Say yes to adventure

A survival guide of bits and pieces that serve me, and help me make sense of life.

"Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Do not be afraid."
- Frederick Buechner

“Do what you can with what you have where you are" -Teddy Roosevelt

Over-prepare and then go with the flow

Do your research, study maps, look over the airport floor-plan; pack your duct tape, keep a pen handy, learn a self-defense move or two, carry mace sometimes, walk with confidence. And then cast off cares, trust God, laugh at the days ahead; find adventure in the unexpected, allow yourself spontaneity, and roll with it.

Do hard things

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."
-- Winston Churchill.
Be strong.
Be daring.
Do the right thing, big or small, because it's right.
"You won't always be the strongest or the fastest, but you can be the toughest."


Keep busy

It is easy for me to become complacent, sedentary. But I often have a busy mind. As well as exercising my mental faculties, I find it important to find ways to work with my own hands. Whether that is a creative project, washing dishes, jiggling a baby, painting a wall, digging in the garden...

"You are a woman with a brain and reasonable ability. Stop whining and find something to do."
--Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey


Rest

“You will find it necessary to let things go, simply for the reason that they are heavy”

Sometimes really the best thing you can do is to let go, relax, and allow yourself to reboot.

"The universe rolls on its own, why get out and push?" -Dinozzo

Some of my favorite ways to unwind are:

taking a walk

taking a very hot shower--excellent for thinking

making a large cup of hot tea 'just the thing to heal the synapses'

finding a solitary corner in which to do absolutely nothing

reading a good murder mystery or the letters of C.S. Lewis

watching something delightful like 'The Tourist'

laying on my back in bed, with headphones on, letting the music pour over me

Food is important

'Never turn down tea if it’s offered. It’s impolite and that’s how wars start.’ -- Doctor

Lime and salt fix everything. Also, sitting down to dinner can be the most cheering, peaceful part of a busy day sometimes. Leafy greens really do make a difference for me in energy and wellbeing. And don't forget: chocolate makes the world go round.

Get out more

Sometimes you need to go out of your normal routine. Whether you are able to travel, or can only take a few hours to get lost in a park, getting away can be essential for mental clarity, creative juices, and expanding your field of knowledge and familiarity.

And the principal can be used with your daily routine as well. Whether it's what you're eating, or reading, or thinking about, don't forget to try something new here and there. Ever tried Greek food? Read a sonnet? Played chess or sudoku? Tried yoga? Origami? Care to learn semaphore? Self-defense? Knot-tying?

Or perhaps you want to make your own masala chai. Here's an excellent recipe I've found.

Which country would you backpack across if you had the chance?

Every listened to chiptune? aivi and surashu are my favorite.

Who's your favorite painter? Study a few and find out.

Admit when you don't know

It really is much easier than pretending, and you actually end up looking smarter in the long run. It's harder to admit when you're wrong, but that's important too.


Love people

And give the benefit of the doubt. Don't look for excuses to judge others, and don't assume that you know. Love, serve. Analyze if you want to, but pray, give and let go.
'We are not free if we can't give freely' -Christa Wells

“Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live,”