If you know me, you know I'm not an especially adventurous person. I'm terrified of heights (ask my mom about being at the top of the Empire State building in NYC- she loves to tell that story). I typically won't eat something if I don't know what's in it (half because of being a vegetarian, half because that's frightening). Being startled makes me cry and hyperventilate (and sometimes laugh at the same time depending on the circumstances). I truly admire those who are adventurous and get excited about jumping out of airplanes, or eating things that look funny or travel the world with nothing more than what they have on their back. And I want to be that person in so many ways.
And I do try.
I recently went to my first cycling class- something I've wanted to do for so long but has been so intimidating. I've now gone to 3 classes. I promised myself I would go to 5 and then evaluate if I wanted to continue going... and I think I just might.
I've been working hard at minimizing the amount of possessions I have-- what do I need? Focusing on quality of what I have and not quantity. Granted, I still have a lot of stuff but I consciously think about minimizing on a daily basis (I just need to be better at getting it out of here once I've made that decision).
But for me, the biggest adventure I've ever made is when I left everything and everyone I knew and relocated from Ohio to Greensboro to start graduate school. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but a lot of people who are from Ohio stay in Ohio. And while I love my family, I always knew Ohio wasn't the place for me. But that doesn't mean that change was easy. There were intense moments of loneliness and occasional panic of 'oh my god- what did I do?' But here's the best part--- there were SO many more moments of pride and thinking 'I did it.' I haven't had one moment of regret with my moves to Greensboro, Tuscaloosa or Raleigh.
This isn't to say there aren't moments I wish I didn't closer to my friends as they get married and have babies. It's hard to only see them and their little ones maybe twice a year, and to just be 'Mommy's friend' when I see them rather than 'Auntie JC'. Or when something goes awry at home (like when Mom fell and broke both of her elbows) that it's easy being a day's drive and not being able to get to my parents quickly to help. But regardless of those tough moments, I'm proud of the courage I've taken and had all these years and being a strong independent woman who's made a go of a life path on her own.
Now, to reveal a little of the nerd in me, one of my favorite quotes by JRR Tolkien. The first two lines really speak to me and how I approach my sense of adventure--it may not be adventurous to everyone, but my life is an adventure to me.
“All that is gold does not glitter,
And I do try.
I recently went to my first cycling class- something I've wanted to do for so long but has been so intimidating. I've now gone to 3 classes. I promised myself I would go to 5 and then evaluate if I wanted to continue going... and I think I just might.
I've been working hard at minimizing the amount of possessions I have-- what do I need? Focusing on quality of what I have and not quantity. Granted, I still have a lot of stuff but I consciously think about minimizing on a daily basis (I just need to be better at getting it out of here once I've made that decision).
But for me, the biggest adventure I've ever made is when I left everything and everyone I knew and relocated from Ohio to Greensboro to start graduate school. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but a lot of people who are from Ohio stay in Ohio. And while I love my family, I always knew Ohio wasn't the place for me. But that doesn't mean that change was easy. There were intense moments of loneliness and occasional panic of 'oh my god- what did I do?' But here's the best part--- there were SO many more moments of pride and thinking 'I did it.' I haven't had one moment of regret with my moves to Greensboro, Tuscaloosa or Raleigh.
This isn't to say there aren't moments I wish I didn't closer to my friends as they get married and have babies. It's hard to only see them and their little ones maybe twice a year, and to just be 'Mommy's friend' when I see them rather than 'Auntie JC'. Or when something goes awry at home (like when Mom fell and broke both of her elbows) that it's easy being a day's drive and not being able to get to my parents quickly to help. But regardless of those tough moments, I'm proud of the courage I've taken and had all these years and being a strong independent woman who's made a go of a life path on her own.
Now, to reveal a little of the nerd in me, one of my favorite quotes by JRR Tolkien. The first two lines really speak to me and how I approach my sense of adventure--it may not be adventurous to everyone, but my life is an adventure to me.
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