#30Before30: The Mission
Hey it's Kiya Edwards from KARE 11 Sunrise! Right now, I'm on a mission. I want to complete 30 things before I turn 30 years old.
A couple of weeks ago, I asked you to help me come up with my list of 30 things. A list we're calling #30Before30. And did you deliver! You gave me more than 100 ideas. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I narrowed down the list, added a couple of my own suggestions, and here it is. It's ready. I'm ready! I'm ready to start checking things off the list! My birthday is on November 25. And yikes, that's a little less than a month away. Can I do it? I will certainly try.
Watch this space for updates!
*Note, the list is subject to change. Because life.
#30Before30: See a chiropractor
I hoped my list could stay the same from start to finish but I have to change it. "See a chiropractor" now replaces the margarita boat cruise. Turns out the season ended at the end of October. I literally missed the boat.
Unfortunately, same goes for the hot air balloon ride. You need perfect weather for that. Not snow. Now, I'll go to a Gophers football game instead. I've actually never been to one before! And yes, I grew up in Minneapolis. I even went to the U of M.
Speaking of firsts, chiropractic care is new to me, too. #Sunriser Bill Goodwin recommended Johnson Spinal Care in Apple Valley. I'm glad I listened to Bill because right now, they have this special deal for new patients: FREE consultation, exam, and pre and post x-rays.
I did all of that the other day. There was some kind of machine that gave a reading that shouldn't be higher than a 3. I had a 4.6. I also learned my pelvis has rotated and my left leg is significantly shorter than my right. It explains why my right hip, neck, shoulders and upper back muscles are almost always tight.
Next week, I'm scheduled to go back for an adjustment, which costs $72. I'll update you with how it went!
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#30Before30: Donate blood
One of my favorite parts about #30Before30 is that a lot of the ideas came from you. But this one was more “inspired by” you. Doreen Cord on Instagram suggested I donate an organ before I’m 30. While that’s important, baby steps! I decided to donate blood.
It’s something I’d thought about doing many times but never committed to. Maybe you can relate. The idea of pumping blood into a bag simply freaked me out. “I tolerate getting shots at the doctor, but I don’t enjoy it. I’d rather not get poked any more than what’s necessary.” “I give back to community in other ways. I always donate my clothes!” “I travel outside of the country a lot so I’m probably not eligible.”
Excuses.
Last summer, I interviewed a boy who said blood donations saved his life. That stuck with me. Still, like volunteer work, it was another one of those things where you think, “I should do that!” But you don’t.
Thankfully, this #30Before30 project was the push I needed to become a donor.
Friday morning, I got together with the American Red Cross Minnesota Region and donated blood live on Sunrise! And, you guys, please hear me when I say it’s not as scary as it seems!!!
The day before, I ate spinach salad and got a little more sleep than usual. The morning of, I ate two Clif bars and filled out some paperwork about my health and recent travels online. I could’ve also done this on their app.
When I arrived at the donation center in Minneapolis, they took my blood pressure and temperature and verified the information I submitted. Asked a few more questions. They also poked by middle finger. Not gonna lie, that poke hurt a little bit – but nothing to scare me away. It was to make sure the iron levels in my blood were good enough. And guess what, your girl passed! I was eligible to donate.
When it came time to donate, there was just one more poke. This poke hurt less than the first! It barely hurt at all. Just felt like a shot at the doctor and the pain quickly went away. I didn’t feel any pain while the bag was filling up, which usually takes 8-10 minutes.
The folks at the Red Cross told me I have “good veins.” It was easy for them to find the right spot on the first attempt. And they were so nice. They answered all of my questions and helped me feel comfortable and relaxed.
If my experience still hasn’t convinced you to donate, consider this:
• Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood
• 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate, but fewer than 10% actually do
• Your one donation can save up to three lives!!!
• You get free juice and cookies after, hah
In 56 days, you’re eligible to donate again. We have a blood drive at KARE 11 in January. Sign me up! I think I could do this for a long time, knowing I’m saving lives. By the way, you don’t have to wait for an official blood drive to donate. The Red Cross does 30 a day in Minnesota! 30! You can find the donation center closest to you, here.
