Happy New Year! I hope everybody had an AMAZING Winter break and had quality time for yourself and with family.
My goal is to try and write a blog as often as I can or at least once a month. I am not a blog writer, or if I am being honest with myself and you as a reader I am not a writer period Lol. So for me, this is stepping out of my comfort zone and my theme for this whole year is about stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something new. Hence my title, #MyAdventure. If I am asking you to go out there and do something new, I have to live by my words too. So here is my blog, I apologize for all my spelling errors, incorrect use of grammar and anything else that bugs the English/grammar police-type people out there (and I know there are a lot of you). But know my writing comes from the heart and is not meant to be an essay or college paper. Plus I am English born and my use of the English language is different. So if my errors annoy you I’m sorry.
As we start 2020, I wanted to think about what my adventures would be for the year. I was struggling to think what these would be and when I was chatting with a new friend who has done one of the most extreme adventures ever, he recommended a book called “Micro Adventures” by Alastair Humphreys. I went to the library to get a copy and after searching the country and 5 weeks later they got me a copy from Washington. The first quote from the book…….
“ Our plan was simple, as good adventures ought to be. The best adventures are those that ring true, that can be summarized in a sentence or two, and planned on the back of a receipt from your book and map shop” Alastair Humphreys
I was hooked!!! I completely recommend this book to give you ideas on how to have the perfect micro-adventure. The micro-adventures are based in England but the concepts, ideas, packing lists, inspirational quotes are very easily transferable to here in the US.
My sister sent me a link to a podcast, Happy Place by Fern Cotton, as she interviews Sarah Wilson (Australian Journalist). My sister insisted it was something I had to listen to. In the first 5 minutes of the podcast, Sarah states she requires regular grounding in dirt and has to take time out of life and go camping for the night. (warning if you listen to it there are a few curse words used throughout the podcast).
So going back to my thinking of what my adventures would be, I think it will be more of a case of “ I won’t be saying No”, my adventures will be to do things I want to do when I want to it and not saying no and overthinking it because it costs too much, or I don’t have time, or I don’t have the equipment or feeling guilty for taking time for myself. They might just be a simple walk in the park barefoot or camp overnight in the local park in a bivvy bag (see the micro-adventure book for definition of bivvy bag lol) or a spur of the moment trip to a new hiking venue, who knows.
It’s so easy to get into a comfort zone in life, maintain the status quo, not cause any bumps in the road, keep a nice straight line. But hey our own heart rate is not a straight line. If it is we have a problem! Get out of that rut, get comfortable with the uncomfortable and live life. Put some deliberate bumps in your road and have some adventures. Your body and mind will thank you in the long run
To help with getting us started Arizona Health and Physical Education is going to be posting some #MyAdventure ideas. We are going to try and hold some random adventures throughout the year and post them on our website and social media pages and encourage you to join us. What these will be, who knows. Maybe a hike, a canoe trip on Val vista lakes or maybe a nice countryside lake or a bike ride. NOTHING is out of the question. We welcome ideas. The first step is to just join us.