on being 28.

i meant to post this a while back, but tomorrow became 4 days, 9 days and now, 2 weeks later... but here it is: a recount of experiences at age 28.
this past year was more than i could've imagined, most of it, normals of daily life-living sprinkled with bursts of inspiration and the deepest heart stirrings this girl could've asked for.

in some sort of liz-brain logical order…these are the things i want to remember about year 28.

• started noticing a lot more white hairs. stopped pulling them out (except on days i feel ocd), and haven't managed to fully accept them yet. :\
• i joined a dance troupe. learning choreography kicks my ass --hard, but it feels great to be challenged in a new way
• backpacked in the sierras for 7 gloriously hard days; i learned to receive help.
• became a vegetarian
• nine months later, began an intense love affair with all sorts of meat. (funny how things work out.)
• had the most intense creative flow that kept me up for 36 hours
• shared my soul at TEDActive
• met a magnetically charming man
• had a profoundly sad ending with that magnetically charming man
• met a couple, on a boat, on the way to a desert island in puerto rico; spent a few unforgettable days with them eating the whitey-white bread, canned squeeze cheese, and faux spray butter sandwiches and skinny dipping under the moon
• my dad was diagnosed with 4 life threatening aneurysms. he decided not to get surgery. he's still alive.
• 2nd year of a new tradition of barrel tasting in sonoma
• 2nd year of a new tradition of volunteering at western states
• a dream comes true: private show with gregory alan isakov
• yosemite. that last look.
• had my first official break up with a friend
• a joy parade in east palo alto, inspired by bob goff
• raced in the inaugural born to run ultra; ran 10 miles
• beloved point reyes with old friends - steph, seiwei, jeff, nathan
• 7 days in my beloved state, montana
• 3 of 4 weekends, spent bike camping
• crossfit skeptic turned evangelist
• battled injury after injury; running came to a significant halt
• grew a wart; burned off the wart
• annette births abby joy.
• spontaneous road trip to arcata, ca in a sub24o trip
• joined a small group at my church, to experience deeper community
• had my first (and probably last) experience of harbin hot springs. 
• finally went to ashland, oregon: one of my heart's callings
• finally went to chicago, illinois: another one of my heart's callings
• finally went to santa barbara: one of my local destinations this year, to visit yon
• made a lot of new friends: emily, jenny, mary, lisa, billy, matt, samuel, kristen, jen, cole, janet, isaac...
• started the gratitude jar and it's shown me that i am most frequently grateful for people
• gave a commencement speech at art institute sf
• started dreaming up how/when i can do BOSS 28-day survival school
• started dreaming about how/when/where i might be able to bike tour for an extended time
• allowed my heart to get stirred by someone i only experienced through the typed letters on my screen. which made meeting in person, extraordinary.
• i cried in front of my boss
• applied for the amazing race with that same boss; got rejected; and did it again, but better.