“Authenticity is more than speaking; Authenticity is also about doing. Every decision we make says something about who we are”
I decided at the beginning of 2018 I wanted to try to experience 12 new things. They didn’t need to be specific to any genre or meet any quotas for cost or time, they just had to be new to me. I wrote HERE about my midway point and I figured now would be a good time to follow up with the grand finale.
If you’re curious what, specifically I tried:
A Wedding Expo (I know, I know, it was actually very far out of my comfort zone: Sales)
Zip-lining over an Alligator Farm
Riding a dirt bike
Organized a Styled Wedding Shoot with a lot of other Vendors
Bought my dream car
Running 2 Spartan Races
A Midnight Bioluminescent Kayak Tour (With a bonus surprise: Meeting a Manatee!)
Hiking my first 2 sections of the Appalachian Trail totaling 170 miles, 100 of them solo.
Changed the Battery in a Car
Rode a scooter through downtown Raleigh
Began target practice with my new pistol, (previously only shotguns and arrows)
Posed for an artist
Took a class on Indian Weddings
Shared some life experiences with teens at Asheville Alternative High School
All in addition to regular intervals of my favorite adventures like a new tattoos, concerts, camping, paddle boarding, cycling, go karts, new foods and traveling.
All this started when I really owned my personality type (ENFP) and what it means for me. The “driver of my car” so-to-speak is exploration, and my co-pilot is authenticity. I am happiest when I’m on an adventure and when I’m making choices that feel good and true to who I am. Apparently, when following this plan, this is when an ENFP is best able to inspire others, which in turn, makes me feel good and true to who I am which makes me want to go on more adventures. It’s a beautiful circle.
I feel immensely grateful for the never ending supply of new things to try. Adventures and exploration are definitely not for everyone. In fact, to get psychology technical on you, Extraverted Intuition (Exploration) isn’t even IN the cognitive stack of half the population. And only a quarter of people would have it as their driver or co-pilot. So I get it, a lot of people think I’m crazy or reckless or childish or unable to commit to anything, but for those of us who lead with this function and have ever had it stifled by school or family or religion or circumstance or inadvertent choice, you know that it’s the only thing that will ever make you feel alive. So to YOU I would recommend whole heartedly to set your own adventure goal this year and don’t settle for anything less. Life is too short to be stuck living someone else’s dream.
What’s up for next year? I’ll be kicking the year off by driving across the country capturing memories for families across the way, hiking and camping in the Grand Canyon, experiencing Vegas and Mardi Gras and then who knows?!? I’d love to meet an elephant or dolphin; my all time bucket list item is the Aurora Borealis, I’d like to parasail or scuba dive. I’ll definitely hit the A.T. again but the sky is the limit! I’ll stick with #12newadventures because it’ll always be new and never boring.
“The world’s a roller coaster and I am not strapped in.
Maybe I should hold with care, but my hands are busy in the air”