• LAUNCH YOUR DREAM
  • BE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
  • STARTING OVER MIDLIFE
  • HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM
  • TRAVEL THE WORLD
  • GET HEALTHY & FIT
  • BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE
  • BRAVE LIVING
  • WRITE WITH US

8WomenDream

Dream Big Stories

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • CONNECT
You Are Here Home » HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM » Finding Happiness On A Milestone Birthday

in HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM

Finding Happiness On A Milestone Birthday

Last updated on January 22nd, 2019 at 02:08 pm

club44

Tomorrow, I turn 44 years old, which is supposed to be a magical number in alchemy.

So many incredible things are happening in my life right now, and I am sure this will be my best year yet! Right now, I am taking stock of all the amazing things I have been fortunate enough to do in this lifetime so far.

I know the next 44 years of my life will be even better! But right now, here is a list of the top 44 things I have done so far in this lifetime.

I am finding happiness and joy today in remembering all the adventures I have experienced, and all that I have accomplished already. I swear I truly am the luckiest girl in the world.

Lisa’s Top 44 Life Adventures So Far!

1. Learning how to love and accept myself completely, as I am! I think I am the bomb-diggity, flaws and all.

2. Traveling the world (four continents so far – three more to go!), and having great adventures everywhere I go.

3. Skydiving.

4. Graduating from Harvard and Princeton.

5. Writing the draft manuscript of my first book, with a lot of love and support from my faithful 8womendream readers!

6. Finding peace of mind, after years of struggles with PTSD, chronic anxiety and suicidal depression.

7. Becoming a Martha Beck Certified life coach.

8. Becoming a blogger on 8womendream, just over five years ago!

9. Buying my home, which was a stop on the Underground Railroad from 1848-1888, owned by Harriet Tubman’s cousin, John Hooper.

10. Buying a beautiful, historic commercial property in Troy, New York which I am currently renovating and developing.

11. Falling madly, passionately, head over heels in love. Didn’t work out, but I have had so many wonderful adventures in love, and am so enjoying the ride!

12. Getting married and divorced, and learning a lot from that as well!

13. Becoming a professional dance instructor, and taught and performed Lindy Hop for five years.

14. Becoming a professional belly dancer, and have belly danced in the Middle East.

15. Becoming a professional burlesque dancer, which was another fun and unusual adventure!

16. Went parasailing, over the beaches of South Florida.

17. Learning how to surf on the Western coast of Costa Rica.

18. Ziplining over the rain forests of Costa Rica.

19. Joining the gospel choir at Glide Church in San Francisco, where I was a soprano.

20. Becoming an aunt – three times over!

21. Being an extra in two movies.

22. Being a featured extra in a rock music video.

23. Studying tango and flamenco.

24. Studying cuban salsa dancing in Cuba for a month! Amazing!

25. Traveling by myself across the Middle East and Mediterranean Europe for two months.

26. Learning Spanish.

27. Studying to become a concert pianist for ten years.

28. Spending a summer in Russia during college – I can still recite a Russian tongue-twister and dirty limerick!

29. Becoming a Yogini!

30. Learning how to practice and lead guided meditations.

31. Traveling and teaching with my Buddhist spiritual teacher Nithya Shanti in India.

32. Surviving suicidal depression (twice) and living to tell about it, which I believe makes me a more compassionate, empathetic person.

33. Moving across the country to San Francisco, and falling head over heels in love with this urban paradise.

34. Getting asked to run for Mayor of the small city of Troy, New York where I live, and deciding not to do it because I have bigger, global aspirations at the moment!

35. Launching my public Facebook page as an inspirational writer and growing the community to more than 16,000 people in the first three months.

36. Creating the Awesome Goddess Posse, a community for women who want to fearlessly live their dreams and learn to love themselves more.

37. Planning events for Hillary Clinton in Troy, New York when she was my U.S. Senator.

38. Becoming successfully self-employed in 2000 and being a happy self-employed entrepreneur ever since!

39. Running a City Council campaign in Troy, New York.

40. Meeting so many of my heroes, including Bill Clinton, author Elizabeth Gilbert, musician Michael Franti, and many more.

