It feels like I haven’t had a spontaneous adventure in a long, long time. The last one that sticks out in my memory is recalled here – way back when Ye Olde Blogge was known as The Next Year of My Life – on September 14, 2009. (Thank you dear Bloggie, for being my memory-in-chief!)
I veered from my plan to run home from work that day, to take an unknown (to me) trail I came across instead. I had an absolute blast and felt my most badass, wildest self that day. Until my husband-to-be came home and ragged on me for what seemed like hours when I told him, rapturously, of what I did and felt.
He thought I was being reckless and foolhardy. By exploring following the river home instead of taking the road?!? The river that runs through the village where I live?!? In broad daylight?!?
Well, I didn’t agree with him then, and I still don’t now. But, because I loved him and didn’t want to upset him, I stopped doing stuff like that. Then we got married, and continued to live in his Crazytown (which I became the de facto Mayor of); then he got sick and died and I became the CEO of Everything; then I spent the next 4 years cleaning up his mess and restoring the building he let slide into disrepair and creating a new life/home for myself. No time or energy for much of anything outside of that, really.
And now here we are and I am looking forward to bringing back more exploration and adventure to my life. Starting this summer.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but what I experienced on my little river trail exploration was a microadventure.
Author and speaker Alistair Humphreys has coined the phrase, and also written a good book about it. You can learn more about microadventures here.
Have you ever taken a microadventure? Does the idea hold any appeal?
Rock on,
The WB
Can you guess my theme for this year’s A-Z Challenge? All of my A-Z posts this month will be tied into my theme, which is represented by the title of a song that was popular when I was a child. Can you figure it out as the days (and posts) go by? Leave your guesses (one per day only, please) in the comments. At the end of the challenge, I will reveal the theme. Have fun!
You’ve almost completed the process of coming back to yourself, Deb. That you can think of that micro-adventure with longing and be itching for another – that’s such a great sign. I have no psychic abilities, but I’m willing to bet that another micro-adventure or two or twelve are in your not too distant future.
Have a good day, Deb.
I think you are right on all counts, Karen. Thanks! Hope your day is good as well.
Sounds a lot like my first husband – I’m sure you are much freer now and can enjoy whatever you want. My current husband (number last) and I, go back road exploring every Sunday morning. We stop and get a large latte, hit the road with no destination in mind, and see if we can get lost. It’s so fun!
Yes, Karen – I revel in my freedom now and will never let anyone infringe on it again. Your Sunday morning explorations sound wonderful. How nice that you and your husband are in sync in this way!
It bothers me when someone else’s negativity impacts on my enthusiasm for something that makes me happy. Like Karen, I predict many more micro-adventures ahead of you this summer. Throughout this A-to-Z challenge you’ve demonstrated a joie du vivre that shouldn’t be suppressed 🙂
It may sound odd given my sense of adventure, but I have a terrible fear of being lost.
When I go exploring an unfamiliar area, it is almost always after having done some advanced recon with a map so I can visualize where I will be.
Even out with you a few times I’ve had to suppress that stomach-in-the-back-of-my-throat feeling because I couldn’t visualize where I was. It’s one of those small points Helen and I routinely argue about 😉
Thanks Joanne! You don’t have to worry about being lost with me. By that I mean, we may get lost, but will have fun finding our way back. 😆😉
Of that I am sure!! 😆
I haven’t been on a micro-adventure since my husband died—or rather since before his stroke. He loved them and I always felt safe with him out in the boondocks. Have you heard of ecotourism? Part of my Saturday blog talks about a woman who is an adventurist and takes off the wall trips working with wildlife.
Cool, Jean! I’m all for that and look forward to reading it.
I love micro-adventures! I homeschooled my daughter until she was 14. We went on lots of field trips, and one thing we would do if we were in unfamiliar territory is take a random turn and see where we ended up. This was before GPS, of course. We always found our way home, although a couple of times we ended up in another state. We even did that in Tahoe the only time we went there. The guys were off skiing for the day, so after we were done exploring the town, we took the rental car, chose a random highway and just drove. We ended up going up a mountain, where we drove for a long time. No place to stop. Just a windy mountain road. Finally I had to either take a chance we’d find civilization up ahead or turn around because we’d used up at least half our gas. We found a lookout where we could turn around and made it back to Tahoe with no drama. It was a beautiful drive, and part of the beauty was that we had no expectations. I definitely need more micro-adventures in my life. It’s become too schedule bound for my taste.
Your micro-adventures sound great, Reticula! I agree, when there are no expectations the experience is made so much better! Give me a handful of spur of the moment micro-adventures over a month of planned-to-the-last-minute touring of an exotic destination any day!
Micro-adventures, if I understand the concept correctly, are my life blood. I’m forever getting off the main path, dawdling here, following a tangent there– then making it home again, no worse for the wear. I am a free spirit so doing my own thing comes naturally to me. I wish you a summer filled with micro-adventures, and the time to sit at home and reflect upon them.
Those sound like micro-adventures to me, Ally! Thank you very much. I wish the same for you (and to blog about them)!
Deb