A Month of Adventure

 {This outfit is well within my comfort zone, not adventurous in the slightest.}

I have no scientific data to back this up, but I have a feeling that I use the word adventure a little more often than the average person. I've long been convinced that the best stories in life come from the not-so-perfectly-planned days, from the times when we permit ourselves to do something a little scary and different, something outside our normal.

I view life as a series of adventures, and therefore as a series of stories that ought to be told.

My comfort zone, as far as writing, is randomness. {Clearly...} I struggle to stick to a theme or topic for an extended period of time. As soon as I finish writing about something, perhaps a pair of fancy sparkly shoes, I want to write about something completely different, perhaps about how useful mashed potatoes can be in one's everyday life.

I've long thought about challenging myself to stick to writing about one topic or theme for an entire month. It would force me out of my comfort zone of randomness and it would give me valuable writing practice...and yet I could never pick the perfect theme, until suddenly it became completely obvious:

For all my passion for the stories of a life lived well...I have my comfort zones. I don't call people on the phone. I don't talk when I'm in a completely new environment surrounded by people I've never met before (I think I hide my terror well, but Angel says the scared grin on my face gives me away) Driving to places I've never been before is something to be avoided at all costs, and I actually don't even like travel itself all that much. I love adventure--but just as fiercely I love staying home with my husband, making my favorite dinners again and again, and enjoying the company of friends that I already have.

Hey--I even have a comfort zone when it comes to the way I dress--it may not look much like someone else's comfort zone, but it is mine, so, for me, wearing a frilly dress with too-bright tights, polka dot shoes, chunky studded leather bracelets, and a kitty ears headband is easy, almost automatic.

All this to say--as you can imagine, things might be slightly different on this blog for the rest of February. The word adventure might get overused a little bit. Expect posts about finding adventure in everyday life, and trying new things, things I've been scared to do or talked myself out of or simply things that are different than the usual. I might throw in a few stories of past adventures. To put it in those oft-used but still thrilling words: Expect the unexpected.

And hey, if you want to join me, do it! Even if it's just one post about what adventure looks like in your life, let me know so I can read what you wrote!