On the occasion of my 27th birthday, I feel inclined to designate the upcoming year as a great year. 27 is the product of my second favorite multiplication problem, 9×3, and therefore its job is to stand out from other years. 23 (Michael Jordan’s number for most of his professional basketball career) was a year destined for greatness that generally lived up to its reputation. 27 will be the year of badassery.
Now some of you might automatically think, “but she’s already so badass.. any more and we’ll have to shield our eyes around her.” Please, I have no illusions of grandeur. I have always made it a priority to work on self-improvement, so naturally I must find more ways to fit the definition. Of course, the ingredients that go into making an A+ badass evolve regularly to include a variety of activities, attributes, and personality quirks. The following list includes some of the spices I’ve notices missing from my particular mix of badassery.
This year I plan to:
Learn how to change the oil in my car by myself.
Learn how to ride my bike on the streets of Milwaukee without becoming hopelessly lost and chased by dogs.
Learn one awesome breakdancing move.
Learn how to play a waltz and a jig on my fiddle.
Brew my own beer.
Be a racing sausage.
Put out a zine of my own work.
Learn how to say, “I am badass,” or the equivalent in 10 different languages.
Develop an unstoppable overhand serve.
Pull together a gang of badass friends that will torment onlookers with our cool style and hipness oozery, oh wait that’s already all of my friends, especially the volleyball team I’m on.
I welcome suggestions on how to achieve this somewhat epic list and also things I’m missing. Let the adventures begin!
PS. Anne and Lauren, thank you for the inspiration. I dedicate this year to your shining examples of badassery.
