I don’t know about you, but the past year and a half has got me craving big adventures. With all the restrictions, complications and confusion we’ve been living with, for so many of us our day-to-day world has suddenly become a lot smaller. Remember the days of just hopping on a plane for a last-minute weekend break? Nope, me neither.
I’ve swapped pretend house shopping for castles in the Scottish Highlands, for pretend Ironman race “shopping” for challenges in brand new places. And while the latter is more likely to happen sometime soon at the very least, still I find myself wistfully closing the internet tabs with a sigh. We’re getting there, but booking up those big excursions with confidence will probably have to wait a little longer.
Recently though, what I’ve realised is that you don’t need far-flung places or Great Big Races to have an adventure. Escaping the everyday can be big but little. A small “why the heck not” moment that lightens your day. It’s time to build our own adventures. To find our little slice of ‘brave’ amid the daily routine.
Maybe you’ll finally try that route that’s been on the ‘to-be-ridden’ list. Or go and show that hill you usually avoid who’s boss, because deep down you know that you can. Maybe you’ll scratch the itch of giving open water swimming a go. Or stop off on the way back from your ride to dangle your feet in that river you usually zip past, just because.
My own big but little slice of brave? Last week I finally stopped talking, started doing and ventured out to the local Monday night club time trial that I’ve been admiring from afar, but had never quite worked up the courage to enter. And it was nowhere near as scary as I told myself it would be. In fact, it wasn’t scary at all. Everyone was friendly, there were all shapes, sizes and abilities and I really enjoyed myself. In the Type A, feeling like your lungs are on fire kind of way. I even remembered to wear socks, despite my triathlonist tendencies – success! It was such a small thing, really. But I came home feeling rejuvenated, and proud that I’d been brave enough to turn up in the first place.
My point is: it doesn’t have to be huge to be an adventure. It doesn’t even have to be scary, though some of the best things are. Whatever it is, that little bit of ‘different’ to spice up your day? It’s amazing how much it changes your perspective.
And so, The Herd: I challenge you to get out there. Find your freedom. Build your own adventure. Big, little – totally ridiculous or a little bit serious. It’s all fair game.
And then come back and tell me all about it so I can be nosey.
Freedom is… finding extraordinary within the ordinary.