I am a rather inexperienced human being when it comes to true life experiences…going out and doing stuff and the like. I spend 90% of my time in my head, adventuring there. However, I, a person who’s spent their entire measly life in a small town in Idaho, shall give you 50 things that I think everyone should experience or be exposed to. All of them are things I’ve done or seen, obviously, or else I wouldn’t know whether or not they’re worth experiencing. Some are big things, some are little tiny things that I just think are fun. How many have you experienced/been exposed to? They’re in no order whatsoever, by the way…just listed them as I thought of them.

1. Throw pottery.
I’m not talking about chucking vases across the room. I’m talking throwing a bowl or a pot or a cup with clay on a potter’s wheel. It takes a heck of a lot of practice, but once you get it you’ll feel really good about what you’ve created. If possible, dig your own clay. That’s really fun (and messy).

2. Listen to “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen.
It’s a freaking classic song. It’s even more fun if you know the lyrics and you can sing crazily along while pretending to play guitar. I highly recommend it.

3. Go on a cruise.
Have you ever been out on the open ocean? I would go on a cruise simply for the experience of seeing the ocean and feeling the ocean breeze while you’re out on deck, never mind all the fancy-shmancy stuff they do on cruises (though that’s pretty fun, too). Plus, if you’re on a big ship, you can explore for hours on end!

4. Listen to Mozart’s “Requiem.”
It’s beautiful. It will move you.

5. Read Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.
If you’re interested in society/control/human and societal control at all, you should read this.
It’s stuff you’ve probably thought about before with other stuff thrown in as well.

6. See something you’ve created published/put in an exhibit/played/produced.
Or all of the above. I recommend something that will allow others to interpret freely what you’ve done and reproduce it themselves. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing one of your works interpreted.

7. Go to http://maddox.xmission.com/.
I just think he’s funny. And his “Idaho Blows” article is freaking hilarious because it’s all true.

8. Mess around with Google Earth.
This is just one of those things that you have to do because it’s so cool. The technology we have is amazing. Find your house, it’s fun!

9. Explore a river/creek/stream.
Preferably with a group of dorky friends, and preferably when it’s the last thing you’re supposed to be doing. Just make sure it’s a creek free of leeches. Speaking from experience here.

10. Go to church/synagogue/some sort of formal worship.
Even if you’re not of that religion. Actually, especially if you’re not of that religion. Just experience it, see what it’s all about. I myself am thinking of going to St. Mary’s Catholic Church again one time this year for a service. Anyone want to join me?

11. Stay up all night.
Man, it’s fun, especially when combined with number 35 on this list. Plus, you might come up with some crazy stuff.

12. Watch “The Butterfly Effect.”
Thanks to Matt (thanks, Matt!) I now have the experience of watching this movie logged into my brain. It’ll freak you the crap out, cause it’s really, really good. Watch it.

13. Play The Sims.
You will get to feel like GOD! You will get to create people you know or people you don’t know but are interesting anyway. You will get to set people up in funky custom houses and allow people to date/mate/fight/go to military school. It’s really, really fun.

14. Go on a road trip with friends.
And video tape it if you can. This is going to sound really corny, but you will bond with them. Especially if you’re all hyper.

15. Go through everything you own and get rid of everything you don’t need/want.
I did this the summer before college, and I wound up with everything I owned being able to fit inside a 5×3 (or so) closet. It’s really nice to be able to only own what you’ll need/use ever again. Who needs all that stuff, anyway?

16. Be in a play.
It really is fun, especially if it’s a comedy, and especially if you’re in it with a bunch of drama geeks. You get to be a different person!

17. Go to http://www.homestarrunner.com/.
Come on, it’s a classic! Everybody loves Strong Bad emails.

18. Learn to play an instrument.
Music improves grades. And even if you’re not in college, it’s fun to be able to make noises, isn’t it?

19. Read Chaim Potok’s The Chosen.
Oh man, this novel got to me. I must say, it’s one of three books that have ever made me cry when I finished it (it takes a lot to make me cry for a book). Just read it. You won’t regret it.

20. Dink around with Speakonia.
Go to Google, type in “speakonia,” download it, and type away. It’s a text-to-speech program and you can have so much fun with it! I suggest, if you blog, copying your blogs into the space and hearing them read back to you. What fun!

21. Love.
Even if it’s unreciprocated. It’s an experience.

22. Read Plato’s Republic.
Ah, the basis of modern civilizations. And if you know anything about Plato’s views of the soul, this will also be very interesting. Long, but interesting. You gotta love Plato.

23. Own a cat.
They’re freaking awesome, what can I say? British Shorthairs are precious.

24. Listen to “Tubular Bells” by Mike Oldfield.
This is a good song to create art to, especially mandalas. Parts of it may freak you out because it goes from very soft and soothing in some parts to very loud and jagged in others, but it’s really interesting.

