race)
  2. Do an Endurance Race (Bike, Hike, Kayak)
  3. Watch a football game from beginning to end
  4. Ride a motorcycle
  5. Blow things up (pumpkins, bottles, etc. – don’t worry, out in the country :))
  6. Read the Bible entirely through
  7. Meet a new neighbor and do an act of kindness
  8. Leave a letter in a library book
  9. Milk a cow
  10. Choose a word to actively never use again
  11. Listen to war stories
  12. Karaoke with friends
  13. Simplify my entire house
  14. Give up my seat
  15. Go horseback riding
  16. Climb something (rock, mountain, tree)
  17. Write a letter of appreciation to a former teacher
  18. Prom Dress Pool Party
  19. Prom Dress Bowling
  20. Prom Dress Color Wars
  21. Finger Paint
  22. Road Trip with no destination in mind
  23. Grow an edible plant
  24. Attend a festival
  25. Pay it forward at a restaurant/coffee shop
  26. Ride 3000 miles on my bicycle in the year
  27. Ride a century (hundred miles in one day)
  28. Make a snow angel in shorts and a t-shirt
  29. All food I eat has to start with my initials for an entire day
  30. Work at a grocery store until they notice I don’t work there and ask me to leave
  31. Memorize the Apostle’s Creed and the Beatitudes
  32. Serve at the homeless shelter
  33. Give a $100 bill to someone in need
  34. Get 1,000 hits on a blog post
  35. Teach 1,000 miles on my bicycle (Cycling Sessions)
  36. Sleep under the stars
  37. Learn to shoot a bow
  38. Ride a mechanical bull
  39. Commit acts of kindness on a weekly basis
  40. BONUS BOX! I’m leaving this one open to all the other great ideas I come up with. There could be 10 more, there could be 20!! Woot! Can’t wait for my year!