Magic is when things are not as they seem. You are actually tricking the brain into a new and different experience. The micro-experience are the everyday moments that pass us by. If we can learn to create opportunities for magic moments by tricking our brain, we are taking the first step towards connecting through adventure.
How to create the conditions for serendipitous adventure experiences?
In Episode 3, starting with your authentic self, When I talked with Trina she revealed that some of her greatest adventures happened when she was lazy, which means she has an opportunity to be intentional about creating the conditions for serendipitous adventure experiences
You might begin to realize that our thoughts are truly the starting point of many of our experiences. Given that, I want to offer some ways to frame your mindset around what the first steps might look like.
- Changing locations
- Fun First
- I wonder….
- unexpected/ unplanned
One of the unique elements of Ordinary Sherpa is the tribe of Sherpas who are offering insights, and suggestions. You don’t have to figure it out, you don’t have to get it right (what is right, anyway?). Part of the intention of Ordinary Sherpa is the Sherpa Philosophy that we can learn from those a few steps ahead of us and feel supported in reaching our version of an adventure summit. I asked the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook group for some of their simple adventure experiences and they shared some of the following examples:
Lisa: So not sure if this would qualify as an adventure, but my dad did something super cool when we were young that I always remembered. He would wake us up in the middle of the night (probably really like 9pm, but felt much later at the time) to take us on an adventure. One time he took us to a local carnival, another time it was a drive in movie, and once I remember we went to look at Christmas lights. Nothing expensive or far, but there was just something so magical about being half asleep and being whisked out bed to do something fun. It felt so exciting! My dad was amazing that way… 
Dawn: One intentional thing I like to do is meet people along the journey and get their advice on where to go and what to see if they’re local or even tourists and what they’ve enjoyed the most on their trip. This approach has helped me and my girlfriends discover a salsa club in Manhattan & Russian/Turkish bathhouse in Greenwich Village. They are the best memories from our NYC trip.
Tony: Star Watching. Eye’s only, telescope, using a phone app where the constellation lines appear. Hot chocolate with Milky Way bars. (the element of Fun first…milky way bars and hot chocolate at night!)
Reframe Expectations:
When you are planning a trip, what are the minimum requirements of planning? We are embracing slow travel and more simplistic lifestyle. Some of our favorite adventures come from the concept of a mystery trip, ask a stranger, one person decides the next stop. We. often put a kid in charge giving 2 options.
In daily life it’s often turning a workout into an adventure. How might we take a different hike. This year I did a 5K weekly challenge. It didn’t matter where or how I did it, but the intention was that I do a minimum of a 5K each week. It has been motivating as I now don’t want to break the streak!
To offer some perspective, I once was a summer camp counselor. We let the campers plan a portion of their weekly activities. During a brainstorming session someone suggested “Deep sea diving.” While that might not align with our liability coverage for 9 YO campers, when we asked more questions about what that might look like it was simply rowing a boat to the middle of the lake, jumping off with life jackets and swimming back in.
We also like to utilize Brown Sign Adventures: Road trips, state and county highlights (historical, parks, beach, etc.) Why is this place special?
When we begin to notice and take note and explore from a place of curiosity the world of opportunities opens up to us and the adventures are all around. It doesn’t have to be hard.
We create a Seasonal Adventure List. Each season we engage the family to suggest things they want to experience. It might be inspired by something they are learning about or just something they have wondered or seen and want to explore. One example for us was geocaching. We put it on the list. We also use this list to create a unique travel experience too.
Better yet- have someone else make the list. I am super excited to announce that Ordinary Sherpa is partnering with The Adventure Challenge. They have curated a family adventure challenge. We purchased the family adventure Challenge book (they also have a couples and friends version) and I will say it has all the magic baked into it. …..element of mystery, unexpected, no planning, and gives you the structure to just do it!
Adventure to-go bags
- Swim bag
- Travel bag
- Camping bin
- Kids carry ons
There is no wrong first step…the only thing you could do wrong is do nothing!
Tools to help take action on the content of this episode:
My book Beyond Normal: A field guide to embrace adventure, explore the wilderness, and design an extraordinary life with kids available on my website or via Amazon.
The Adventure Challenge: We purchased the Family Adventure Challenge. They also have Couples and Friends editions. You can use ORDINARYSHERPA for a 10% discount at checkout. *We are an affiliate for The Adventure Challenge so if you use the link or our coupon code and make a purchase we get a small commission for the referral. If you use the coupon code you get a discount.