the list of exploring (part one)

Hey, you’re still reading. Good, that’s what I like about you: eager to explore where my mumblings might lead you. That brings me to the first category: explore.

But before I give you the list, please use this rule above everything else: Communicate.

Tell everybody about your plans. Ask them if they can help (or want to join in), hell: why not inspire them yourself? The more the merrier. Because people are the key, you’ll discover that in my second list (people). But that will only be published within a few days. First:

EXPLORE (part one)

1)      Visit a new place every week
This might seem tricky at first, but it doesn’t have to be something completely new: it can be a nearby town you haven’t been to, or even a snack bar, a pub, or a store you always passed by. Why not even a new hairdresser? But before you try out that dubious Mohawk, just remember to KISS at first (Keep It Simple, Stupid). When you get the hang of it, more opportunities will rise. It’s all about bringing down the threshold. So why not go to a friend’s place for the first time, or walk down the road you normally don’t take when going to work.   

2)      Go for a new experience every month
If you want, this can be the same as the previous tip. But, there is a small difference: the previous trick is about discovering new places, while this tip as all about new experiences. And believe me: there are many. Talk with your friends and family: they all have hobbies, things you can’t even imagine. Ask if you can join in for one day. But beware, you might start liking it. For example: I never thought any of my acquaintances could be a blacksmith. And still there it hangs on my wall: a hand-crafted knife. Made it myself, with a lot of help from others, of course. So please stop using the ‘I don’t have time now’, or ‘I’m not in the mood today’. If you want it you’ll find a way, if not, you’ll find an excuse.   

Okay, all warmed up for the real exploring? Here’s a good one. 

3) Get a (small) backpack and start walking into the unknown.
Again: just go down a road you haven’t gone down before. When evening falls, find a couch to sleep on or take a bus back home. Or just call a friend to pick you up and have a drink. He/she might be curious what braught you to that god forsaken town in the first place. 

Walking is good for building up stamina and allows you to discover new places.  By walking instead of driving, your pace is slower. This allows you to see more details and perhaps you can even spot rare opportunities. As for the backpack: I noticed that some people react pleasantly different when they see a fellow person backpacking. Just remember to keep your luggage light: at the first kilometers you might not mind the entire collection of twilight books weighing down in your backpack, but after a while…

4)      So throw away stuff.

Your baggage holds you down and prevents you from being mobile. Implement this not only for the sake of a backpack, but all the stuff you drag along. Physically and emotionally. The lighter you walk this earth, the more freedom you’ll experience.

5)       When feeling down, do something amazing or meet with someone interesting.

I admit this is a hard one. When melancholy hits; most of us just want to crawl into a dark corner and wait until it is time to go to bed. Please, humor me. Try it and think ‘well my day can’t get any worse, might as well give it a go.’  Okay it might not work every time, but hey, at least you tried. And what if it does work? It could brighten your day instantly.

6)      Eat something new, challenge the waiter/chef. 

We like to have a little routine in our feeding patterns. Spaghetti on Friday, fries on Sunday, cat food on Tuesday, and leftovers every day in between. Even in a restaurant most of us tend to go for the safe choices. But why not ask the waiter: “hey, I have never heard about that thing, what is it?” 

Or when the chef tells you his suggestion ask him to make it his best creation yet. You will be amazed which flavors will unveil themselves. Some might take time to get used to, while others will stick to your taste buds and never let go. And yes, there will probably be some gagging once and a while. Believe me, people still tell stories about the time I turned green after eating things that should not be. But I can tell you, I have also tasted delicacies fit for a king. Hum… speaking of kings, it might be handy to ask for the price before challenging the chef. It’s downright surprising how expensive ten grams of culinary challenge can be.  

How about a breather? You have been staring at this screen quite a while now. Next post I’ll give you the second part of the list.