When was the Last Time You Did Something New?

When was the last time you’ve experienced something new? Done something you’ve never done before or gone somewhere you’ve never been before?

When was the last time you’ve really taken the time to take it in, to really experience what it feels like to do something new or be somewhere new?

I have - a lot lately.  And I’ve come to realise how powerful, humbling and inspiring it is. And I’m going to challenge you to find out for yourself.

I’m a creature of habit. Up until I started the vanlife a few months ago, I would get up around the same time every day, I would take the same ferry to work, sit at the same desk all day, eat the same for lunch, and then go back home to the same place. On weekends I would see the same people and go to the same spots to surf or kitesurf.

You might think that sounds boring, but I liked it that way. I didn’t feel like I was in some kind of trot. I like my routines and traditions, I like spending time with people I know well and I like going to familiar place. It feels comfortable. And even though I live in a van now and every day is different, I still have my routines that give me comfort.

However, not surprisingly, there have also been a lot of new experiences, places and situations. And I’ve come to realise how powerful and inspiring that is.

One of my favourite parts of the vanlife is that I get to explore new places all the time. Every time I go somewhere new I get this feeling of excitement. I feel super energised, alert, curious and grateful for being there. It makes me feel humble because it reminds me how big the world is and how many places there are still to discover – even in a small country like New Zealand. It often gives me new levels of clarity around issues I’ve been thinking about and it often helps to put things into perspective for me.

It’s hard to describe the feeling and the inspiration I get from experiencing new place. All I know is that it’s amazing!

So today I’m going to challenge you to do the same.

I know not everyone can (or wants to) move into a van and explore new places all the time. But most of you should be able to set aside a day or even just a few hours to go on a little adventure.

Go somewhere that excites you. For me that’s nature. I don’t need more than a beautiful beach, a hill to climb or just a remote narrow road to drive along to feel excitement. But maybe for you it’s art, so go to a gallery you’ve never been to. Or maybe you’re really interested in history so go to a museum or a historic place you haven’t visited before. Maybe you love music so go listen to a band you’ve never heard at a venue you’ve never been to. Go to a new restaurant and order something you’ve never had before, go on a roadtrip to somewhere you’ve never been. The possibilities are endless… Just make sure you pick something that excites you.

Sounds fun? Well, here comes the hard part (for some of you). Go do it on your own! That’s not a must do but I highly recommend it for two simple reasons; Firstly, if you’re with someone familiar it won’t feel as new and exciting and secondly, you will probably be caught up in conversations and won’t be able to really take in the experience and all the newness. But if doing something like this on your own feels super uncomfortable or maybe even scary, then take someone with you (but maybe keep conversations to a minimum).

Go on a solo adventure to somewhere you’ve never been to before. Really take it in. Take time to experience the excitement, inspiration and whatever other feelings is provokes in you. Take time to just sit down for a while and feel it, appreciate it.

I encourage you to write about it, either during your adventure or right after. Write about what you experienced and how it made you feel. Writing is often a way to experience things at a deeper level because it forces us to slow down and think about what we want to write down. And it’s also a great way to make sure you remember the moment. You don’t need to write a novel. Just a few sentence or even just words or bullet point. Just write whatever is on your mind.

And then maybe, if you want to, share it with me. I would love to read about your ‘do something new experiences’.

So, what are you going to do on your adventure?

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