50 States Challenge


Collecting sea glass on a beach in Hawai`i as the sun goes down, February 2013

Over Christmas break 2011, I sat with my old friend Kyle in a bar discussing our lives as old friends tend to do.  I wasn't too thrilled over the direction my life was taking and I shared my frustration with him. Kyle shook his head and told me to stop focusing on the now and start making goals.  Back then, we made a pseudo-pact to travel Europe in 2015 (2015 has come and gone).  Kyle's always been good that way, though.  He's been my hype man, getting me excited when there's not much to look forward to.

The next day, some coworkers approached me and said they were planning a trip to California; would I like to go?  Still high on my buddy's pep talk, I said yes without hesitation.  Looking back, I may have invaded their trip a bit (I was the only girl in a group of four guys), but without Kyle's push the night before I don't think I would have ever taken the leap.

Grand Canyon - South Kaibab Trail, Arizona June 2015

That day I decided on a new goal that focused less on what I was accomplishing right now, and more focused on long term goals that would ultimately fulfill me, get me excited, and make me a better person.

Hence, the 50 State Challenge.

Here are the rules on my 50 State Challenge starting January 1, 2012:

  • All states must be visited following the start date.  Previous visits are ineligible.
  • Whatever state I am living in is not eligible until I take some sort of "trip" to somewhere I have not been before within the borders.
  • I have to push myself out of my comfort zone.

Rules are pretty simple.  I've definitely lost focus occasionally but I'm still determined to accomplish my goal and visit all of the fifty glorious states in the union.

Captiva, Florida June 2012

I will be updating on each state I've visited and will be looking for location suggestions in states I haven't been to yet.  To read about my adventures in each state, click the state below.

50 States Challenge

Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Post a Comment

Latest Instagrams

© Decorate The Soul. Design by FCD.