I turned 25 last month, and randomly I thought I’d make a list of 30 things I want to do before I get to 30.

I spent a day or so and came up with this:

Host a community-travel event

I have made some good friends online in the past two years. I have this idea of selecting a place, fixing the dates, and letting these people know about the plan—then I hope as many as possible join.

It’d be fun to have all these folks together.

Surf Regularly

I learned Surfing in October 2023 in Mulki. Although it was a 3/5 experience, something tells me I should surf more.

I understand the basics now, and I feel this would be more fun once I get the hang of it with practice. I definitely do not want surfing to be a one-time thing.

Watch Collection

I have always loved watches as a fashion product or accessory.

Since February 2023, I have developed a particular interest in watchmaking. I got into technical details, and before I knew it, I started observing watches around and got interested in building my own collection.

I don’t just want to purchase watches. I want to collect mindfully by learning history, philosophy, and craftsmanship.

I own 12 watches currently, out of which 11 are purchased just for the ‘style’ or are gifted. Casio A-168 is my first conscious (wrt collection) purchase. Building from here.

Watchmaking

I want to learn the craftsmanship. I have checked out a few courses, and they are pretty expensive (~$2500). I should figure out my expenses to be able to afford these. Will also see if there are any workshops across the country.

Once I learn watchmaking, I will make three watches for sure:

- One for myself
- One for the person I love
- One to sell to an enthusiast

Bungee Jumping

Heights scare me.

I don’t like the fact that I am scared. I am not sure if this is true, but most people say you conquer your fears when you go on adventures. I haven’t experienced any life-changing experience as such yet.

But I will trust all my senior travellers and take a leap of faith with the heights. I’ll be shit scared, but I want to experience the feeling of moving forward despite my fear.

Learn proper dancing

I love music. I love dancing. Especially when you come from Telugu states, music and dancing become a big part of your daily routine because it’s everywhere. We have grown up watching the most entertaining numbers.

Adding to this, Tamil music and Bollywood have always produced many awesome tracks over the decades.

My friends tell me I dance decently, but the perfectionist in me disagrees. I love dancing for the vibe of it, but I also want to own some cool moves. I don’t want to get conscious, thinking how I’d look while dancing.

Some say I should just be myself, I agree.
But I feel I should learn the art.

Travel to 5 countries at least

I have always been a big fan of diversity. I never wanted to stick to one particular group and loved the idea of exploring more different.

I love this about India. Everywhere I travel, there is always something new. Although I have a big list to travel within India, I want to see the world as well.

Sky Diving

To be honest, Bungee doesn’t excite me. But I know I will be scared, so I want to do it for the challenge. But skydiving is different. Unlike Bungee, the thought of skydiving thrills me.

Learn to play an instrument

I have already told you about my love for songs and music. I haven’t decided on what—I am open to anything, but I’d love to learn to play an instrument.

Once I learn, practice, and am confident enough, I’d love to perform in a concert-like environment. Even a small audience of 30 people is good, but I want to generate the concert energy.

Volunteer at a travel destination

Hosting fascinates me. I’d love to work part-time at a backpacker hostel for a month at least. I think I’d like that—hosting travellers, listening to their stories, giving them a good experience, all that stuff.

Scuba Diving

I dived in Andaman in 2018. I loved the view (you should definitely scuba if you visit Andaman), but I didn’t like an instructor holding me all along.

I want to do it myself, so I want to learn scuba (like I did with surfing) and ultimately just rent the gear and go for dives.

Comic Series

I really really want to write a comic series. Not like Marvel, DC or even Anime, but something similar to as simple as Panchatantra.

I believe I have great storytelling and an eye for detail, which has the potential to make my stories gripping. Not to forget, I started as a fiction writer before I got into business writing. We never know it might circle back to me.

With the trend these days (and my love for it), might even plan a universe.

Star Gazing

Isn’t this everyone’s dream?

Go on a trek

It’s surprising to me that I haven’t trekked yet. I know there are many treks in the Western Ghats, but the first thing I think about when someone says trek is snow.

I’ll start with a beginner-level trek and slowly keep increasing the difficulty. My friend told me treks are expensive—I should check the details. Mountains soon.

Learn photography

Again, I love learning the technical details and geek out on my work. I take decent pictures, but I have no idea about the craft and technicalities of photography. I plan to start with an offline workshop.

Design my room/workspace

I customize my stuff—even the smallest of things. Considering I might move out and have a home of my own by 30, I’d love to get involved in each detail of my home, specifically the workspace and hangout area.

Back in 2020, when I drew these guns in my room:

Have a garden

I have a cute story about how my mom built her garden. I don’t spend much time with our plants, but whenever I do (say 30 minutes of watering), it only wants to make me have a garden of my own or spend more time nurturing the plants.

Paint something beautiful

I used to draw a lot when I was a child. I was good at it too, but I have no idea how I lost touch with it. Soon I’ll paint something and have it in my room—something meaningful, aesthetic, and evergreen.

Sponsor a child’s education

My philosophy aligns with charity but not so much with organizations. I don’t just want to give money and expect it to do some good for 30-40 children.

Instead, I want to pick one child, sponsor what he/she needs, and give time to this child to share my knowledge, wisdom, and everything I have learned.

I am not sure if I am being clear—it’s between donation and adoption. Like a sponsored mentorship maybe.

Biryani and chai
(no, not together. I’m not a psychopath)

Cooking is a basic skill I have yet to learn. But if there are any absolute favourites that I love and want to make for myself and my loved ones, it’s biryani and chai.

Not just some basic chai, but at least 20 varieties of it. Because I get bored having the same chai every day, and I am in the mood for different chai on different days.

Learn shooting

Mannnn, I love gunsss. If I visit your place and you have NERF guns or any shooting equipment, you see me playing with it all day.

I don’t know if it’s a thing, but I’d like to learn to shoot. I am yet to do my research on this, but I will check out the options.

The list is 21 tasks long. I want it to be a list of 30, but I didn’t want to include different things just for the sake of it. I have some more to-dos on the list but they are personal, so not including them here.

I really want to do the 21 things I have mentioned. Plus, as I discover new and interesting things, I’ll keep adding them to the list (or remove the current ones if they don’t interest me anymore.)

Having said that, I’d love to know if there is any list like this for you. Drop a reply with what you want to do in the next five years. That’d make a good conversation. :)