As Megan Vered approached 70, she decided she didn’t want another “thing” wrapped in paper. She wanted moments — the kind you can replay years later.

So she created a birthday project with one simple rule: collect 70 experiences in a year with people she loves. Their job was to suggest an activity. Her job was to say yes.

In early January 2023, she sent an email to friends and family inviting proposals of any size: coffee, a walk, a museum visit, a weekend away. The only boundaries? No roller coasters, bungee jumping, or anything involving sharks.

The replies poured in. Pick raspberries. Make pizza. Go glamping. Take a dance class. Visit London for theatre. Sip high tea dressed up in hats and gloves.

At first, she worried she’d never keep up — six experiences a month sounded ambitious with work deadlines, travel distance, and everyone’s busy schedules. So she kept it flexible, ready to stretch the challenge beyond one year if needed.

She tracked everything in a journal and gradually built a full calendar: hikes, kayaking, live music, museum days, road trips, writing meetups, and overseas visits. Some suggestions were wild (a nudist colony, eating insects), but most of her favorite memories were close to home, affordable, and deeply personal.

By the time she crossed into 70, she felt full — not from cake, but from connection. Her takeaway was clear: find reasons to say yes, and the memories will follow.