101 Things To Do Before You Die (4/10)

101 Things To Do Before You Die (4/10)


31. See the Northern Lights

Northern lights

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, is a “natural light display in the sky particularly in the high latitude (Arctic and Antarctic) regions, caused by the collision of energetically charged particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere”. A natural phenomenon, the northern lights is a magnificent sight to behold, which is why people from all around the world travel great distances just for a chance to witness this phenomenon.

The most popular places to see them are in Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, and Scotland, though it should be noted that sightings are never guaranteed due to the unpredictability of weather.

32. Witness a solar eclipse

Solar eclipse

A solar eclipse is an eclipse that happens when the moon passes between the sun and earth, and the moon fully or partially blocks the Sun from our view.

As you may have learned during science class, the moon orbits around the earth while the earth orbits around the sun. Technically, if the Moon were in a perfectly circular orbit and in the same orbital plane, there would be total solar eclipses every single month. However, this isn’t so as the Moon’s orbit is tilted at more than 5 degrees to Earth’s orbit around the Sun. The orbital planes of the earth’s and moon’s cross each year resulting in anywhere from two to five solar eclipses occurring each year. That means two to five opportunities for us to catch this natural phenomenon!!

According to Wiki, the phases of an eclipse can span over two hours while the total phase can only last up to 7.5 minutes for any one location. Please note that looking directly at the sun can lead to permanent eye damage, so please get a pair of CE Certified Safe Solar Eclipse Glasses before viewing a solar eclipse!!

33. Go stargazing

Starlit sky

Isn’t it beautiful to gaze into a sky that’s filled with beautiful stars? I was once traveling in Cape Town, South Africa, where I lived beside the sea (with penguins and all, no less!!). I would get SO MESMERIZED by the beauty of the night sky every night. Unfortunately, this was only then as I live in Singapore. The light pollution here — or any major city for that matter — makes it difficult to admire these natural masses of burning gas that are trillions of miles away!

34. Plant a tree and watch it grow

Planting a tree

 

Do you know that some trees can grow up to several thousands of years old? Trees are one of the most important living beings on the planet. Not only do they clean our air by removing it of carbon dioxide — a major greenhouse gas – and provide us with oxygen (a gas we can’t live without), they cool the earth, prevent soil erosion, provide shelter from sun’s rays, and provide food.

A tree takes about 10 to 20 years to grow depending on what it is, so plant a tree now, care for it, and watch it grow together with you!

35. Get a pet

Playing with Rocky the cat

Playing with Rocky, my British friend’s cat. He’s adorable, often jumping on your laptop keypad to grab your attention (and maybe because it’s warm)!

Aren’t pets the most adorable creatures in the world? I love animals but never saw the point of having a pet… after all, they take time, cost money, and are overall just a huge commitment!

However, when I was traveling in Europe and U.S. and staying with different hosts, I realized almost all of them have pets… and hanging out with their pets subsequently made me realize the beauty of having a pet. I still don’t have a pet because I don’t want to get a pet until I’m ready to commit to caring for a life for the next 15 years — and that’s something every aspiring pet owner should think about too before getting one!

 

36. Publish a book

Books

Being a writer isn’t about having tip-top grammar and literary skills, though it’s important to write with good english. Being a writer is about having a message to share with the world. Prior to their hit series, J.K. Rowling (author of Harry Potter series) and Stephenie Meyers (author of Twilight series) were not professional writers — in fact, Meyer’s only professional work was as a receptionist in a property company!

What is a message that you are passionate about? What do you want to say to the world? When can you start writing your book?

37. Do public speaking in front of 1,000 people (or more)

Public speaking

Public speaking is often said to be the greatest fear of people, ranked even higher than dying (!!), and it’s understandable why. Before I became a professional public speaker, I remember shivering the few times I was made to speak to a crowd — my mind was occupied with fears of being judged, saying the wrong things, and making a fool of myself!

Yet, having been professionally speaking for five years, I can tell you that public speaking is one of the most exciting things to do in a lifetime. Not only does addressing a large crowd help to train you in your communication and body language, you also get the opportunity to share a message you care about to a large crowd of people, hence getting the opportunity to impact their lives. While I’ve spoken to countless audiences – ranging from dozens, to hundreds, to almost a thousand — each experience is always exciting and never dull.

What are you passionate about? Find opportunities to public speak about that!

38. Throw a mega party

House party

Get to know your friends’ friends and introduce your friends to others by throwing a mega party! Throwing a mega party is not just about the drinks, it should be about having the right company — people whom you enjoy hanging around and who are great to converse with. Plan ahead, identify a venue (someone’s home will suffice; or you can always rent a space), set aside a little budget (having a party doesn’t have to cost a bomb!), and start sending out the invites! Who knows, you may well meet your future friends here!

39. Get a complete makeover

If you’ve been donning your current look for years (if not decades), and if you feel a little stagnant in your life right now, consider a makeover. Permanent change in life needs to happen from inside out, but sometimes change on the outside can help us to boost our self-confidence and give us a renewed sense of self.

A makeover can consist of changing your hair style, hair color, physique, and wardrobe. You can start by getting a haircut (and even hair color), refreshing your wardrobe, applying a new makeup look (if you’re a girl), and then working out for a better physique. If you haven’t done a makeover before, consult the right people to know if your new look will work on you! Speak to an image consultant to get ideas on what will work best for you; consult a hairstylist before getting your haircut (and new hair color).

40. Learn wine appreciation

Wine appreciation

A wine is an alcoholic beverage made mostly from fermented grapes. Although commonly differentiated between red and white, wines come in different types. Wine tasting is done to ensure the quality of wine produced by wine makers. Wine tasting uses the different senses to examine wine. Although wine tasting is considered as a profession, it can be done recreationally. Wine tasting will allow you to identify the wine that best suits your taste.