25. Watch “Armageddon.”
The classic American corny movie. You have to love corny movies. “Armageddon” takes the cake. (“I’m Bruce Willis Man!”)

26. Participate in a chatroom discussion.
Man, it’s too bad Yahoo! chat took down their teen chats. They were freaking hilarious. Really, if you can find a chatroom in which there are dozens of teenagers, go in there and be a complete arrogant jerk. It’s really fun. Just be whomever you want to be. It’s the internet, after all.

27. Play this game.
Live life any way you want. Make any choices you want and see where they get you. Be good, be bad. Be in between. Get married. Stay single. Do drugs. Take risks. It’s really fun.

28. Be an organ donor.
This is less of an experience and more of a thing you should just do in case you die prematurely. Think of the good your heart can do after you die, for example, if you donate it. Your kidneys, liver, lungs, and pancreas, too. Think of all the people you could help. Just do it.

29. Go overseas.
Take a vacation! See the world! I recommend Stockholm, but it’s the only place I’ve really been oversees. It’s great, though. Expose yourself to the world (not that way, sickos! You’ll get arrested that way!).

30. Read George Orwell’s 1984.
Good book.

31. Listen to “Let It Be” by The Beatles.
It’s a good song. Really. Listen to it when you’re feeling down. Sing along. You’ll cry, but you’ll feel better. At least, that’s my experience.

32. Ride a rollercoaster.
Oh my, is this fun! Take your hands off the bars and scream all you want. It’s freeing.

33. Learn Flash.
This is just a dinky little thing I put on here because I myself have learned it and I think it’s really fun to use and another medium through which to be weird. Do it!

34. Read Plato’s Apology.
This is, what experts believe, Plato’s recording of what Socrates said at his trial to be put to death. Very interesting. Moving, too.

35. Have a sleepover.
It doesn’t matter your gender, just do it at some point in your life! You won’t regret it. It’s really fun if you’ve got good friends.

36. Fall in absolute love with a class.
Know what it feels like to look forward to a class every single day! It really feels good.

37. http://www.angryalien.com/.
Watch classic movies redone in 30 seconds. With animated bunnies. I recommend “Jaws” and “Titanic” personally. Very funny.

38. Take a philosophy class.
Learn about some ancient thinkers! It will open your mind, really.

39. Listen to any Deep Forest.
You know what Deep Forest is? Well, their first CD featured African Pygmy singers and their songs set to modern, techno beats. Sound strange? Actually, it’s really, really good. Their other CDs are good as well, but I recommend the first, entitled “Deep Forest.” Different, but good.

40. Go to a drag show.
Ah, what fun. This can be real eye-opening for the open-minded among us here in Idaho who feel, out of sheer lack of exposure, that other liberally-minded people do not exist in the state. Appreciate the fun. Appreciate the diversity. And go in drag, it’s fun!

41. Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7hsQA3wo3Q.
Get a perspective on where you stand in the grand scheme of things. Puts your ego in its place, I think.

42. Listen to “Fitter, Happier” by Radiohead.
Listen to the lyrics and combine it with the music itself. Very intense. At least, I think so.

43. Read Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
I consider this the classic Shakespearean play. If you can, get a bunch of Shakespeare nerds to read it aloud with you, each of you picking a character. It’s just a good play.

44. Experience the political hilarity of Capitol Steps.
Whether you like politics or not, the group Capitol Steps is hilarious! They take old songs and put new lyrics to the music, making fun of current political issues (both Democrat and Republican). They love Bush. Really, they’re very funny. Give them a try sometime.

45. Listen to comedian Brian Regan.
I’m not big on comedians. I’ve never really found another I’ve liked except for this guy. I don’t know if it’s because it’s my kind of humor or what, but I really like him. Very funny.

46. Get caught up in the moment.
Whatever it is, let yourself go. Pretend there are no consequences for once and just see what happens. Whether it brings regret or not later, you will not have regretted it in that split second of time.

47. Listen to “Jupiter” by Gustav Holst.
I think this is the best of the planets. It’s just a fun piece of music. I don’t know what exactly it is I like about it, but I like it a lot. For some reason I feel that I’d heard it very early on in my childhood.

48. Watch http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/351568.
It isn’t the best-animated piece of Flash by far, and it is a clock movie (if you know who the clocks are; you may like them or hate them), but it’s got a really touching message to it, I think. I think it’s something we all need to remind ourselves of daily. I think it’s sweet.

49. Get tested for your aptitudes.
Get tested to see what you’re naturally good at. I did this a couple years ago at this institute thingy over in Seattle and, aside from being fun (what can I say, I like tests), I thought it was really informative. It might help you choose a career if you’re having trouble with that kind of thing, too.

50. Ice skate.
Ha, last one. I put this on here because not only is it a fun thing to do but it’s also an activity that, while participating in it, you can let your mind wander to whatever you want. It’s a good “thinking” activity.

There. Hope you likey!