Looking Forward to New Adventures | Sara Biren

 

When asked to try something new and write about it for this month’s theme, I wasn’t sure what direction to take. The other night, for example, I tried mussels for the first time at an oceanside restaurant in San Diego, a city that before this week, I had never visited. Does that count? Or should I aim higher, such as skydiving (pass) or getting my first tattoo (something I’ve wanted to do for years)?

The truth is, I approach every day as a day to try something new. I don’t, not every day. Most days are routine: Get up, drive my daughter to school, work, pick up my daughter at school, drive to dance. Some days, though, I go somewhere or try something new. The new coffee shop that opened downtown. A new cheese. A new recipe.

In the summer of 2022, two years after moving from Minnesota to Wisconsin at the height of the pandemic, I decided to challenge myself to get out of the house more and explore the area. During the month of August, I hiked every day, never repeating the same segment of the same trail. I not only moved muscles I hadn’t used in a while, I rediscovered my love for hiking and discovered many new, amazing trails and sights. I hiked 31 different trails. I went to places people who have lived here their whole lives have never visited. I spent a lot of time on the Ice Age Trail, a National Scenic Trail that covers 1,200 miles from one end of Wisconsin to the other.

By the end of the month, I physically and emotionally felt better than I had in a long time, even with a frustrating knee issue. I loved getting out in nature, in the woods and on the beaches of Lake Michigan. I loved researching and deciding which trail I would hike the following day. I loved having something to look forward to every day.

And that, I think, is what I want to share here. Yes, it’s important to try new things, explore new places—if that fits with your personality, your preferences, and your lifestyle. If not, that’s okay, too. But having something to look forward to—new or not—goes a long way.

What are you looking forward to this week, this month, this year? For me, there’s a lot: dinner at a supper club when my son comes home from college for the weekend. NFL Wild Card Weekend (Go Bills). Watching my daughter dance at halftime of a Milwaukee Bucks game in April. Seeing Billy Joel in concert with Stevie Nicks in November.

And this year, I’ve joined the 52 Hike Challenge, completing a hike a week. The first week of the year, I returned to one of favorite trails. This week, I explored a trail in San Diego. Next week? I haven’t decided yet. But I know that I’m looking forward to it.

You gotta have something to look forward to.