I have a lot of goals for my life and until recently I kept some of them in a book written in tiny cramped writing. Then I saw a friend checking off items on a 40 before they’re 40 list. It really got me thinking about my own life goals. Since I was already close to 40, I figured I would look ahead to when I turned 50.
To hold myself accountable, I decided to post my list of 50 bucket list things before I turn 50 here on my blog. Yes, I am fully aware of just how lofty some of these goals are. I am also aware that some of you will think it’s not possible. That’s ok. I’m doing this for me.
Each year I will update this list, crossing off the items I completed that year. So, you can see my progress and so I can see my progress.
So, let’s do this. Here is my 50 bucket list things before I turn 50.
- O trail in Patagonia
- Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
- 7 summits (0/7-8)
- Kilimanjaro
- Mount Elbrus
- Aconcagua
- Denali
- Everest
- Vinson
- Kosciuszko
- Puncak Jaya (extra for good measure and due to the controversy)
- Hike the Kumano Kodo
- See the monarchs in Mexico
- Bike around Ireland
- Hike Hadrian’s Wall
- Visit all US National Parks (17/63)
- Visit all Canadian National Parks (5/38 left)
- Island hop in Thailand
- See orangutans and other wildlife in Borneo
- Visit Komodo island
- See the great wildlife migration in Kenya/Tanzania
- Do the trail run in Switzerland
- Slovenia’s green route
- Hike to Machu Picchu
- Hike the Camino
- Hike and dive in the Galapagos
- Hike in the Isle of Skye
- Rickshaw Run in Sri Lanka
- Hike the John Muir Trail and summit Mount Whitney
- Hike the Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon
- Visit Norway (hiking)
- Visit Iceland (adventure race or Laugavegar trail)
- Eat at the French Laundry
- Dive with sharks
- Go trekking in New Zealand
- Visit Angor Wat in Cambodia
- See the northern lights
- See the Amazon Rainforest
- Run 50 ½ marathons/marathons/ultras (9/50)
- Try sandboarding
- Visit Bulgaria to see the salt flats, flamingos, stars at night
- Climb Chimborazo Mountain
- Go ziplining (because I am terrified of heights and I didn’t take the opportunity when it was offered to me in Nicaragua)
- Walk on the great wall of China
- Hike the Annapurna Trail
- Become fluent in French
- See the 7 Natural Wonders of the World (2/7)
- Aurora Borealis
- Harbor of Rio de Janeiro
- Grand Canyon
- Great Barrier Reef
- Mount Everest
- Victoria Falls
- Parícutin, Mexico
- Become a board-certified wildlife vet through the ACZM
- Take the glass roofed train through the Canadian Rockies
- Complete the explorer’s grand slam
- Have a book on the NY Times best seller’s list
- Read the entire works of William Shakespeare
- Learn to sail
- Try ice climbing
- Participate in an adventure race
- Get my Wilderness Medicine certification
- Live off the grid for a week (using primitive survival skills)
- Learn how to make soap
Summary of 2023
I started crossing off adventures this year, just shy of my 40th birthday. Personally, I think I am off to a great start and have big plans for 2024 (stay tuned for that). This past year I visited Great Smoky Mountain National Park, ran 1 ultra, 2 full marathons and 2 half marathons, I learned to sail, I learned to make soap and I got my Wilderness First Responder certification.
I continue to study for the ACZM board exam, which I intend to sit in 2025, I have been diligently writing my first fiction novel, and have started making plans for next years races and climbing courses (since I need to have done other climbing before, I can sign up for the ice climbing class).
Some of you may not think that I accomplished a lot, but I also moved across the country, we bought a house, and got married and I am still currently working full time in my clinical job. We went on a couple hiking trips, spent time exploring our new city and spent a week in the eastern sierras hiking and snowboarding. Based on what I have achieved in this very full year (of which I have nothing but gratitude for), I truly think I can do all the things on this list and I will continue to check them off one-by-one. All it takes is that first step and you can do anything.
Summary of 2024
2024 was a big year. I took a risk, a leap. Leaving my comfort zone of a full time job, I started my own wildlife veterinary contract business. I have always had a goal of creating a life of my choosing. One where I work on the projects that excite me and jobs that bring meaning to my life. That align with my values. This year I took steps towards that. Though I ended up making about half of what I had been making in the past, things have continued to move in a positive direction and I can already see that 2025 is going to be a big year for me. It is already filled with plans that excite me just thinking about them. But first, 2024.
I officially finished the Complete Works of William Shakespeare early in 2024. Other things included trying sandboarding, which happened to be at a National Park, crossing Great Sand Dunes National Park off my list. The weather was terrible while I was there, blasting wind making the whole experience less fun than it should have been. But I did try it and it was kind of cool and I hope to get to do it again some day with better weather. This past year I visited a total of 4 national parks including, Olympic National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park and the Grand Canyon bringing my total count to 17/63. I also saw 2 of the 7 natural wonders of the world, again the Grand Canyon and Mount Everest (during my trip to Nepal, where I performed a non-invasive health assessment of snow leopards by collecting scat samples and analyzing them for various pathogens). I also ran 2 half marathons and 1 full marathon, bringing my total up to 9/50.
Overall, this year has been a big step in the right direction of my life goals, not just the ones on this list, but the ones I keep to myself as well. I’m really proud of the things I have achieved this year and I am very much looking forward to the plans I have for next year and continuing to cross items off my list.
