LoveJodyLynn | 28 Dates

It’s my bday. Whoop Whoop. I turned 28 today and have an official 28th year hashtag

I spent a lot of time (emphasis on A LOT) the last couple years figuring out how to get healthy, what healthy looked like and felt like for me and realizing it’s hard. This year is the year to actually achieve some of those health markers to keep feeling great.

I really don’t mind getting older. I love so much about my life and the age I am and the fact that I have the best people surrounding me! I look back at my life and am thankful that during each season God had the right people for me.

So this year – for #28FeelingGreat I have a lofty goal – a bit of an experiment and journey that you get to go on with me.

Yup. You read it correctly – I’m going on 28 dates this year and they are up for grabs!

*Dating takes intentionality – you have to plan to spend time with that person, it’s not just the every day regular things, it’s something that is spoken for as “this is a created moment” even if it’s a mundane event.

*Dating takes vulnerability – you date with an intention of learning about someone, growing together, creating special time and moments

*Dating requires sacrifice – and we all could use some reminders that sacrifice is needed and important. we sacrifice time, preference, resources to go on dates.

*Dating is chosen. While you may get set up there’s still an element of choice as to whether you go and stay.

You’ll notice none of my definitions of dates include anything romantic. Most dates lean in a romantic way BUT some of my favorite dates are lunch with my dad, grocery shopping with my mom, pedicures with a friend. In fact I’m really really really really awkward and awful at romantic dates. As in so awkward and awful I really do think I could get my own reality tv show and if I ever made it on the bachelor they would cast me as the weird girl.

My 28 dates this year will prob be 27 non romantic dates and 1 “real” date that my friends trick me into going on.

I want to spend this next year intentionally pouring into relationships, peeling back the layers of my heart and choosing trust and vulnerability.

I want to take mundane moments and make them special. I want to choose who I set aside time for and make sure that I am able to be fully involved in the conversation with them.

I’m still going to spend my time and schedule in a similar way that I did this last year. And not all gatherings and moments and coffees will be considered dates. But I want to challenge myself to really pause and be intentional at least 28 times with my planned, set aside time.