By Sarah Shotts, Miss May 2015

I’ve always loved traveling… from my first solo flight to a Girl Scout Wider Op in Michigan to my later years studying abroad in Mexico and then earning my Masters in London. And thoughout all my travels there’s one thing that really stood out to me.

Taking where you live for granted is universal.

Right out of college when I was an intern in Washington D.C. I spent most of my days off wandering the Smithsonian or Botanical Gardens. I was befuddled to find that D.C. locals generally went once for a school trip and then never again.

I thought it was a fluke.

Then during my year living abroad in London (trying to cram in as much as I could) I was constantly told by Brits that I was going and doing things they’d never done themselves. I helped them see the city with new eyes.

It’s an easy trap to fall into. No matter how amazing, we have the natural tendency to grow accustomed to where we live and what it has to offer (whether that’s Crystal Bridges, a Presidential Library, or the Tower of London). It’s normal to us. We tend to only explore what our local community has to offer when guests come to town.

We all do this. We all overlook the magic of what makes where we live unique. Just take a moment to think about the fact that our day-to-day is someone else’s exotic.

When we’re on a trip or living somewhere short term we know we have to make the most of it. But when it’s as simple as dropping by that local museum… it’s easy to never make the time.

This week’s challenge is to explore your own neighborhood. Where are those places you’ve never been? (Or haven’t been since you went for a school field trip?) Where do you always mean to visit and put off? What’s a local haunt you love that you haven’t visited for years? Choose one and visit this week! 

I can’t wait to see where your adventures take you! 

Remember to use #WeeklyVenture so we can all connect and share our ventures on social media. 🙂 

Cheers,

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. With all these new adventure ideas it can be hard to keep track. I’d love to invite you to download the free sample page of my new printable Venture Planner. It’s made to help you schedule your new micro-ventures into your daily life.