Welcome to Tuesdays with Chel.
Adventure scares me.
There, I said it.
I’ve also said that I truly believe that the reason that so many of us choose to live in safe little boxes is because we’ve *consciously* built those boxes ourselves after “less-than-ideal” experiences earlier in life.
And sometimes when we’re tucked into our cozy boxes, we wind up confusing “adventure” with “scary unknown”.
I know I do that a lot.
But when I think about it, I realize that embracing adventure doesn’t have to be scary and weird. It doesn’t mean you have to chuck everything and head out on the trail with just a pack and the shoes on your feet. Adventure can be a part of your everyday life, in a way that doesn’t create a lot of anxiety beforehand and doesn’t throw you too far off your *own* personal trail, the one you worked hard to create and commit to.
A few years ago, Tom and I had an afternoon free so we got in the car and headed up to Naples, which is the nearest town/city. Our plans were simple- run a few errands, and get some dinner. It was in mid-December, so Tom had a bit more flexibility with his schedule . Maybe we were also going to do some Christmas shopping. I just remember feeling like the afternoon was ours.
On the way to Naples, Tom asked me if I’d like to try going to a new nursery he’d read about online. I was just getting into gardening, and eager to build my collection of plants and containers to garden with, so I was up for it.
Tom said he thought he knew where it was, but we got a little lost on the way there- the nursery was definitely not on any of our normal routes into town. But it was a crisp, winter day, the sun was setting slowly, the sky was golden, so we were in no rush to find it quickly. We just took our time getting there, enjoying our alone time (Gracie was with her grandparents) and listening to music and talking about whatever it is we usually talk about. We saw parts of town we never saw before and drove down streets we didn’t know existed.
When we finally found the nursery, we just took our time walking all over the grounds, looking at the different groups of plants and flowers and trees. I remember getting scratched by a large cactus I tried to squeeze by, which sort of amused me at the time since I considered it sort of a “right of passage” (and because I’m pretty clumsy).
Don’t get me wrong, the nursery was nothing too exciting, but it was *different*. There were new things to see, new things to discuss, a new person (the guy at the checkout stand) to talk to about gardening in Southwest Florida.
We walked out with a few beautiful terra cotta planters and a few small plants. Again, nothing exciting. And after we loaded up the car, we continued on our way to Naples. I remember feeling content, and excited about the coming holidays, and happy to see the twinkling lights that were flickering on all over town as the sun finally dipped below the horizon. One of my very favorite things about the December holidays are the decorations, so I just remember being really enchanted by the mix of the twilight sky and the twinkling lights and the idea of spending the holidays with the people I loved the most in the world. It was just one of those moments where I *felt* my life, as it had come together, and sort of marveled at it.
Even though it doesn’t sound like much, for some reason, that afternoon sticks in my mind and heart. It wasn’t a big deal, not in the slightest. But it was enough of a detour from our regular routines and schedules and routes that it made a big difference. It felt special, and new. It made me feel mindful and grateful. It made me feel happy and really *present* in my life.
It also reminded me (and continues to remind me) that “new” and “different” doesn’t have to be a big deal, or be scary. It can just be a quick decision to try something new, just for a short time, to see how it feels.
So if you’re like me, somewhat content in the safe pattern of routine and everyday life and a little averse to the idea of “adventure”, remember that adventure doesn’t have to be “epic”. It doesn’t mean you have to travel vast amounts of miles to find it. It doesn’t mean you have to toss everything you know and love. It doesn’t mean radical adjustments and discomfort.
Adventure can be found right here, right now. All it takes is a tiny bit of flexibility and an open heart.
What adventure can you have today?
Chel Micheline is a mixed-media artist, curator, writer, and avid gardener/reader/swimmer who lives in Southwest Florida with her husband and daughter. When Chel’s not making art or pondering the Bliss Habits, she’s blogging at gingerblue.com (come say hi!) or posting new things in the gingerblue etsy shop.
Chel,
My wife and I moved to Greenville, SC about a year ago. We made it our business to venture out into the surrounding area on a regular basis. This past Sunday morning she’d heard about an apple orchard near Hendersonville, NC. So we piled in the car bright and early and went seeking.
The apple cider donuts (we shared one) were terrific. There were 15 variety of trees there and we pick about a peck of Honeycrips and Granny Smiths. Just enough to remind us we’d been there.
I think within our comfort zone you’ll find very little new and certainly fewer adventures. Venture out!
RICK
Rick,
It sounds like a wonderful adventure (and the fresh apples and donuts sound amazing!) Thank you so much for sharing this with me. It’s such a great reminder that there’s a lot of life and opportunity all around us- we just have to keep looking!
Chel,
I find adventure each time I swim in the pool, walk on the ocean sand, arrive at my health club and plan my workout, choose which restaurant to have my meal at. Each part of my day becomes an adventure when I view it that way. Sometimes, it is just the opposite – everything feels like a chore and a burden. That’s when I do something different or speak to someone who understands and can remind me to be grateful for what is good.
Warmly,
Dr. Erica
Dr. Erica-
I love that you view every choice you make as an opportunity for adventure! I never really looked at it that way, but it’s a fabulous perspective. I’m going to try it out the next few days and see what adventures I can find! Thank you!
Hey Chel –
I love, love, love days like that. Even if you leave the house with a purpose, there is always room for adventure and exploration. In fact, without it, life can get pretty dull. There is a certain joy and freedom in a road trip…bombing around in your car. The price of gas makes it a little prohibitive these days, but if you can scrape up the money for an extra tank, try and get lost at least once a month. I’ve discovered the most amazing places, restaurants and scenery because I have take the road less traveled. I try to encourage my clients to try something new, to get lost and to grab life and explore. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. The ones who do, make huge leaps and bounds in achieving their goals.
Michelle,
I love the idea of getting a little lost on purpose. Both location-wise and even *life*-wise. I haven’t done that in a very long time. It feels scary to just let go and see what happens, but more times than not, it ends well. I did quite a bit of aimless driving around Atlanta (both on purpose and not on purpose!) while in college and it was not only a great way to get to know the city, but also learn a lot about myself. Thank you for the tip!