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I just got a text from a friend of mine. It said, “What adventure are you on now?”
That got me thinking. It’s been one year since my epic road trip, and I’ve felt the need to do something exciting again.
It’s finding what that something is that is the challenging part.
Then again, something about the unknown gets the blood flowing. Whether venturing out into new neighborhoods to explore or embarking on a grand expedition abroad, people are constantly looking for their next adventure.
Today, we will try and find out what our next adventure will be.
Longing for the road
Like most people, you probably have a romanticized vision of the open road in your head.
You might imagine yourself cruising down a quiet country lane, the wind in your hair. Or maybe you see yourself speeding down the highway, the miles flying by until you reach your destination.
I have enjoyed the feeling of freedom that comes with driving for hours without worrying about anything. There is something about the open road that is undeniably appealing.
In reality, traveling on the open road can be more complicated than either of those visions would lead you to believe.
If you happen to be in California, you also deal with gas prices (I just filled up the Rav, which was $5.89 a gallon).
The unexpected text message reminded me that we all need to have an adventure in our lives.
For some, it’s the open road, a tropical vacation, a hike in the mountains, or a picnic with loved ones.
The most important part of finding your adventure is to plan time. You want to be on your own schedule and be present at the moment.
Finding these moments can be tricky but not impossible.
Finding The Time
Most would agree the most challenging thing about planning an adventure is taking time off work.
Maybe you feel bad when you take time off, add work to others, or think the job won’t work without you.
Something I’ve been looking at is what I have put off because of work. I realized it’s A LOT, and I’m sure you do too.
One thing is for sure. You don’t want to wait till you’re retired to do the adventures you want to do. The simple truth is that if you wait that long, you might be unable to.
Let’s face it. Only two things are guaranteed in life, like the beer I love, Death and Taxes.
Remember, you do not need to go on an epic adventure to get away. You should NEVER go into debt for a vacation.
To fix the issue of savings, start putting a little away every day, or create a side hustle so you can go on your next adventure without the cloud of debt hanging above you.
It’s been a YEAR!
If you don’t already know, I did just this last year. After saving up, I took a month off work, unpaid, for the epic road trip I mentioned above.
This was the first time I had time off of this length, and now that it has been a year, I find I’m itching to get back on the road.
Don’t get me wrong, visiting with friends, seeing family, taking long hot showers (or cold showers), having a clean bathroom, and knowing where I’m sleeping are amazing. But I still find myself longing to go back out.
Have you ever felt so strongly about something that you can’t think about anything else?
If so, you, too, need to start planning your next adventure!
It’s Time For An Adventure
The takeaway here is that everyone needs to take a break occasionally.
Maybe you need a break from your job, or perhaps you need to get away and enjoy life. There are so many things to see and do in the world. If you don’t get out, you could miss out on some life-changing experiences.
For a quick day adventure, find out what are the things you can do in your city.
Maybe an afternoon at the park, going on a bike ride, hiking, or pretending you are visiting your city for the first time (what would you do, where would you go, what food looks the best?).
It is important to find time for yourself. This can be done by setting aside time each day to do something that you enjoy or taking a break from work to relax.
Taking care of yourself will help you stay focused and productive during the day.
Now, It’s Your Turn
Leave a comment below with what your next adventure will be!
You are so right … we all need to get away and recharge.
I like your suggestion/reminder that it does not have to be an EPIC adventure [although those are … well, Epic].
Small day activities are fun too. One time I took a city tour of a place that I lived. It was great fun! There are so many things we are not aware of in our own locations.
It has been great to watch you transform your life from working all the time [12+ hour shifts with rare days off] to making happiness a priority. That said, I want your readers to know that you are financially responsible and continue to work. Which brings up another good point you made: Do not go into debt for vacations. That will have the opposite effect you are needing. It is best to budget ahead of time so you can completely relax and find pleasure in the experience.
Anything you do “away” from your daily grind is good. Take a walk in the park, take your lunch outside, or take a weekend trip.
Changing my own life over the last two years has been incredible. I loved my old job (well, most of it) but having the ability to get regular whole night rest, not much stress, and reconnect with friends has been amazing.
One thing I’ve been learning is that finances are sort of fun. But the big thing is to NEVER GO BACK INTO DEBT (or if you’re in debt, to get out of it). Make a plan and stick with it. If you have to decide on a local trip that you can pay 100% for, or a Europe trip that you go into debt, choose the local. Start saving so you can go to Europe.
Speaking of that, I just noticed the US dollar and Euro are the same! I can’t remember the last time that happened. So that means our dollar would go further over there, just saying.