#30Before30: Volunteer at a nursing home
There’s probably something you’ve been meaning to do but just haven’t. Like when you see someone ringing a bell for the Salvation Army and you think, that’s nice, I should do that. But you don’t. Because life. We’re busy! And volunteering easily gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list.
Well, this morning, it was time to stop making excuses and check “volunteer at a nursing home” off of my #30Before30 list.
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The idea came from Jodyfro89 on Instagram. “Life-changing: it will make you a more compassionate and grateful person,” she said.
She’s right. I spent a few hours with residents at Lake Minnetonka Shores. It’s one of 48 senior living communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa through Presbyterian Homes and Services.
Joyce, Jan, Gary, Billy, Arlene, and I quickly became friends. I also got to meet some of their friends. Everyone had a great sense of humor! They gave great life advice, too, including:
- Treat everyone you see and deal with the way you want to be treated.
- Kindness wins.
- Live every moment to the fullest because you never know.
- Love one another.
- Don’t procrastinate because you’ll run out of time and you may never get to do the things you should be doing or want to do.
They also let me know that what I did – just coming over and chatting with them – is a simple but great way to volunteer. It’s something you could do!
I also did a liiiiittle bit of work. I dusted the top shelf of their veterans memorial. It’s a nice display of military items that residents have either donated or lent. There is a group that swaps out the items and overall takes care of the display. There is also a group of 18 residents that knits prayer shawls and gives them away. It’s how they volunteer within their own community. They also volunteer by doing something they can’t sign up for: helping each other. If someone needs their wheelchair pushed up a ramp, they’ll push. Need an orange juice? They’ll bring it.
Here are some ways to volunteer before volunteering becomes popular (you know, during the holidays):
- Rake a neighbor’s yard
- Pick up trash in your neighborhood – even if it’s just around the block
- Become a Big Brother or Big Sister
- Contact your old school, see if you can tutor a student or teach them a skill
- Read to kids at an elementary school
- Donate clothes, toys, or canned goods
- Walk a dog waiting for a forever home
- Donate blood
- Send a care package to a military member serving overseas
- Bring a care package or meal to someone who is homeless
- Host an exchange student
Let’s keep this list going! Tweet me your ideas using #sunrisers or e-mail me here.
#30Before30: Milk a cow
I pictured myself sitting on a short wooden stool, squeezing the teats. But at Sorg Farms in Hastings, there’s no need to milk a cow by hand.
Karl Sorg and his family use technology for just about everything. They can control irrigators with an app on their phones. There are feelers on the combine that can follow the corn rows.
Milkers, or milking units, are for the cows. They’re these spider looking contraptions with hoses and suctions. Live on Sunrise, Karl had me pick one up and, one by one, I held the hose just beneath the teat and, sluuurp, the suction would connect the two. It only took about a minute.
I’m a city girl, so I can appreciate the tech. But I think I’d still like to have the experience I pictured one day. How about you? Would you rather do it by hand or use a tool? Tweet me using #sunrisers.
Now, I have to give a shout out to the Sunriser who sent this idea. Jacie Knight is artistic director and founder of Youth Performance Company, which, by the way, is in its 30th season! I did several shows at her company growing up and doing so definitely shaped who I am today. Jacie teaches young people to be bold. Bold enough to do plays with social justice themes. Bold enough to believe in themselves. And, evidently, bold enough to become a reporter and milk a cow on TV. Thank you Jacie.
5 down, 25 to go.
#30Before30: Goat yoga
I ain’t afraid of no goats.
Get it? Ghostbusters?
Look, it was the morning before Halloween, I was live on Sunrise doing yoga in a barn with at least 35 goats, and one of them unplugged the cable I need to hear the producers and anchors. It was such a ridiculous situation that I couldn’t help but crack jokes.
