This Post Grad Life: Expand Your Adventurous Side

By Brittany

After becoming a flight attendant, I’ve learned a little bit of something about spontaneous adventure.  In one week, I spent half a day in Jamaica (bought Roasted Ground coffee and coconut rum candies), I explored nearly every edge of New York City (found a killer pizza parlor, took mock pictures at Tiffany’s and ate cookies from Bouchon Bakery) and I sunbathed next to a clear pool in Florida while sending Twit-Pics of the palm tree-clad view.

I’ve learned a lot about myself through all of this exploring. I’ve learned that I love not knowing what I’m going to be doing next week. I’ve learned that I love taking photos of new things at different angles and color schemes. I’ve learned that I love hotel beds and being alone for at least an hour a day. I’ve learned that I will ask for help if I need it. Or directions.

That being said, adventure brews learning opportunities. Duh, pretty standard and obvious statement of the decade right? Wrong.  I bet you’re thinking; “Well, you travel for your JOB. It’s easy to explore and learn more about yourself!”

But it’s easy for everyone to learn through casual experimentation. I am willing to believe it’s the best way to understand who you are and what you want in life.  Exploring can go as far as trying out a new restaurant or walking a different sidewalk down the street to work. Exploring is going a little bit out of your comfort zone to discover something new. And in turn, you will learn more about yourself. What a win-win! Explore new food groups, new bands, new bars, new friends. New adventures are right at your finger tips — it just takes that extra boost to get there (or will require putting shoes on or taking a shower beforehand).

Trying new things creates brand new stories for you to tell. Spontaneous adventures (even if you just spending a Sunday baking when you never have before) build your character and give you depth. I think of it like stretching out a plastic bag. The more experience you shove in, the longer it stretches and the more experiences you can fit inside. Obviously this bag would never break.

I’m the biggest homebody in the human race. If it was up to me, I would sit at home all day and drink hot lemon water and write in my diary. But after getting out more, seeing the world a different way and documenting every moment…I feel refreshed. Every time I try something new, I feel like a re-charged battery. And there’s nothin’ better than that.