Adventure, an explorers heroine, city dwellers escape and an adult's nature-fuelled playground. I could be wrong, but I'm sure that if I were to offer you folk the opportunity to experience an unknown land of beauty and wonder, you would lap it up like a thirsty dog. Yet, our lives (and wallets) often leave us between a rock and a hard sofa. This makes it seem like adventure is only available in the images produced by others, observed through our digital handheld prison windows.
This is where our unsung hero comes in to play. The Robin to our Batman, The DC to our Marvel, Bear Grylls to our Ray Mears, I present the Mini-Adventure. To some, it is their first surf, to others, a new local spot never ventured. For me, these words came to me on a day out in a familiar coppice, with my nephews. Observing the simplicity of their adventure, the awe in their wide eyes and gymnastics over logs and benches. It made me realise that no matter where they are, they would react in the same manner. I have no doubt they had been to these woods a million times, yet acted like it was like their first time. It was truly an adventure for them.
This experience enlightened me. Not in the spiritual sense, but in an inspiring me to be creative, way. That was when I realised what an essential superpower the mini-adventure held. For the creative individual, we often have occasions where the river of our productive flow, gets blocked by a dam or real-world problems, anxiety or such. This particular occasion reopened the tide of imagination I required, making me want to write and photograph again. Watching these kids run around and enjoy commonplace arena like it was brand new, made me understand the simplicity of allowing our inner child to experience places we have grown accustomed to, with a fresh perspective and how easy it is for us to all have adventures on our doorstep.
I'm not saying that they should or could replace those ‘big adventures,’ but I am saying that they will do you a world of good. It is effortless to get caught up in our everyday lives, waiting for that holiday of our dreams (and I say this from experience). So now I challenge myself to go on mini-adventures as often as I can. I love to be spontaneous, yet I find that I have to plan these local trips. I plan them because it is too easy to spontaneously stay home and play video games. If a date is in the diary, it is more likely to happen, especially if you get other people involved (adventures are more fun with friends).
So here is me, daring you to go out there, not too far though, and find a few local adventures with your pals. To balance on logs, pick up tiny frogs and bugs, or just lavish in a local view you have been putting off since you moved here. Have little adventures, release your inner child and put yourself out there till its time to travel the world.