Bucket list before 50

Let me start off by saying this.

Im nowhere near 40. Nor do I have any idea what its like the moment you turn 40. But I do everything I can to surround myself with older mentors and teachers who are some of the happiest, most fulfilled, and successful people I know (in every aspect of life health, wealth, love).

With that said, heres 25 things you should do before you turn 50.

1. Travel the World Alone.

Traveling alone is a completely different experience than traveling with someone else. You get to do what you do, when you want to, and its when you learn to love yourself without depending on anyone else.

2. Travel the World Together.

With that said, traveling together with someone you love can bring you closer than you could have imagined. The real person comes out when you travel with them, and its better to have this experience now than sooner.

3. Start Something That Lasts.

Leaving a legacy behind is one of the most important things in my life, and to many of the happiest people in the world, because they have something to live for. Leaving something behind, beyond your physical presence, can be powerful just to think about.

It can be a non-profit, your own business, a movement. It doesnt matter what it is. Just start one.

4. Become a Mentee.

Ask any successful person, and 99% will tell you theyve gotten to where they are because someone mentored them along the way. If you find the right mentor, give even more value back than you receive.

5. Become a Mentor.

If youve been mentored sometime in your life, then you understand how powerful it can be to someones destiny. Become that light at the end of the tunnel for someone in need, it can be one of the best choices you make.

6. Give Back.

Its only when we live for something beyond ourselves that we feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Giving back doesnt have to be done only at an individual level. At Rype, we donate a portion of our profits back to organizations like Pencils of Promise, where theyve built over 300+ schools in developing nations like Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Laos.

7. Go Skinny Dipping.

You know you want to.

8. Start a Journal.

Recording down your present thoughts, and reviewing it years later can be incredibly fulfilling to see how far youve come. It can be a blog, vlog, podcast, or a journal that you keep for yourself.

The world deserves to hear your message.

9. Attend a Religious Event (thats not your own).

This may seem controversial, but most of us have either never been to a religious event or only attended one (probably the one you were born into).
Whether youre religious or not, why not explore to understand what other types of religious faiths that exist?

10. Fall in Love.

11. Learn to Be Happy Alone.

Depending on someone else to be happy is no way to live. Knowing that you can love yourself and find happiness alone, can be one of the most freeing discoveries in your life.

12. Become an Expert at Something.

While its important to have a general understanding of diverse topics and skillsets, you should also be an expert at something. If someone in your life hears your name, there should be a skill that they can always rely on you for. Become a T-Shaped individual.

13. Live in a Developing Country.

In the past 15 months, I lived in over a handful developing nations around the world, including Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, and Peru.
Traveling around hotels and visiting tourist spots in the country doesnt help you understand anything about the culture itself. You have to live it.

14. Visit your Elementary Teacher.

We should always give more credit than given to the people responsible for our education back in Elementary. My elementary teacher, Ms.Thorton, taught me how to speak English, showed me how to treat others, and taught me to think big. In most cases, they taught us things that we probably cant even remember today, but has influenced many important decisions we made throughout our journey.

15. Commit to a Health Ritual.

This is a common pattern that I see in nearly every person that hits 30 or 35.
Their priority of health starts to become the #1 priority in their life, even over wealth. Whats the point of accumulating wealth, if youre not in a healthy state to enjoy it?

16. Have more than One Career.

We live in the hyphenated world today. Youre an Engineer, Entrepreneur, Designer, Writer. Or Investor, Author, Speaker, etc. With technology moving industries and markets faster than ever before, and people living longer than ever, its not only possible to have more than one career, but its necessary.

17. Replace your Coffee with Tea.

Cut the jitter, introduce the calm.

18. Have a Signature Dish.

You may not need to know how to cook. But every person needs a signature dish. Keep it as your secret weapon.

19. Read 100+ Books.

Knowledge is freedom. If youre not growing, youre dying.

20. Buy Wine Today Youll Drink In 20 Years.

You can also do this with long-time friends.

21. Adopt.

Be it a dog, cat, or baby, make the decision to turn someones life around.

