Experience List

“I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.” ~ Joseph Campbell

Experiences are the crumbs on the footpath to wisdom.

It’s okay to learn from others’ experiences, but at some point, the experiences have to be your own.  You can read all the books in the world on meditation, but you will never actually learn how to meditate if you don’t experience it for yourself.  The same is true for just about anything.  You’ll never lose weight by watching diet and exercise infomercials.  You’ve got to put in the hours and trudge through the trenches.

Experiences challenge you, push you, test your limits, and force you to face your fears. It’s through these experiences that you discover yourself, build character, and help create a better world for those around you. It’s how you come to understand what it truly means to be alive.

To that end, I am always out learning, reading, trying new things, and gathering experiences. Some might say I’ve done a lot in my 27 years — but I would say I still have so much more to experience! This list is by no means all-inclusive, but here’s a peak into some of previous, prospective, and planned experiences.

Please feel free to jump in on the community forum or in the comments to share some of your own!

Planned Experiences (On the horizon!)

• Himalaya Backpacking trip with the National Outdoor Leadership School
• Language immersion in Cost Rica

Prospective Experiences (Still dreaming…)

• Trail 1/2 Marathon
• Trip to Ireland with my mom
• El Camino
• Ballroom dancing
• Publish a book
• White water rafting
• Hang-gliding
• Habitat for Humanity
• Extended yoga/meditation retreat
• Snowshoeing
• Thru-hike the Appalachian Trail

Previous Experiences (Been there, done that!)

• Blog World East in NYC
• NASA Tweetup STS-134
• 1/2 Marathon in San Francisco
• Scuba diving
• Skydiving (x2)
• Air Force Field Training
• Carbine Training (Storm Mountain)
• Kripalu’s Inner Quest Intensive
• Competed in national powerlifting tournaments (and placed!)
• Aikido
• Muy Thai Kickboxing
• Goju Ryu Karate
• Hinterbrand Lodge retreat
• Snowboarding
• Cruise (Eastern Caribbean & Western Caribbean)
• Cirque de Soleil (Ka, Zumanity)
• Canoeing
• Flew a T-37 (Pulled 6 Gs)
• Intern at NASA (Worked on the VASIMR engine)
• Sledding on the white sands in New Mexico
• Air Force 1/2 Marathon

“Seeing the World” Experiences

Top Ten Wishlist

1. India
2. New Zealand
3. Vienna, Austria
4. Peru (Macchu Pichu)
5. Australia
6. Brazil
7. Japan
8. Preikestolen, Norway
9. Egypt
10. England

Places I’ve Been

1. U.S.A.
2. Germany
3. France
4. Netherlands
5. Belgium
6. Switzerland
7. Spain
8. Italy
9. Canada
10. Mexico
11. Honduras
12. Belize
13. Colombia
14. Bahamas
15. St. Thomas
16. St. Martin

Visit All 50 States

1. Alabama
2. Alaska
3. Arizona
4. Arkansas
5. California
6. Colorado
7. Connecticut
8. Delaware
9. Florida
10. Georgia
11. Hawaii
12. Idaho
13. Illinois
14. Indiana
15. Iowa
16. Kansas
17. Kentucky
18. Louisiana
19. Maine
20. Maryland
21. Massachusetts
22. Michigan
23. Minnesota
24. Mississippi
25. Missouri
26. Montana
27. Nebraska
28. Nevada
29. New Hampshire
30. New Jersey
31. New Mexico
32. New York
33. North Carolina
34. North Dakota
35. Ohio
36. Oklahoma
37. Oregon
38. Pennsylvania
39. Rhode Island
40. South Carolina
41. South Dakota
42. Tennessee
43. Texas
44. Utah
45. Vermont
46. Virginia
47. Washington
48. West Virginia
49. Wisconsin
50. Wyoming

*States highlighted in green are those I’ve already visited.