41. Being the keynote speaker at multiple Take Back the Night rallies for victims of sexual assault.

42. Finding and living my life’s purpose – to be a channel of love in this world and to empower women to live their dreams!

43. Working on my other life’s goal of touching, moving and inspiring millions with my words.

44. Sharing my life’s adventures, goals, dreams, inspirations, challenges, accomplishments and successes HERE on 8womendream for the past five years!

I am sure that the next 44 years of my life will be even more exciting, adventurous and fun. I feel like I am just warming up – the best is definitely yet to come!

Wishing everyone a wonderful day, year and life. May this be our happiest year yet!

To living our hearts’ dreams and desires, out loud!

 

 

Related Stories:

  • heather with bike after first sprint tri
    Sprint Triathlon: Dream Milestone Achieved In Under…
  • Heather and Jazlin at Girls on the Run 5k
    Dream Milestone with Girls on the Run
  • Heather Ukiah Triathlon 2013
    Dream Milestone: The Second Triathlon Might Be…
  • Monday Off: Cake Batter Martinis and Other Birthday Dreams
    Monday Off: Cake Batter Martinis and Other Birthday Dreams
Lisa Powell-Graham
Lisa Graham

Lisa P. Graham is an inspirational writer, life coach, TED motivational speaker, and globe-trotter whose passion is to help others to find happiness and meaning in their daily lives. A political activist at heart, Lisa would like to empower more women to run for political office as a way to create positive change in the world. You can find her on her website or watch her TEDx speech on YouTube.

Note: Articles by Lisa may contain affiliate links and may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on an affiliate link.

Filed Under: HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM

Some of the posts on 8WD contain affiliate links or links to purchase products or programs from 8WD contributors. This means 8WD or the contributor may make a small commission if you make a purchase. The 8WD affiliate links help offset the cost of hosting this website and the contributor links help support the dreams of the contributor. Please check out the 8WD Legal Page for more details.

Thank you for your continued support!

« Top 5 Reasons to Skip a Workout When You Are Sick
Another Goal Reached and How I Did It »

Check it out

  • LAUNCH YOUR DREAM
  • BE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
  • STARTING OVER MIDLIFE
  • HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM
  • TRAVEL THE WORLD
  • GET HEALTHY & FIT
  • BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE
  • BRAVE LIVING
  • WRITE WITH US


The 8WomenDream Dream Tote Bag

About the 8WomenDream Tote Bag
US – 10oz Cotton
Dimensions (External Dimensions)
• Height – 18″ (45.72cm or 457.2mm)
• Width – 15″ (38.1cm or 381mm)
Handle Dimensions (Internal Dimensions)
• Length – 29″ (73.7cm or 736.6mm)

Recent Dream Stories

  • 8 Solstice Traditions for Focusing on Your Big Dream this Year
  • Winter Solstice: What Will You Do With 1 Minute More?
  • Why Halloween Costumes Can Help Discover Your Big Dream
  • How the Equinox Can be a Catalyst for Change
  • 5 Strategies to Live Your Wildest Dreams
  • Starting Over as a Single Mom Wasn’t My Big Dream
  • Warning: Big Dream to Be a Motivational Speaker Won’t Always Obey Your Plans
  • Dance to Relieve Stress to Focus on Your Big Dream

Inspiration

More About 8WD

WE BELIEVE EVERYONE HAS THE POWER TO ACHIEVE BIG DREAMS.
 
IT IS OUR SINCEREST WISH THROUGH THE SHARING OF PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT WHAT IT’S LIKE TO TRY TO ACHIEVE A BIG DREAM THAT WE WILL INSPIRE YOU GO AFTER A BIG DREAM TOO.
 
YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT 8WOMENDREAM, HERE.

8 WOMEN DREAM | COPYRIGHT All RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025 · LEGAL

Welcome to 8WomenDream Where Big Dreams Are Shared
The 8WomenDream website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're OK with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. ACCEPT REJECT READ MORE
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT