“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.”

-Rosalia de Castro

I wasn’t always so big on change, although I like to think I’ve always handled it well – I just need time to process the event that will be altering my comfy safe place. I think all the experiences that I’ve gone through in my life have given me a realist, yet optimistic perspective that I hold today. Honestly, if asked to put that perspective into words, I would fail miserably and probably repeat myself a lot. However, I do know that I’ve grown imeasureably in the last several years.  

I think the major turning point for me was when Drew was born. Suddenly, I wanted him to experience everything and I wanted to tag along and teach him about it all.  I used to be perfectly content coming home and hanging out on the couch, watching tv, or shopping. Now, while I still enjoy a healthy dose of the boob tube and new shoes, I get antsy and feel like the walls are closing in on me if it’s been more than a day and really, sometimes a morning!

To a small child the slightest thing is incredible and amazing. I remember clearly Drew’s fascination with balloons in the beginning, so why wouldn’t I expand on that and take him to a hot air balloon festival? Or his little hands exploring colors and how they change when mixed together, so why wouldn’t I take him to an art museum.  You see, to me age is not important when it comes to introducing things, I just do it as it comes up, naturally, which in turn creates more curiosity in the both of us.

In the past few years I have had more adventures than I can count, and I’m so thankful to have had my camera along the way.  I’ve made the best of every situation handed to me and I’ve tried to find the fun and humor in them all. Every one of them good or bad, large or small, deliberate or not, they have all been new adventures. 

I sit here tonight with a lot on my mind, considering the many things we are about to embark on, and I’m so excited. Nervous and a little overwhelmed, yes, but mostly excited. I know in the coming months we will be traveling quite a bit for many different reasons. Traveling as a family and with friends has given me a reason to fall in love with the road trip once again. Is it always the convenient method of travel? Of course not, but oh, the stories that come out of each one….they’re truly priceless! Right, girls? It’s given us an escape, gotta love the girls’ trips!

So, my challenge to you, whoever you may be, is to break out your maps, pick up the brochures, and plot your course for your 2011 adventures. Make mini day trips or stretch them out into longer vacations. Head to an old flea market or visit a state park, whatever it is, just do it. Please don’t wait until everyone can make it, please don’t say you’ve done everything there is to do around you, please stop making excuses!!!

Enjoy your life, you only get one, so fill it with deliberate adventures, since you know you can’t control the other kind. So, there you go, my view on new adventures!

“We should come home from adventures, and perils, and discoveries every day with new experience and character.”

-Thoreau

~Melissa