don’t hide, go seek

From a recent field trip to Walden Woods

Hi, friend. 

When I was just a little sprout in grade school, we periodically climbed on the big yellow bus and got whisked away from the classroom for field trips. These off-premises experiences offered immersive education that didn’t necessarily align with what we were learning at school, at least not on the surface. Field trips provided a chance to explore something new, to be in a different environment, and to absorb. Not through screens, out in the real, live world. 

I still employ that ethos, taking myself on mini-excursions. As an adult, field trips give me an opportunity to switch up what I’m looking at, listening to, and who I’m learning from. Fresh input. And you never know what will end up inspiring you. 

The O.G. of journaling, Julia Cameron, refers to something similar, artist dates, but hers is a prescribed program. Much respect, but if you want something a bit looser and more flexible, field trips are a great bet. 

With this in mind, here’s a writing prompt:

What kinds of places or activities have you been curious about but have put off because they weren’t a productive use of your time, you’ve been too busy, or they didn’t seem practical or important? Pick a few, dive into why you’re interested in them, or pick one and make a concrete plan. 

If you think setting aside time to check out something different is self-indulgent, please think again. Prioritizing creative explorations supports your mental state (ushering in both dopamine and serotonin while boosting neuroplasticity), which in turn helps you be a better partner, colleague, parent, etc. It fuels solution-based thinking, the stuff that gets us out of a jam. And we are most certainly living in some jammy times.

When it comes to adventuring, travel naturally comes to mind. But field trips can be even more potent when you’re close to home, overriding a rut of familiarity and routine. 

Have you ever had the experience of a friend coming to stay with you, and seeing your hometown through their eyes made you realize you haven’t been taking full advantage of where you live? Try being a tourist in your own town, exploring what it has to offer—seek out culture, nature, an activity, a class. Go off your own beaten path. 

If you’re craving more prompts like this, you’ll find them in my forthcoming book, The Big Unlock. Pre-orders receive access to Rest + Refuge, a guided writing journey offered as a bonus gift. 

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY >

Happy trails. Don’t forget your notebook.

In Swellness,

Laura