Embrace your Adventure
Life is Just Too Short
A good friend Jon, shared his favourite quote; 'we're here for a good time, not for a long time’ - a lovely reminder to me that life is just too short of putting off experiencing fun, happiness, and adventure.
The concept of adventuring is important to me. It involves being outdoors and taking part in physically challenging activities in open spaces. Open water swimming, biking, walking, camping, the sort of activities that give your rosy cheeks and muddy feet.
What does adventure mean to you?
Perhaps it means daring feats and crazy escapades? Taking an adventurous approach to life and finding adventure in the ordinary? If we were to embrace the idea that life could be our big adventure, what would yours look like?
No Regrets
After reading an article in the Guardian newspaper several years ago - Regrets of the dying. I made a pact to approach each day to make wise old me smile with nostalgia one day. In the article, we learned of people who share their regrets in their final moments on planet earth.
This opened my eyes to the belief that we have a choice and the ability to be courageous and get out of our own way to say yes to a life we can love. It encouraged me to tap into my adventurous spirit and connect with other people who wanted this too. I believe that this is possible for us all!
Perhaps you take a hard approach, play hard, work hard, and become an out-of-office thriver in your spare time?
Adventures in the Ordinary
Maybe you would like to experience adventure in the ordinary like my friend Michelle Pitcher. She finds small yet significant ways to bring a twist of adventure to her day and a smile to her face. Sometimes it's a secret post-it note left in the laundrette for an unsuspecting stranger to say, ‘wash away your worries today.’ Other days it's a gratitude walk in the sunshine. Simple yet joyful. I love her for that.
Micro Adventures
Micro-adventuring is yet another way to bring adventure into your life and can be done on a shoestring. Cosy campfires, hot chocolate under the stars, campervan adventures, or even night biking. Simple activities can be done spontaneously, tapping into a free-spirited nature for you to have more, be more, and do more!
Photo by Andrew Thorn
Adventures to Boost Confidence
Adventures big and small can also bring personal development opportunities and success.
Trying new and adventurous activities can help us stretch out of our comfort zone. We take that scary leap. Through this, we can discover that we can do more than we thought possible, take a scary leap, and then grow into that space. It boosts our ‘can do’ mindset that lets us explore, discover and develop confidence and self-esteem.
Growth Mindset
Adventuring can help us take risks that can help us manage uncertainty. It also helps us to adopt a learner mindset so that when things don't go to plan and we can learn to ‘fail forward’ and discover more from that experience in a way that progresses us.
Adventuring boosts our problem-solving skills to overcome other hurdles that we may face in life. Lessons that we learn when adventuring can help us take a positive approach to life's challenges to adapt, improvise and overcome. Adventures can help us to let go of control and embrace imperfect perfection.
My adventuring experience is that doing any activity that challenges me makes space for creativity. New ideas and innovative thinking happen when I am in the wilderness, especially in water or on a bike. Adventuring is how I self-care and build my resilience at the same time.
My life mission is to become an out-of-office thrive, and I want that for you too. In the words of Gerard Way, ‘One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching!
