This list is a mix of big dreams, little adventures, and meaningful moments I want to experience before I turn 50. Some of these have been on my mind for years, and others came to me as I thought about how I really want to spend the next 489 days. It’s not about perfection—it’s about being intentional, stepping out of my routine, and celebrating the journey along the way. Let the adventures begin!

Adventure, Travel, and Wonder

1. Walk at least 100km of the Camino de Santiago
2. Visit all 50 states (14 left: Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin)
3. Swim Keuka Lake with Viki
4. Take a spontaneous road trip to somewhere I haven’t been
5. See the northern lights (completed 11/24/24 ✅)
6. Visit a lavender farm
7. See the cherry blossoms in DC (I’ve never done this!)
8. Visit Longwood Gardens at Christmas
9. Go to a hot air balloon festival
10. Hike a part of the Appalachian Trail
11. Watch the sunrise and sunset in the same day (completed 9/17/25✅)
12. Visit the Golden Retriever farm in Vermont
13. Go to a Buc-ee’s (completed 8/31/25✅)
14. Go to a new baseball stadium with Jake
15. See a concert at The Sphere in Las Vegas (completed 1/10/25 ✅)
16. Visit the National Portrait Gallery

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Personal Growth & Mindfulness

17. Read 50 books in 2026
18. Start a daily gratitude journal on 1/1/26
19. Learn to play golf
20. Learn country line dancing
21. Learn to do my own makeup
22. Work with a nutritionist
23. Create a more detailed living will
24. Make peace with myself
25. Take an entire weekend off social media
26. Take myself out to dinner
27. Go to the movies by myself
28. Do a polar plunge (completed 1/17/26✅)
29. Learn to say “hello” in 10 different languages
30. Make a cookbook of my families favorite recipes
31. Create a family tree
32. Do a cross stitch (completed 12/1/25 ✅)
33. Organize printed photos
34. Make photo books from our trips: London/Paris, Germany/Amsterdam, Italy/Malta (completed 8/10/25 ✅)
35. Take a photo every day for a year (2026)
36. Do a weekly random act of kindness in 2026

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Connection & Community

37. Spend a day with the Home Girls
38. Attend Pride at the Free Mom Hugs booth
39. Raise money for a charity (completed 1/17/26 ✅)
40. Attend a music festival with my girl (completed 9/26/25-9/28/25 ✅)
41. Truly celebrate my 50th birthday
42. See Steve & Seung
43. Have Sarah teach me how to make TikToks and edit videos before the Camino

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Play, Joy, and Just Because

44. Eat a real Philly cheesesteak in Philly with Jill O.
45. Eat at a Michelin Star restaurant
46. Dance in the rain
47. Go axe throwing
48. Get a second tattoo (completed 2/3/26 ✅)
49. Learn to play Mahjong (completed 8/4/25 ✅)
50. Find a whole sand dollar