Sunriser Mkat Koppet sent us this idea. Thank you, Mkat. I’m glad I did it. If you’d like to try it, just know that you won’t get much exercise in -- but you’ll have fun!
Have Ya Herd Goat Yoga is in Roberts, Wisconsin. It’s closed for the season but gift cards and tickets for next season are available now.
Naaaaahmaste.
#30Before30: Take a glider ride
A GoPro, an iPhone, Don, and me. Nothing and no one else would fit in the glider.
Don owns Cross Country Soaring and has 25 years of flying under his seatbelt. Buckled into the backseat, with his GoPro mounted onto the only seat in front of him, we departed and flew around Faribault for the next 40 minutes.
With my iPhone, I recorded lakes, roads, a football field, golf course. I also shot flattened trees, collapsed hangars, and a hospital helicopter trapped under a disassembled roof.
Last month’s tornado hit the Faribault Municipal Airport hard.
I now have a better view of that community’s loss and, simultaneously, its strength.
Don told me about volunteer cleanup efforts and the waiting game that can come with insurance.
He also answered all of my questions about gliders.
I learned that 90 percent of gliders, or Segelflugzeugen, are made in Germany.
I learned what “thermal” means and what your stomach feels like when you’re flying through it.
I never felt scared or unsafe. I was living my best life. It was an unforgettable afternoon in the sky.
In addition to Don, there’s someone else to thank for that. This is what Dave Jokerst wrote on Facebook in response to my call for #30Before30 ideas:
“Even though I won’t see it because I’m back in St Louis , you should go fly in a glider. Just to hear the silence while in flight !”
As of Halloween, Cross Country Soaring is closed for the season. However, Don says gift cards are available and make good holiday gifts. Otherwise you can come in April.
#30Before30: Guest host GO 95.3
Another thing checked off the list and it's only day one, people!
I just got to guest host a segment on GO 95.3 with Auggie 5000, Sophia Eris, and Dj Advance! They had me talk about my Top 5 songs. It was so fun...and a little embarrassing.
So, I love hip-hop and rap. I listen to mainstream songs. However, I also like gospel, pop, indie/underground! Yeah, my original Top 5 list was a little unique. Before I arrived, I asked Auggie if that was okay. It was not.
I did my best to choose new songs and let's just say, I'm sticking to TV and leaving radio to the music experts.
You can hear our segment Tuesday on GO 95.3 at 6 and 8 a.m.
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#30Before30: Jiu Jitsu
Day one, check! Oh my gosh. I'm so happy. What a great start.
Every day this week on KARE 11 Sunrise, I get to knock one thing off the list. On Monday morning, I got a private Jiu Jitsu lesson during the show!
I went to the Gracie Certified Training Center in Chanhassen, where I met David and Davonte. They taught me three moves. Not sayin' I'm amazing or anything, but they said I did pretty well for a beginner. Ha!
We also talked about the meaning behind the movement. Self defense. It all raises an important question. During a physical attack, when is it appropriate to fight back? What if the attacker is armed?
In a crisis, you might not think to fight back - you're shocked. But I did a little digging and found three relatively recent examples of Minnesota women successfully fighting off their attackers. An Anoka woman specifically said she relied on her self-defense training to fight off a guy who had a knife.
I want to share something personal. I was robbed at gunpoint in 2010. A few years later, someone broke into my house while I was home, alone. I did not fight back.
I'm not saying I should have responded differently those times. But I will say, I'm interested in learning Jiu Jitsu because I want to have more confidence in scary situations in the future. God forbid.
Check out the video to see David's take on when to fight back. We are all unique. Not everyone will agree.
Anyway, I had such a great time Monday morning that I actually ENROLLED in their class! Then they gave me a white robe, pants, and belt, an outfit also known as gi. It was a special moment.
So, that's one down and 29 to go. But what happens after this week? As much as I would like to put all 30 things on TV, ain't nobody got time for that. So after this, I will continue to complete the checklist on my own and update this page with videos and pictures of the remaining 25 things.