22. Call up an Old Friend.

If theres someone you havent spoken to in a few years, or even a decade.
Reach out to them. In the one-tap, social media world that we live in, theres no reason to even call them. Just send them a message.

23. Learn How to Say No.

Turning down opportunities allows you to do your best work.
A great book to read is the Power of No by James Altucher.

24. Write a letter to your 10-year future self.

Where do you want to be in 10-years? What would you say to this person?
Share everything in a letter, and keep it locked for 10 years. Then 10 years later, write another letter to your 10-year future self.

25. Learn a New Language.

If youve went your entire life knowing only one language (English), youve put a glass ceiling on yourself, because you can only reach 12% of this worlds population.

Learning a new language is the catalyst that opens up doors to new cultures, people, and opportunities. Learning how to speak Spanish alone can nearly double your global reach, and allow you to have a global perspective and a deeper understanding of the world outside your current limits.

Featured photo credit: Ari He via unsplash.com

When you were little, did you play with adollhouse that just wasnteverything you dreamed it would be? So maybe you took cardboard and construction paper and made additions. Maybe you found Christmas lights, wrapped them in tulle to create an ethereal or underwater effect for your mermaids and mermen. Or maybe you convertedan old tree trunk and made a Middle Earth worthy hobbit home.

Wherever your imagination took you as a child, now that you are older, maybe its time to reclaim that imagination.

And now that you live in an internet connected world that allows you not only to see the wild creations of others, but offers also step-by-step instructions, how to videos, and niche stores supplying amazing miniatures to complete and compliment your one of a kind dream home, you can do almost ANYTHING!

Whatever your taste is, take a look at these 22 thoughtful and AMAZING dolls houses! And let the world of miniatures engulf you once again.

1. Shabby Chic Simple

Who says all dollhouses have to be pink?! Maybe you live in boxy modern efficiency but are dreaming about white lace and roses on a mossy shoal somewhere. With this charming cottage from Cinderella Moments by Caroline Dupuis, you can welcome this breath of fresh air on a window ledge or side table and dwell in possibilities.

2. A Different Sort of Tree House

Starting from scratch might mean just taking a walk in the woods. A tree stump might just be laying around begging for a second life as a mouse dollhouse. This houseby Maddie Brindley can be found complete with instructions at Mads Mouse House on WordPresswith more information about the craftsman.

3. Striking the right note

One persons junk is another persons treasure-to-be! A warped or broken guitar can be the home of fanciful play again. Take a look at Fairy Meadow Miniatures guitar dollhouse. For pictures of the work in progress, check out their website.

4. A Grounded Type of Dollhouse

You knew with a reference to J.R. R. Tolkiens Middle Earth that I was going to have one Hobbit House. And here it is! You dont have to fly to New Zealand, but it could take a year to build one just like Maddie Chambers. For more incredible inside pictures, visitMads Hobbit Hole on wordpress.

5. So you feel like turning Japanese . . .

Like the 80s English band, The Vapors, you might feel like turning Japanese, but of course you cant. You might notbe able to move to Japan or even buy sushi where you live. But you could have your own amazing miniature Japanese doll house! This one is sold as a kit from Billy, a Japanese dollhouse company.

6. Dreams of being a gypsy

Maybe your dreams are of roaming the European countryside as rambling gypsy. With the advent of laser cutting printers, dollhouses can come in any shape or size, like the 8 caravan from Michelles Miniatures.

7. Maybe more mod!

Your style might be more retro or just rainbow if you love Love LOVE this stylish gym. This Kaleidoscope home can only be found on Ebay or Craigslist for the time being, but what a special dollhouse it would be!

8. A mini-modernist on your hands

The opposite of a Victoria doll house that was the idol of my youth is this mini-modern masterpiece. Called the Bennet House on many websites, the secondary market might be the only place it exists anymore!

8. Real Retro

If you dont mind searching the globe and the timeline, you might find this, thePlattenbau-Hochhaus from 1966. Talk about a charmer! But how could you dare play with this one!

