My Best Adventure (and 2021) Advice

A couple of years ago I was asked: What advice would you give someone who is considering an adventure? 

A year after I wrote my answer I realized my best advice extends well beyond the realm of adventure and travel. Finite experiences like backpacking, road trips, pilgrimages - are not separate from the greater context of life. The insights we form during these unique times are just as true in regular, everyday life too. Perhaps this has been my greatest realization to date: the basis for wholehearted adventure is also the basis for wholehearted living. 

The key to my advice centers around intention, trust, and flexibility. 

Intention

Set a clear intention for what you’re looking to get out of your time. Write it down and keep it in mind, especially when challenges appear. Mine was to encounter the people and circumstances that enable me to grow. (By the way, this still continues to be my intention!)

Trust

1. Trust in your own timing. 

Allow each experience to run its natural course without setting a time limit. Know that you’ll feel it when you’re ready for change.

My ticket to Spain was one way. I had no idea how long completing the Camino de Santiago would take nor if it was really for me. I wanted the flexibility to make it last as long or as short as I needed it to be. 

My road trip was 100% open ended. I set the bar low and hoped to make it to Portland from Sacramento. That’s as far as I planned. It turned into 11 weeks, but for all I knew it could have been 5 days or 4 months. I regularly checked in with myself to see if this was still for me. During the 11th week, without any warning, I knew it was time to end the road trip. That same day I drove 13 hours from Utah to San Diego.  

2. Trust Yourself to Know What’s Next. 

Trust that as you feel the experience you’re having is coming to a close, you’ll know what is next. 

When I was doing the road trip I had no idea what would be next. Nor did I think it was wise to devote time to anything other than the current experience. The day my road trip ended I knew it was time to go to Hungary. 

3. Trust in Life to Provide You with Resources

Trust that Life will provide you with the resources you need when you need them. This can come in the form of people, technology, books - anything. Just get started with a small step, even if it is unclear how the rest will unfold.

As I mentioned I planned the Sacramento to Portland leg of the trip - I knew where I would sleep, where I would hike...any detail you can think of I planned ahead (because I was terrified). When I left I thought even if I wanted to go past Portland I likely couldn’t because I’d never have the time to plan the next days (those 5 days of road trip took me a week to plan!!). I almost didn’t leave my house because I just didn’t see it working out. 

But last minute, to my own surprise, I left. I let myself know getting to Portland was already a success and I’d have the decision to go on or not from there. During the 5 days to Portland I met people, I was introduced to appropriate camping gear, I was given travel tips, I was shown technology that made it possible to “just go” and not plan ahead (kampnik, parkadvisor, alltrails). I could not have possibly factored these resources into my calculations before I took the first step to actually leave my house. Be comfortable with not knowing how you’ll move past the initial step. By taking the first step the second will reveal itself and so on. All the steps do not need to be clear in order for you to take the first.

Remain Open to Change

Switch plans when you see something is better aligned with what you need than what you initially thought. 

Before I had my last day of work I was convinced I’d go backpacking in South America. While searching for flights I happened to listen to a Paulo Coelho interview where he talked about the Camino de Santiago. I also happened to get a gift from a friend for Christmas that was a travel memoir about 3 pilgrimages. I realized a Pilgrimage was much better aligned with what I needed at that time than a backpacking trip. 

At the end of the day it is your dedicated time - feel free to change your mind and go with what best aligns. (Even when you already told the whole world you’re doing X, don’t feel obligated to stick to it. Go for Y). These experiences are first and foremost for your own growth so don’t worry about other people’s expectations.

Don’t get attached

Be open. Don’t get attached. Things will turn out great even if they go differently than you hoped. 

I saw a nice campground and went for it. As I circled the available sites my eye caught number 9 - waterfront & secluded, ideal in a nutshell. When I went to register it turned out the site was reserved, the sign just wasn’t posted. Disappointed, I settled for 21 - not waterfront and cramped. I set up my tent, fiddled with dinner, and walked down to the shore for my meal. To my surprise, I was greeted by a rainbow. As I ate my cous cous the sun started to set - stunning shades of pinks and purples set over the sky and reflected in the water, all the while the rainbow remained in position. Never in my life have I seen anything like it. Site 21 happened to face west, site 9 faced east. Had I gotten “my way” I would have faced away from the sunset, never having known what I missed.