You understand how generally you discover inspiration in surprising locations? On a current morning, whereas I used to be making ready a cup of tea, this quote on the tag of the tea bag grabbed my consideration: “The unknown is the place all outcomes are potential; enter it with grace.” These phrases have been hanging out behind my thoughts ever since.
I’m a planner by nature, so the unknown is a spot or state of affairs I’ve tended to keep away from. I’m not one who likes the vulnerability of entering into unfamiliar conditions with out loads of info, background, or a wingperson. And I usually maintain myself to unrealistic requirements: I really feel like I don’t present up as absolutely as I might have had I identified the complete scope of what was forward. If solely life got here with a crystal ball.
However life is stuffed with all kinds of unknowns, and so they’ve pressured me out of my consolation zone extra instances than I can depend. Generally, I’ve made connections or discoveries that opened the door to new potentialities, new pursuits, and new hobbies. (My snowboarding journey in Breckenridge, Colo., is a chief instance of this — learn all about it at “Ski College“.) There are solely a handful of instances that I’ve come away from a brand new expertise with regrets or wished that I’d stayed dwelling.
And whereas that largely constructive monitor document doesn’t at all times make the subsequent new factor simpler to face, it does assist reasonable the intimidation of making an attempt.
I’m desirous to come across some surprising surroundings and roadside charms. And I’m dedicated to letting the unknown create potentialities we couldn’t have predicted or imagined.”
One of the vital efficient methods I’ve discovered to embrace the unknown is thru journey, which, by its nature, forces me to be extra open to the novel and unfamiliar. As an example, I’ll always remember my first journey to New York Metropolis: It was for a piece convention, and I used to be equal components terrified and exhilarated about visiting one of many world’s largest cities. After a few surprising hiccups en route, I discovered my bearings and had so many superb experiences. That journey has since impressed a number of return visits — and given me a way of confidence about spreading my wings there and elsewhere.
Because it has for therefore many, my journey has been restricted these previous few years, however I’m enthusiastic about some upcoming journeys, together with plans for a first-ever Martin-family highway journey, from the Twin Cities, Minn., to Asheville, N.C., this summer time. Holidays are one of many few issues I don’t plan for our household, and I’ve solely a obscure thought of what my husband has mapped out.
Whereas I do know just a few of the actions on our itinerary as soon as we get to Asheville — mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, and horseback using — I’ve no clue what route we’re taking to get there, how our youngsters will deal with the drive, the place we’re staying. And for as soon as, I’m truly trying ahead to seeing the way it all organically unfolds on the market on the open highway — to taking any detours and inevitable fights in stride, to letting go of expectations of how issues “ought to” be going, to easily being current.
I’m desirous to come across some surprising surroundings and roadside charms. And I’m dedicated to letting the unknown create potentialities we couldn’t have predicted or imagined.
As you progress via your days this summer time (and all via the yr), I hope you could be open to the unknown and its alternatives. Maybe this problem will encourage you to strive a brand new sport, like pickleball (take a look at our July/August cowl story), or a difficult new exercise like this one. Perhaps your unknown might be one thing comparatively easy, like experimenting with a brand new recipe to your grill, or one thing extra advanced, like quitting that factor that not brings you pleasure (flip to web page 72 of the July/August 2022 problem of Expertise Life).
The probabilities actually are limitless. So let’s make the perfect of those we encounter — and provides ourselves the grace to indicate up simply as we’re.
