Heather R. Breaux BLOG

IT’S ME! Here’s a glimpse of what I looked as a baby. This was my first baby picture in 1981.

On November 28, 1981 at 7:42 a.m. I, Heather Rae’ Breaux, was born to proud parents Guy and Fayla Breaux at St. Anne’s Hospital in Raceland and this upcoming Wednesday marks my 26th birthday.

I’m not quite at that age yet where birthdays are dreaded rather than welcomed, so I’ve found myself reflecting on what it means to be 26 years old and what I’ve experienced and learned in my lifetime.

I witnessed the emergence of the 1990s “boy bands” as an early teenager and watched the bad hair-dos and stone-washed fashions of the 1980s transform into more sleek and stylish designs.

I’ve flown across the country and stood on a cliff that overlooked the Pacific Ocean and wished that I could fly over it - like a bird, free in the wind.

I’ve graduated from college, voted in two presidential elections and joined the bandwagon of the American Idol phenomenon.

But in addition to my love of ever-changing pop culture, I recently came across a list of goals that I personally set for myself to reach by the age of 30 in an old journal and realized that I have only four years left to accomplish most of them.

Here’s my top ten:

Goal No. 1: Write a novel. This particular project is actually in the works. I’ve written the dedication, introduction and first chapter - just have to fill in the beginning, middle and the end.

Goal No. 2: To get married. I’ve been engaged to my fiance Sean for almost a year, so hopefully we will tie the knot by 2011.

Goal No. 3: To be a mother. As fulfilling as my career is, I believe that there is nothing more rewarding than motherhood - and I still have four years to work on it.

Goal No. 4: To fly on an airplane. This was accomplished two years ago when I vacationed in San Diego, Calif.

Goal No. 5: Travel to Europe. Rumor has it that I could be in store for a trip to Italy next year. If so, then I’ve got this one in the bag.

Goal No. 6: Complete a marathon. Hmmm, I haven’t been very physically active this year because of my eye surgeries, but I see no problem in starting to train in the spring.

Goal No. 7: Spend New Year’s Eve in New York City’s Time Square. This, too, has yet to be done. But I am a little claustrophobic, so maybe standing in a human sardine can, waiting for the ball to drop isn’t for me.

Goal No. 8: Work for a national magazine. An article that I wrote in college about elephants at the Audubon Zoo was set to be published in a National Geographic kid’s magazine, but was cut during final editing. Better luck next time, I guess.

Goal No. 9: Own my own home. I’m actually pretty close to buying that first starter home.

Goal No. 10: Be press secretary for the President of the United States. I’m really not interested in fulfilling this goal any more. I’ve come to believe that the business of politics is just too “dirty” for me.

Setting these goals was a big deal for the “teenage me.” It made me feel that there were so many wonderful things to look forward to in life and gave me the drive and direction I needed to transform from a child into an adult.

So, here I sit. I’m less than a week shy of turning 26 and I still have eight of my ten goals left to accomplish. Whew, I have four LONG years ahead of me.

I guess it’s time to get focused and get started ... on something!