Last year, I wrote about how I planned to adventure in 2015. With a newborn baby and a three-year-old at home, my idea of adventure was a little more limited than it normally is. It caused me to reflect on how I perceived adventure, and I realized that, for me, adventure is about doing something new, flexing my courage a little, and accomplishing a goal. Certainly I didn’t need to jump out of a plane or go underwater treasure-hunting to achieve those same things?
I realized that for me, my favourite adventurous experiences involve travel, learning something new, taking on a physical challenge, and doing something that scares me. In 2015, we traveled to Hawaii for a month with our then-5 month old and almost-4 year old. I wanted to go on a local SUP-ing and surfing trip as well, but that didn’t pan out. As far as learning new things, my favourite was that I learned to grow, dry and blend my own herbs for tea. The 10km running race and sprint distance triathlon that I had in mind for a physical challenge totally didn’t happen, but I instead found myself hiking with my little babe almost every day. And the scary thing? I got pretty darn good at riding my motorcycle, which used to scare the leather chaps right offa me. (kidding, I only wish I had leather chaps…)
So what’s on tap for this year?
(Although I meant to pull this list together much sooner, it’s better late than never, right?)
Travel
This year, our travel plans are a little simpler than last year. We headed to Newfoundland during the summer, with the intention of doing a little more camping and sightseeing in Gros Morne Provincial Park than we normally do (the allure of Grandma and Poppy just a few hours away seems to take over). We were excited to get our daughter out cod-jigging, too.
We might also head to Mexico when the snow flies for a couple weeks. My folks have a place there and it’s always a fun trip (aka, once more, Gramma and Grampa can watch the kids while we duck out for street churros and a quick dip in the ocean). This year’s travel motto? Follow the babysitters!
Learn something new
Joining a Samba Band is still on my bucket list for this year – it was yet another one of those things that I didn’t get around to last year. Not achieving a yearly adventure goal used to be something that really bummed me out. Now I’m a little more okay with the fact that there’s a season for everything, and there’s a certain amount of surrender required of the parents of young children.
The other thing I’m going to do this year which fits into almost all of these categories is that I’ve signed up for the Becoming an Outdoorswoman course. It’s a weekend course where I’ll be learning stuff like archery, wilderness survival, and foraging. Not to mention the whole part about sleeping through the night in a bed all to myself…
Take on a physical challenge
Speaking of surrender: my physical challenge this year doesn’t consist of any races or major excursion. As a mama of two young kids who has just returned to work, my challenge is simply to keep moving my body at the top of my priority list as often as possible. So far, this has meant that I have worked hard to incorporate it into my daily routine. We bought a double bike trailer so I can trundle the kids to daycare and then myself to work under my own steam, and I work right next to a pool and one of the best road biking circuits in the province, so I bring my suit or my bike and pop out at noon whenever I can.
Do something that scares me
Here’s some real talk: this year, I’m tired of things that scare me. I think I’m going to take a break. In 2015, I started my own business, and I get plenty of everything that scares me on the daily. That being said, venturing back into adventure after my childbearing year can be a scary thing in and of itself. Learning how my body works again and trying some of my favourite pre-kid activities – even just taking a few hours to myself – can feel like quite the undertaking. If I’ve learned nothing as an adventure mama (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again!): there’s a season to everything. Who knows what next year will hold? I’m crossing my fingers for a solo weekend bike or paddling trip. I think it’s time!
Your turn!
How are you adventuring this year? What does this season of your life look like when it comes to adventure?