By Rachel Belle

Listen to Feature: 100 Things To Do Before you Die

Twenty-eight-year-old first grade teacher Travis Volk is a new dad who realized that he’d accomplished all of his major life goals. But he felt like he needed a challenge that would last a lifetime.

“I wanted to make my life more exciting. I wanted to be nervous about new experiences.”

So he started a blog called 100 Things To Do Before I Die, to challenge himself to accomplish small goals like smoking his own chipotle peppers, to embark on frivolous endeavors like spending his entire paycheck in one day and to conquer larger goals like getting his masters degree.

“I wanted random acts of kindness to be on the list. I wanted things that weren’t solely for myself, that would put a smile on somebody’s face.”

Travis left a box filled with carefully selected items on the doorstep of a neighbor he’d never met, with a note explaining his mission. This is what was inside:

“An original copy of The King, The Mice and The Cheese, an old children’s story, foreplay dice, an original photograph, a vintage Mickey Mouse watch, the perfect skipping stone that was in a book about Zen and the art of skipping stones, a hula girl.”

Travis has also incorporated his young son into the list.

“When I was a child, my dad was an amazing cook and all my buddies always wanted to stay for dinner. So one of my goals is to become so amazing at cooking that my son’s friends are impressed and they want to stay for dinner.”

I know that making a list like this is nothing new, but I can’t help but feel inspired while listening to Travis talk about his project. I start feeling excited, and ideas pop into my head and it cuts right through any negative thoughts that might be lurking around my brain. We often talk about things we want to do, but he’s actually doing them, and it’s changing his life.

“Take yourself out of the normal routine, see where it takes you. I’ve been really surprised by the way I’ve been changed, the way that I think about things now. I’m constantly self-motivated to get myself out there and feel nervous or feel excited about things that would never have happened otherwise.”

A list like this one doesn’t have to be all about big dreams like traveling to Australia or flying an airplane. By incorporating easy-to-do things like making your own beer or learning to knit, you become a much more interesting, well-rounded person.

“It’s easy to be negative or think about things you don’t have or things that you wish you would have done. I don’t want to have regrets, I want to reflect back when I’m older and realize that I did do everything that I wanted to do.”

Check out Ben’s blog to read his list and see the things he’s already crossed off it.

Who is Rachel Belle?