In April I went to Moab for the first time. I couldn’t quite understand the fascination with it, but I know so many people, including my husband, had told me how great it is. So, I took the plunge and planned my first trip and it did not disappoint. As I drove into town, I felt an excitement in my soul that made me feel like a little kid again. I spent the next 4 days hiking, 4-wheeling, exploring and being in awe of one of the most unique landscapes I’ve ever seen. I left feeling energized and can hardly wait to plan my next trip.
As I drove back towards home, I thought a lot about why I felt so happy and relaxed. Over the years I’ve always considered myself an adventurous person. In fact, most of my favorite vacations I’ve taken all over the world have an element of adventure. While the word adventure conjures up excitement for some, others feel a sense of dread and may even become fearful. I think for each of us we need to decide what adventure means to us and how we can use this to get us out of our comfort zone to share new experiences. Whether adventure means climbing the world’s tallest peaks, visiting foreign countries (once the world opens back up to international travel) or going to a new restaurant and trying a type of food you’ve never had, we can all benefit from a little adventure in our lives.
New Experiences Gives Renewed Energy
When I started this post, I talked about the giddy excitement I felt as I arrived in Moab. I think its so important to experience new things as it can make us become more well rounded and it gives us a renewed energy for life. This renewed energy helps to “fill our cup” , so that we can use it in other areas of our lives. Additionally, the world is big place and there are so many things we can learn if we are open to having a new experience.
Learn New Skills
Let’s talk about learning new skills. When I think about my favorite things to do today, I realize its because at some point I took a leap of faith and decided to try something different. In some cases, I even felt a little fearful like the time I climbed a class 3 fourteen-thousand-foot peak in Colorado. On a class 3 mountain, you need to wear a helmet to protect yourself from falling rocks and you’re literally climbing straight up. It was one of the most exhilarating experiences I’ve had in my life and the sense of accomplishment was profound. Some other skills I’ve picked up are cooking new foods, learning about wine and wine regions. What new skills have you learned from your experiences?
Get Out of Our Comfort Zone
Adventure can get us out of our comfort zone to challenge us and make us realize how strong and resilient we really are. Sometimes we need to embrace the term “get comfortable with being uncomfortable”, which strengthens our abilities, both mentally and physically. There have been times that I’ve climbed mountains and I was so tired that I felt as if I couldn’t take one more step, but I did over and over. Eventually I made it to the summit and then back to the base. The sense of fulfillment I had knowing that I accomplished my goal was amazing. Now when I think back to that day, it fills me with a sense of pride and it brings a smile to my face knowing that if I put my mind to something, I can make it happen. I use this sense of strength to get me through the tough times we all experience in life.
Become More Down to Earth
When we try a new food, travel to a new place, meet new people or experience a new culture, our view of the world expands. These experiences help us become more down to earth and open our minds. We also develop a sense of empathy and realize that while we may have difference beliefs, at the end of the day we are all humans with the same basic needs in life.
Whatever adventure means to you, I encourage you to spice things up in your life and take a leap of faith to try something new. You’ll never know if you don’t give it a try.
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