9. Castle estate, take me away!

If capturing another century versus a decade is your thing, and you always felt you would be suited for the royal treatment, then this laser cut castle doll house is your thing. I couldnt find the kit for sale, but it might be possible to find a video with the step-by-step laser saw demonstration. One can dream and wish upon a star I suppose!

10. True Royalty Only

Maybe you could be a billionaire these days and get something comparable to theexact dollhouse of Queen Mary which was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1924. This picture is of the houses moving day in 1924. If you want to see the castle in person, youll need to plan a trip to Windsor Castle. I think it might be worth it.

11. Very Victorian

If you want a Victorian dollhouse, your choices are innumerable. There are examples of every possible color combination and scale. This is a classic one pictured on several websites. There is sure to be a kit to start with that will make your very Victorian heart skip a beat.

12. Very haunted memories

If that wasnt scary enough, this wont be either, because the charming house from Amityville seduces its victims into feeling like they are in an ideal New England farmhouse, right before all things go terribly, terribly wrong. What a beauty of movie memorabilia or fan art.

13. Have you heard of Rob Heard?

Rob Heards sculptures are dollhouses elevated to gravity defying art! I dont know if there is any child in the world lucky enough to play within one of these masterpieces, but if so, they are fantastically fortunate. Did I say gravity defying?!

14. Buying a boutique of miniatures

If shopping nonstop is your dream and fantasy, then maybe a London boutique dollhouse is what you are yearning for. This one will beon display at the Kinsington Dollshow in London this May 2015. Just bring the mall home, wont you?

15. So simple, a child could assemble ANY WAY THEY WANT!

When I came upon her website, I got a little excited. Because not only are the houses attractive, but pieces can be traded out and interlocked. This is a city of Lille. For more, go check out Lille Hussets House..

16. A shoe in

Maybe you have so many dolls you dont know what to do, so you might need this shoe, or rather, boot house. There are dozens of styles online, and wouldnt it be a fun challenge to turn a boot into a house for little dolls.

17. Living the Fabulous Life

There were no quirky self-made dollhouses that were also cruise ships, but I have to include the Barbie or Glamour Gal cruise ships because they are sometimes bigger than the dream houses. Some are bigger than childrens bookcases. Although all plastic, they are fabulous, and I miss mine!

18. The artists den of dollhouses

I hadnt thought about it, but recreating an artists studio would be amazing. Take a look at Fridas! The detailsinclude prints of her own artwork as well as a miniature Frida in her iconic pose.

19. One that casts a spell

This Voodoo House by Laura Denison is a rich beauty. Instead of scary, it is just charming. For more of her creations you can check out her at G 45 Paperson Typepad. The layering and texture of color and patterns are a feast for the eyes. The little lamps and chandeliers are adorable. Wait! Is that a skull on the floor?!

20. Fantasy creation indeed!

Frogmorton seems to specialize in dollhouses from the fairy-gnome territory. This one seems to be a living tree house grown by Mother Nature herself for some of her forest dwelling family. For more dreamy designs, look intoFrogmorton.

21. Go green! dollhouse

For the environmentally conscious raising the next generation of earth caretakers, some dollhouses are seriously green, employing windmills and solar panels. This Planstoy Green Dollhouse is even supplied with recycle bins for all sorts of materials. Talk about raising the next generation to love their mother earth!

22. In an old house in Paris, that was covered in vines

I had to pick a stopping point, so the Old House In Paris is it. I own one of these houses and have many of the dolls and furnishings. The book was a favorite from childhood. The movies jadore! I love that spunky sprite Madeline. So when I came across this dollhouse sitting in a consignment store, I was stunned. They do not sell these in the United States, so I had not seen or heard of them. And Im an adult and have long stopped watching Madelines adventures.

But because I had started reading the books to my daughter, I couldnt resist bringing this dollhouse into my home with as many of Madelines friends as I could find on Ebay! I think I might enjoy it more than my kid, and I do get excited when I find an item here or there. The doorbell works. The lantern lights up. I can get plenty of accessories. And I even have Miss Clavel. And one day Ill get Genevieve the dog! .FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN.of course!

Featured photo credit: edgeeffectmedia.com via unsplash.com