101 Things to Do Before I Die

back when i was 27, i saw a programme about a guy who made a list of 101 things he wanted to do before he died.  i loved the idea, and immediately sat down and quickly wrote up my own list off the top of my head.  i’ve kept this list now for nearly 10 years.

this list is not static – it has, in fact, changed a bit over the years as certain ideas come on, and certain ones drop off.  some of these are things which are not in my control, some are wild and wacky, some are small and easily achievable.

the point is not to cross everything off the list (although it is gratifying to say that i’ve manage to cross off a fair few).  the point is to never, ever become complacent.  to remind myself to constantly strive for new experiences, to push my own boundaries even when that takes me out of my comfort zone – and by doing so, continue to grow and learn.

and isn’t that what makes life worth living?

1. Go skydiving
2. Be on TV
3. Run a marathon
4. Swim w/ dolphins
5. Go snorkeling
6. Visit Spain
7. Join the Peace Corps
8. Get doctorate
9. Take wine appreciation course
10. Collect antiques
11. Learn glassblowing
12. Make a family tree
13. Dine in a Michelin star restaurant
14. Do a triathlon
15. Do cross-country road trip
16. Learn photography
17. Start my own business
18. Live in London
19. Get arrested in protest
20. Elope
21. Learn a third language
22. Read “Ulysses”
23. Own a restored antique car
24. Pay off college loans
25. Get a poem published
26. Own a marble floor and high heels
27. Get eyes lasered
28. Learn ballroom dancing
29. Have sex in a public place
30. Go camping by myself
31. Bungee jump
32. Visit Japan
33. Spend a day at a spa
34. Visit Hemingway’s house in the Florida Keys
35. Do Eco-Challenge
36. See mountain gorillas
37. Earn six figures.
38. Have fortune told
39. Set up own counselling practice
40. Visit Angkor Wat
41. Get a bill/law passed
42. Learn to play the piano
43. Visit Unije, Croatia
44. Audition for a movie part
45. Meet the president
46. Live in Manhattan
47. Learn to change car oil
48. Walk the Great Wall
49. Learn to cook a gourmet meal
50. Shave head
51. Learn yoga
52. Take a helicopter ride
53. Adopt a child
54. Visit India
55. Take a hot air balloon ride
56. Make a quilt
57. Own a bookstore
58. Drive a racecar
59. Own an organizing company
60. Live in San Francisco
61. Scuba diving
62. See Red Sox win the World Series
63. Own an original work of art
64. Create an original work of art
65. Plant a tree
66. Wear a ball gown
67. Get something named after me
68. Learn to rock climb
69. Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro
70. Learn to sail
71. See sunrise in New Orleans
72. Own box seats for Red Sox
73. Record a song
74. Go white-water rafting
75. Climb an active volcano
76. Go to the top of the tallest building in the world
77. Take a trip around the world
78. Visit an elephant sanctuary
79. Do a firewalk
80. Swim with sharks
81. Play in a band
82. Go on a safari
83. Learn to knit
84. Learn to draw
85. Build something from scratch
86. Hike the Grand Canyon
87. Go to “La Tomatina” in Spain
88. Visit Graceland
89. Visit Mecca
90. Ride a unicycle
91. Do a baseball fantasy camp
92. Spend Mardi Gras in New Orleans
93. Visit all seven continents
94. Learn to juggle
95. See the aurora borealis
96. Sleep under the stars
97. Parasail
98. Spelunking
99. Ride a motorcycle
100. Visit a rainforest
101. Go to the Olympics