What if this is the only year I get to have in Salt Lake City? What would I do?

I have lived one of the best summers in Salt lake city. I utilized every opportunity. Said yes to more in two month than I have most of my life.

I chose to move here.

For many people, this is when reality sets in. You start to settle into your old routines and patterns. Stop doing new and exciting things and slow your creative roll.

I won't let myself do this. And here is how I plan to keep the momentum going:

This is an opportunity that I didn't have to take. I could have easily moved back in August, continued on with my safe and secure job. Continued my friendships in Chicago and trained for triathlons along the lakefront. That is safe, comfortable, easy.

I don't want that. I want experience, growth, exploration.

I ask myself then, what if this is the only year I get to spend in Salt lake city? What if this is my only chance to do anything I want out here? On short vacations, you cram a lot in because you know it's short lived. This is why some of your friends do more in the city you grew up in than you have done your entire life.

You can get to it eventually.

I don't want to get to it eventually, not now not ever. I want to get to it NOW. I could see how easy it is to say, "well I live here now so I can do it eventually. "

No.

I may only live here for one year. 365 days. (I hope and plan to live there longer, but in reality you just never know where life can take me).

A year from now, what will I have hoped to accomplish? Achieved? Done? in all of this time I've been so lucky to have out west.

Check back in a year from now and see if I have:

1. Gone skiing every weekend. Night skied at least twice a week

2. Learned how to mountain bike

3. Run a half ironman, maybe even 2

4. Improved rock climbing skills (bouldering too)

5. Summited Mount Olympus and Mount Timpanogous

6. Hiked in Moab, Arches, Capital Reef,

7. Camped in the Tetons

8. Yellowstone

9. Big Sky

10. Lake Tahoe

11. Become a semi decent snowboarder

12. Sky dive

13. Go ATV-ing

14. Go snowmobile-ing

15. Attend Sundance music festival in some capacity

I am sure as time goes on my list will get longer and I check these things off.

I do not want to slow down after this amazing summer. I want to be outdoors as much as possible, explore, learn grow and create.

I want to be even bigger and better and badder one year from now than ever imaginable.

This next chapter may only last one year. Maybe longer. Either way I know that when I look back, I will be able to say with certainty that I did everything I wanted to do, and then some.

There will always be more mountains to climb and things to learn from. Here is my chance to do it all while I have the chance.