Adventuring

After a big trip or life event it sometimes feels like getting back into routine is pretty darn boring.  But before my mother admonishes me that "only the boring are bored" I'll say this - life / routine can seem much less exciting than a trip, even a small trip.. but one can approach life / work / routine with a certain expectancy that there is excitement and adventure in the everyday.  For me this is a choice I have to make - I'm not going on big trips on a regular basis and I cannot afford  to be waiting around for an adventure to come by to make me happy / excited  - so in the choice/spirit of finding adventure in the ordinary - this new school year is unfolding with lots of new adventures in this household.

Allan's job continues to surprise him with twists and turns and trips as he navigates, and creates, his new path.  It's exhilarating and unsettling at the very same time and he is learning to live life not dictated by the bell, meeting lots of new people and forging alliances and developing connections as he goes. 

He was recently away at a conference for 5 days which is the longest I have been home alone with no kids - just me the dog - a new adventure for me.  It took a little getting used to, especially getting up to make my own tea in the morning but I muddled through.

This week I was off on an adventure.  I have been thinking about and dreaming of a different model of professional learning for Early Childhood Educators that I want to lead.  I could have forged ahead alone, with just my organisation, but I was compelled to stretch my tent and include some others to widen our reach.  It took a little courage to head south for 2 nights with people who I didn't necessarily know very well and who didn't all know each other.  But as they say - birds of a feather...and so it took very little time for us to all be getting along very well.  We were joined in our discussions and planning by our mentor/author/shero/friend and we accomplished a huge about of work in a day together that will play out over the next 12-15 months.  

It is such a privilege to have an idea / dream and see it take on shape and substance - a great lesson to me to invite in other perspectives and ideas and to stay in the process as we worked it all out. 

And we had a lot of fun along the way - many laughs, quite a few tears, a painful charcoal face mask and rather too many glasses of wine.  

We have somehow signed up for another warrior challenge / adventure at our gym but we have both had injuries lately so we are not excelling this time around... but there are a few weeks still to go and I am feeling strong again.  Allan had a back MRI and needs a little rehab adventure before he is back to full strength.  So we will warrior on as far as our bodies comply and so far they haven't asked us to do 500 pushups #grateful

The children adventure on at their respective universities and in their busy out-of-school lives with maturity and good humour.  I miss them like crazy but I am super proud of them as they find their way in the world.  I'll be delighted when they are at home at the same time for a few days over Christmas.

And Spanner is perhaps the less adventuring of us all now staying home instead of going to school... he has a friend who visits him in the middle of each day but if I was a dog psychologist I might have diagnosed him with mild depression.  We try and make up for it with lots of cuddles and walks when we are home but I think he misses all the kids. 

So there you have it - an ordinary / adventure update of sorts - as this gorgeous October comes to an end, the snow geese have returned as has the rain and the leaves are falling faster than we can rake them up!  Soon the festive season will be upon us and we'll do our best to focus on Hope, Joy and Love as the world around us often seems devoid of any.