A favorite question I ask clients is a simple one. Complete this sentence. “Life is a ……….”

I have heard all kinds of answers.

Life is a circus. Life is a trip. Life is a jungle. Life is a journey. Life is a battlefield. Life is a gift. Life is a novel. Life is a fairy tale. Life is a process. Life is a minefield. Life is a symphony. Life is a soap opera. Life is a beast. Life is a blessing.

My own answer has always been “life is an adventure.” The www.die.net definition of adventure is:

For me, all of that is true. I am a risk taker, I look for excitement and I have been known to gamble. I am looking for a favorable outcome. It works! Life is an adventure!

What benefits do I get from an adventurous outlook? Opportunities lie at every turn in the road. An acquintance is a travel companion on my next journey. My own city is a treasure trove of new discoveries. People I meet tell me about gardens I didn’t know existed and wine festivals that are not to be missed. I never know what will happen next, and I like it that way!

A favorite memory occurred when I was visiting Heidleburg, Germany a few years ago. I was scheduled to jump on a train and continue my exploration of Frankfurt, solo. Conny, a new friend, invited me to return with her to Munich and attend her high school reunion. Turning sails on the south-bound Autobahn, we had a 24-hour whirlwind adventure. I spoke no German and my hosts spoke minimal broken english. We had a blast, literally, using music as a bridge between cultures and understanding. E-mails, years later, share current news and relationship ups and downs.

Is an adventurous spirit born or made? I would argue adventuring is a skill that can be learned. A few good experiences and even the hard-shelled skeptic is cracking. Perhaps those first few tries involve starting a little smaller than spontaneous trips hundreds of miles off course; here are a few of my ideas to enjoy a new adventure every day:

1. Talk to the person in line behind you at the grocery store. Find out their answer to “life is a…..”

2. Jump in your car and start driving. Alternate turning right then left, and see where you end up (you can always get back home by turning left, then right!)

3. Subscribe to an email newsletter from another city. I like Daily Candy’s updates which arrive daily from NYC, Chicago, London….www.dailycandy.com or visit the website of a country you want to visit.

4. Go to the beach on the spur of the moment. Take lots of sunscreen.

5. Say yes to social invitations even if you don’t know anyone attending the party.

6. Park and enter your workplace from the opposite side of the building.

7. Walk your dog in a new park or lake. Let your dog hang out for awhile and see who you meet.

8. Take a beginner’s dance class. Or a group fitness class that looks a little intimidating.

9. Ask a friend to loan you her favorite book. Don’t reject it when you hear what it is.

10. Clean out a closet that you have neglected for a year. When did you buy that sweater?

11. Go on a scavenger hunt. Chase down interesting links on the internet.

12. Leave your house determined to give away $20 to a good cause.

13. Take a trip. Anywhere. Send lots of postcards and gloat about what a great time you are having!

14. Create a picture of what an adventurous life looks like. Paint it, crayon it, collage it.

15. Join a group of enthusiasts of a subject about which you know nothing. Admit it. You will learn!

16. Invite someone you barely know to catch a movie or grab dinner.

17. Try a new cuisine that seems mysterious and slightly dangerous. Be open to new tastes.

18. Say YES five times a day, even when your gremlins tell you NO!

19. Get involved in your community. Volunteer for a good cause. Help run a fund raising event.

20. Take a class totally unrelated to your job. Don’t worry about if it will help you later.

Happy Trails!

Susan, Adventure Coach